Why on Earth Don’t We Teach Foreign Languages? : Education: American tongues are wagging about our ignorance of geography. But the schools aren’t helping our youth learn other tongues, either.

The grasp of world geography (or lack thereof) that American students possess is appalling, a fact that has been well-documented time and again. When tested, many cannot locate on a map such rudimentary places as Europe or the Pacific Ocean.

We are graduating students whose only knowledge of geography seems to be mastering the layout of the local shopping mall. At a time when ever-growing numbers of Americans are traveling abroad for study, business and pleasure, we are producing parochial, egocentric students with only a passing acquaintance with world geography and even less knowledge of foreign languages. In short, we are spawning the proverbial “Ugly American.”

Last year, The Times reported on the booming business that language schools were enjoying as a result of business people, lawyers and merchants who are anxious to tap the growing immigrant population and wealthy international investors.

Recommendations regarding foreign language instruction made at the National Governors Assn. convention last year included offering foreign languages as early as first grade; offering foreign languages during the summer, after school and on weekends, and increasing the language requirements for admission to college. As then-Gov. Gerald L. Baliles of Virginia summed it up: “How are we to open overseas markets when other cultures are only dimly understood? How are our firms to provide international leadership when our schools are producing insular students?” How indeed?

For years, children have been virtually programmed to believe that, without some expertise in computer skills, they will be totally lost in the modern world. In fact, nowadays one cannot even find a book in the library without knowing how to operate a computer. This same decisive direction needs to be applied to instill in parents and youngsters the importance of a knowledge of foreign languages.

Which language should one learn? Why stop at one? Not long ago, our family was visited by a 17-year-old Swedish girl who could speak and write in English, German and French, and she was not the product of some accelerated school. I have met dozens of European teen-agers who can communicate perfectly in languages other than their own. After meeting all these young people, I find it embarrassing to realize that the only second language many American teen-agers know is Valley-speak!

In Southern California the usefulness of Spanish goes without saying, but on a broader plane, Asian languages, German and Russian will prove to be passports to the future for those students mastering these languages. Witness the phenomenal changes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in the past year. Imagine the endless possibilities awaiting those individuals in foreign service and the private sector who possess a knowledge of German and Russian!

The world is moving quickly, and those with a knowledge of foreign languages will be on the cutting edge of the responsibilities and wonderful opportunities that lie ahead.

Children should not wait until high school to begin studying a foreign language. Start them in elementary school, when their inquisitive minds are still so absorbent and malleable. At this stage, they seem to be able to juggle several languages. My own young children are learning Spanish and German with no problems, and I’ve witnessed many just like them.

Parents must lobby their school boards to expand their foreign language programs to offer more languages--and to begin them in elementary school. I was horrified to learn last year that the Tustin Unified School District was considering a proposal to drop German and possibly French from its middle-school curriculum, retaining only Spanish.

On the contrary, greater opportunities should be available because the political, social and economic stature of our nation hinges upon the preparedness of its citizens to function intelligently and globally. In the future, I feel those possessing only a knowledge of English will be truly handicapped.

Youngsters who spend their after-school hours honing their combat skills in front of Nintendo could better utilize their time learning another language. Mothers use all sorts of subterfuge to slip extra nutrients into their children’s diets because they know, left to their own devices (or, I should say, vices), a child’s choice of nourishment often leaves much to be desired.

Why not employ similar tactics to stimulate a child’s interest in languages? Can’t tear the child away from television? There are language instruction programs and programming in foreign languages--even cartoons. What about touring Disneyland, the zoo or museum using one of the foreign language guides available? Parents should realize that foreign language proficiency will prove to be as important to a child’s future as fiber and calcium.