OPINION
Coming Thursday, December 6...
Editorial: A new coalition, Connect, seeks to bring a new voice to Student Senate.
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007
PAGE7A
TEA AND CAKE, OR DEATH
Language proficiency offers opportunities
Whether it's English, Spanish or Mandarin, everyone can benefit from mastering multiple tongues
As I scribe this, I am completely obsessed with the issue of whether I can finagle my way into the coveted "excellent" category in the university grading system, also known as an "A."
The class which causes me such grief is intensive elementary Spanish 111, but why is this so? As an English major pursuing a Bachelor's Degree, the University of Kansas mandates that I must complete four semesters, or the equivalency, of a foreign language. I have deduced some basic and sensible reasons why B.A. pursuers need not balk at the idea of learning a tongue not called English. For example, China and Japan continue to rise in the world of business and technology, respectively. It shouldn't come as a surprise that business administration and computer related majors are among the most popular fields in America.
Learning Mandarin along the
way is pretty smart considering Wall Street aficionados and CNBC types already have begun penning editorials that predict a Chinese takeover of the global economy. To facilitate this process, and possibly make beau coup bucks in the future, undergrads are wise to adhere to collegiate conventional wisdom and
take up the foreign language of simplified and standardized Chinese that would bolster effectiveness in business transactions abroad.
Even more so, zealous engineering and computer science majors should like to consider a Japanese lifestyle. Honda, Sony, Fuji-film, Nintendo and Toshiba heavily influence the global market in electronics and cars, especially in America where companies have their products made or assembled in Japan, but sold in America, like Apple. Having a conversational or expert command of a language means more than just business deals abroad. These language skills can improve American social interaction as well.
According to the mid-decade census in 2005, Hispanics and Latinos now outnumber blacks 14 percent to 12 percent, and that's not even accounting for the undocumented workers. I
know in my past experiences, I've been able to whip out the Spanish tongue on numerous occasions in order to make a speaker of Spanish feel more at home. And this is in Lawrence, Kan., people! I strongly believe that students with strong backgrounds in Spanish would make superb teachers, social workers, lawyers and health care providers in a state that borders an ocean or Mexico.
Finally, I feel compelled to contest a slogan that many of my moderate-to-conservative leaning friends at KU believe they must incessantly parrot: "This is 'Merica, and we should speak English!" Whether this statement is said facetiously or seriously, I wholeheartedly agree. However, that little gem of wisdom should apply to all Americans, not just the brown ones from other countries. I'm sure that the Department of English empathizes with me when I lament that most newspapers across the country still print at fifth and sometimes third grade levels (I know my hometown Coffeville Journal does) because highly stylized or technical writing disorients and bores the average American reader.
Furthermore, I lament that some of my native English speaking friends probably could
not correctly identify a split infinitive, ambiguous pronoun, comma splice, run-on sentence or past perfect subjunctive verbal phrase to save their souls. I charge that to succeed in whatever endeavor a student should choose, it might be helpful to review the basic grammar and mechanics that were taught in ninth grade honors English, instead of attempting to scapegoat the Mexicans, Cubans and Puerto Ricans for a perceived deficiency in spoken and written American English.
Okay, so enough of the supercilious hissy-fitting about the American tendency to butcher English and then blame immigrants for its demise. I digress to the original point of foreign language being great for intellectual enrichment and increasing that yearly salary. Take comfort and joy not only in Christmas-related carols, but also in the fact that enduring four grueling semesters of Uyghur will help one look more attractive to Harvard Law School than the sucker who thought a no-foreign language Bachelor of General Studies Degree was the way to go.
Williams is a Coffeyville junior in English and pre-law.
GUEST COLUMN
DRAWING BOARD
MAX RINKFI
GUEST COLUMN
Sophomore year devolves into chaos
A freshman year devoted to studying turns into a second year plagued by drinking, parties
MAXWELL KOZAK
After a hot shower and the best tasting bowl of Ramen noo-
This situation seems to happen to me too often. Waking up at 1:09 p.m. Sunday afternoon with a splitting headache, my clothes still on and no recollection of my actions between 10:42 p.m. the night before, when I sent my last semi-sober text message to my ex-girlfriend telling her how much I love to party and this morning, or should I say afternoon.
