Your Minor? Whatever....

     Yep, you guessed it. This is ANOTHER one of those blog posts about how the French Major/Minor Program was terminated... but before you quit reading based on that alone... you should know that your Minor (if you chose to take one) is perpetually under the risk of no longer being available.

     Sure, you may have security in your Business Minor, your Education Minor, or other "substantial" program... but if you walk the line on underpopulated courses, you could find yourself without a complete minor one day if budget cuts terminate your program, and aren't budget cuts threatening us all?

     Now, I haven't bothered to check into Minors to see what's popular and what's not; however, at only 18 additional credit hours, I don't understand why more people aren't specializing in a second field to boost their Undergraduate Degree.

     You think if you take your Degree out on the job hunt with a hundred other job applicants that you're going to stand out? Well, I hope you've brought your A game, because there are more people vying for that slot. Now say, pair your Degree with some sexy study abroad program and a language minor and you're going to raise a few eyebrows and get a couple of second looks on your resume.... you may even exclusively stand out since it seems Americans don't take second language seriously, even if there is international demand for individuals with multiple language education.

     Of course pairing more popular  minor/major equivalents will probably get you further in the American job market these days, more-so than my example right there -- because again there is NO minor language program at Columbus State University anymore... except Spanish? But tell me again how one language major makes the department of Modern and Classical Languages plural -- But, back from my tangent, adding that Minor to your degree is a really smart way to develop your skill set, break into other fields of study and specialization and generally make you a more educated individual - because that is why you're going to university, right? Students hear more and more these days that an undergraduate degree is no promise that you'll get a career, much less a j.o.b. and a desirable Minor might just help you figure out what you want to do when you move on to your Masters and Graduate programs.

I'm asking students to take a stand on making their education worthwhile: 1) LOVE what you do, from your reading to your projects 2) Figure out the real world application of your major (and minor) while you're still in school 3) Be open minded, you're here to LEARN not just tell everyone what you know 4) and finally take EVERY opportunity you have now, especially if you're young - because all those minors, study abroad's, conferences, and honors programs are harder to tackle when you have a family and try to go back to school.

Please stop being this American by educating yourself
about the world and world languges

     And as for my poor Minor -- well really for all foreign language Majors and Minors - I am begging the American public to reconsider their importance. I always knew a second and even third language could be hugely beneficial (it can even make your brain bigger), I've loved them ever since I started learning French in 7th grade... but it wasn't until I went to Bangkok this summer and realized how vastly different our cultures can be that the importance hit home. When you can't ask questions; when English is functioning but limited... that added boost from your own foreign language background can be real handy. I am running out of fingers to count how many times I have broken a NATIVE language barrier with a mutual working proficiency French (bad grammar and all).

And sure, you've heard me gripe before; I've got a thing against Spanish only because everyone tries to tell you that is the ONLY foreign language worth learning in America and you're some kind of traitor if you want to learn anything else... but if you love it learn it. Learn ANY foreign language, our country was founded on the ideas of many nations - all translated... many of which inspired us to fight for our own liberation, ideas, and governmental structure. There is nothing more American than participating in this melting pot with a healthy knowledge of other people and cultures.  So if you feel inspired to pursue that additional education I was talking about... if you want to stand out in a world where American's are seen as less and less necessary and frequently less educated - surprise them all by taking a stand for our Department of Modern and Classical Languages.

    And if you're like me, you think Foreign Language is important and want more choices, write the Dean of the College of  Letters and Sciences, write to our President at Columbus State University and say so! For me... for now, I bid adieu to my Minor, hang my head in sorrowful appreciation for my professor who has been forced into finishing the French Majors out with independent study, and continue my frustrated search for a program to learn French to a standard of fluency that matches my native language. (Then I will tackle Thai).

Ever consider the lack of emphasis on language
in America may be limiting your awareness
of world events?