Talk up importance of bilingual education

We live in a world wherein we interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures daily. The proliferation of modern communication technologies and quicker, less expensive international travel options eliminate cultural and physical barriers, allowing us to leapfrog traditional borders. Despite this, our country falls short in its knowledge of languages.

As a first-generation immigrant, a foreign language educator and founder of a translation services company, I know first-hand the importance of multilingualism. I was born in Armenia but grew up in Bulgaria, so I grew up around both languages. Then I studied Russian and French, building a linguistic foundation that set me on a path to learning, speaking and appreciating the importance of languages.

However, when I later moved to the United States, I had no knowledge of English. I quickly enrolled in a local college, learned English and immersed myself in American society. My passion for linguistics stems from the profound impact that experiencing these diverse cultures has had on my life.

Knowing a foreign language is not just about translating words. Language is an integral part of any culture and it reflects the beliefs and norms of a society. It is a tool that facilitates a deeper understanding of culture.

My passion for language led to my personal and professional success, and now pushes me to share this passion. The benefits of learning another language are universal. We must do more to enhance foreign language instruction in the United States. This is necessary for our country’s continued growth and prosperity.

As a single mother, I supported my family by becoming a professor of English, and later a professor of Armenian, at Columbia University. I also worked simultaneously as an interpreter for several courts in New York. Later, realizing there was a foreign language gap in the Federal Law Enforcement community, I founded a company that provided contract translation and interpretation services for wiretap investigations and criminal hearings.

As the demand for services grew, my initial team of six interpreters quickly grew to more than 50. Today we are known as SOS International LLC (SOSi), and we have more than 1,000 employees and independent contractors working around the globe to serve the United States government.

It is abundantly clear that the U.S. government has a growing need for bilingual employees. In 2014, the Department of Defense alone had 337,000 employees with foreign language skills. In 2016, the Department requested $26.9 million to further boost its efforts to increase language and cultural competency.

In today’s society, the national security of the United States depends on having access to multilingual immigrants who speak English as a second language. They are part of the unique fabric of our nation.

Government is not the only industry demanding bilingual workers. A recent report by New American Economy shows that from 2010 to 2015, the demand for bilingual workers in the United States more than doubled. That’s an increase from roughly 240,000 job postings aimed at bilingual workers in 2010 to 630,000 in 2015.

Whether one was born and raised in the United States, or is a first-generation immigrant like me, it’s vital to maintain one’s unique culture and language, while striving to learn more about the languages and cultures of others. As the founder of a foreign language solutions provider, I have a unique understanding of how critical multilingualism is in the 21st century job market. Creating a new generation of Americans who are competent in other languages and cultures must be a national priority.

Being able to translate another language while understanding how a culture influences that language is vital to our work. That’s why I encourage everyone to consider learning one or more foreign languages. Doing so greatly enriches one’s life.