No, not the birds and the bees story because I know my mom and dad—well let's save that story for another time, but I'm here in the sleeping dorms of a fraternity with a monster hangover and a week's worth of homework piled up somewhere. No, Greek life people, I am not saying anything about you. I am just comparing the 4.0 GPA, never-touched-anyalcohol, naive "me" of first
ond semester of college is, always keep your goals looming somewhere in your mind. It is easy to wake up a few days before finals week, finally cracking open those books you bought sometime back in August for a class you forgot you were even enrolled in. Now that these words are out on paper I need to check my Facebook and oh, best of luck on all of your finals. I know I need it.
semester freshman year to the get-me-the-cheapest-30-pack, dear-God-I-hope-I-can-land-a-2.5 this semester, weekends-start-on-Thursday "me" of first semester sophomore year. A lot of changes have happened between then and now, some for the better but then some for the worst. Perhaps they call this "growing up?" Newly found freedoms seem to have gotten the best of me. How many other sophomores find themselves in this situation?
dles ever I find myself thinking too much about things and one question that always seems to cross my mind is, "How the hell did I get here?"
I suppose a word to the wise for you young ones who are about to embark on your sec-
Kozak is an Eagle River, Alaska sophomore in accounting.
Non-traditional students have the same concerns as young students, plus others
On top of graduation, job recruitment, older student have to maintain an edge in technology
GAIL MIROSTAW
The University Daily Kansan reported on Oct.16 the danger
reported on Oct. 16 the dangers of putting personal information on the Internet and Facebook. Security specialists told students the scary side to revealing too much personal information on line. How students are viewed and evaluated online can damage reputations forever.
Well, for me, a 50-plus student, who has never even looked at Facebook, it seems I haven't screwed that up. Perhaps my technical shortcomings have worked to my advantage in at least one area. But I have so many other worries about graduation and job searches and I know I am not alone. Everywhere I go on campus I see and hear young students worried about their résumés, internships, interviews and opportunities in this competitive world. On the Oct. 16, students flocked to the career booth in the Union for advice and résumé polishing.
The young graduates and I worry about some of the same things, such as what we want to be when we grow up, where we want to work, how to make big bucks or just enough bucks to live on, what to wear for interviews and how to write the résumé in the most eye-catching way.
What the young graduates don't worry about is the date on their birth certificates.
One of my concerns, when I think about looking for a job, is that my technical skills do not measure up to what might be required, even though I have worked for 23 years on a computer at my jobs. I am reminded daily how much faster younger people can be in the technical field. I just missed growing up with and being educated in the computer world. The computer is ingrained in young people. It is just part of everyday life. Then you throw in their expertise on other technological gadgets and I really feel I am in the dark.
I am a baby boomer. The first official baby boomer, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, born Jan. 1, 1946, applied for Social Security a few days ago. And here I am, looking for my first job as a soon-to-be new graduate.
I worry about the physical issues of age, including eyesight loss, too much or too little weight, hearing loss, possible eyelifts and hair color use. These affections do not usually hit the young, at least not all at once when they graduate from college.
I think these concerns may start and end with the big C, confidence. Young students appear to have a lot of confidence, even though they may be scared to death as they approach graduation. As I get older, I find I know less and have less confidence, so I hope their bravado is catching. And, speaking of hope, I also want some of that youthful optimism to rub off on me.
Granted, I have a few pluses those just starting out can't claim. Most importantly I have experience. It is a tremendous teacher. CIO News reported in October that even though the baby boomer brain drain may be hype regarding technical skills, the loss of experience with the retirement of senior workers is real. The Westchester County Business Journal reported in a July 2006 issue that companies need to find ways of retaining baby boomers because of their wealth of experience.
So there is one more thing I hang onto. I keep gaining experience. It comes at me no matter what I do. I can't stop it and I can't screw it up. I just have to listen, learn and be open to it.
Mirostaw is an Overland Park senior in journalism.
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This four-day week couldn't go by any slower!
Are keyboards in Europe shaped differently than the ones we use here?
(Editor's Note: They're not shaped differently, but keys are in different places.)
Who would have thought. Money can't buy happiness.
Free for All, I can't sleep. Will you punch me in the face?
Free for All, you're just like all my other friends. You liked me last year, but now you don't even acknowledge me.
I still would love to meet Reesing and Talib before I left KU
space at Gumby's while making a traffic stop across the lot.
This semester has been amazing. There isn't much else to top it off. Thank you for an amazing experience KU!
Cop boxed me in my parking
This semester, actually, should have never happened.
A guy will appreciate being hit on, no matter what.
TALK TO US
Is it weird that I think about sex 95% of the day? And I'm a girl.
Erick R. Schmidt, editor
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The Editorial Board
Erick R. Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen, Daria Slipe, Kelsey Hayes, Bryan Dykman, Brandon T. Minister, Angelique McNaughton and Benjamin R. Smith
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