I decided that I should take a step back and educate y’all about the different global perspectives and views that other countries have. Luckily, I am taking a management course at college and my professor is from India so she is very insightful when educating us and giving examples! Of which I will use!

According to Breaking News English almost 80% of students in Europe can speak a second language fluently, whereas in the US 22% of the population can hold a conversation in a different language than their mother tongue (McComb). Most citizens in India (World Fact Book – India) and Indonesia (World Fact Book – Indonesia) will learn to speak three to four languages. Take Brussels for example, which is the capital of Belgium, and their country has three national languages: Dutch, French, and German – that’s right NOT English (World Fact Book – Belgium). Therefore, why do other countries such as the UK, Ireland, Canada, America, Australia, and New Zealand only speak English? About two-thirds of British & Irish only speak English (Oh to be); outside of Quebec in Canada, only 10% of Canadians speak a second language  (Jedwab), in Australia only 16% of families speak a second language at home (Towards). However, in New Zealand, the indigenous people’s native language, of Maori, is still taught in schools, encouraged by members of the community as well (He Korero).  

Therefore, a society where only one language is taught and primarily spoken or accepted is referred to as a monolingual. A country that is monolingual is usually seen as parochial (par-o-key-al); which is seen as “having a limited or narrow outlook or scope”. Do you have a friend, or maybe family member, who is “always right” or as I like to coin it, “it’s their way or the highway”, where they do not recognize that others may have a dissimilar view of living; essentially, a failure to be aware of, and accept, differences amongst people and their beliefs. They can tend to ignore others ways of living, being rude and insensitive to other’s cultures and traditions as well as having the “mine is better than yours” view. Now, yes, granted we’ve all been there, when we strongly believe that our perspective is “right”, but sometimes you’ll come to a conclusion or just say “to each their own” and move on. 

By learning a second language, or understanding and respecting other’s cultures one becomes less parochial; this term can also be referred to as being “cultured”. If you read my first blog, “What is being ‘cultured’?”, this is one of the first steps to becoming more cultured.

I hope this inspires you to become more cultured, I know I am trying to learn Spanish this semester, and so far, halbo un poco. ^-^

Cheers my ladies! 

Delaney

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