Term 3 Assignment 4

In my opinion, Jim Rogers' main argument is that one must be able to have a good grasp of various languages in order to survive in this globally competitive world. With the East rising to power, more and more people from the west are starting to get their children to learn the languages of the East. It is no doubt that the East would soon overthrow the West in terms of power and wealth and people want to side with the creditors than the debtors.

I agree with Jim Rogers' argument. Truly, the Asians are coming stronger than ever. Rapid economic growth, global trading ties, and expanding diplomatic cooperation have pushed China to the first rank of nations. A few years back, China took a step foward in ending world dominance of American,by using a ground-based ballistic missile to destroy an old weather satellite. Up till then, America and Russia had been the only countries who could make millitary use of space. Nowadays, almost every product that is manufactured, is made in China. Even the renowed iPhone is also made in China. It is almost impossible to walk into a shop and not find an item which is not made in China. Indeed, America is still at the top, but sooner or later, they will have to step down.

Some may think that america will remain seated on the throne in the world race, and that english is the language is all they need, as it is the universal language. However, this type of thinking is clearly wrong. Take a look at the asians. 200 million Chinese schoolchildren are studying English. South Korean parents recently threw a collective hissy fit, demanding that their children begin English instruction in first grade, rather than in second. Nearly 700,000 students from all over the world attended U.S. universities during the 2009–10 school year, with the greatest increases in kids from China and Saudi Arabia. The asians are all expanding their knowledge in language by educating their students with English language. If the Westerners still sit around and only learn one language, they will soon fall behind the Easterners.

The advantage of being capable to speak in a foreign tongue is certainly indisputable, especially as the rapidly globalizing world pushes it's engine of globalization ever harder. In order to develop a good grasp of a foreign language, children must be exposed to foreign culture & languages, otherwise, their survival in a global economy would be certainly very tough.