Sir, – I would like to compliment you on your Editorial (“Learning languages”, October 15th) .
The most important reasons to learn foreign languages are the stimulation it offers your mind, and the opening up to new ways of approaching even the simplest areas of life.
Languages are obviously a vital practical tool. But not only are they a means of communicating thoughts and ideas, they also forge friendships, economic relationships and cultural ties.
Furthermore, the knowledge of foreign languages is becoming a highly marketable skill, more now that it has ever been. We must make Ireland strong and competitive by nurturing the interest of our younger generations in crafting a foreign tongue.
Discriminating it against maths or science in the school curriculum may not be the way to do this. As John Stuart Mill (philosopher, economist and logician 1806-1873) said, “Language is the light of the mind”. It is how we learn to learn.
Thank you, go raibh maith agat, gracias, merci.– Yours, etc,