The Impact of Learning Foreign Language Threatening Nationalism?

Living in a developing country sometimes give me anxiety about what will happen in the future. There are so many things to consider related to life career choices and opportunity which would available with the present of specific intense connection to sigificant person, as they said. Interestingly, all these background challenges have been shaping me and fellow generation mates as strong and though personalities. Aiming to have a stable life and living life as we figured require important life skill. One of the essential life skills to establish is communication skills which known as number one skill require in career and workplace. The quality of communication can be assessed through the use of languages which determine the level of professionalism. This is the initial stage have had forming the importance of foreign language skills requirements.

There are frightened along the social policies regarding the application of foreign languages in life spheres, especially education system. The politician, linguist, and other parties involved has argued for a long time about the role of foreign and local languages. One of social science research conducted to exploring the role and challenges of foreign languages in Indonesia has found 3 main challenges which briefly explain in political, socio-culture, and govern' language policies aspects (Syukur & Amirullah, ICAAIP 2017). Indonesia as a developing country has emerged the continuity effort to increasing the capabilities and competencies of future generations. Massive movements such as proposed school' curriculum adjustment, establishing standard of learning foreign language, etc has been commenced in recent few years. These purposive government actions must have given appreciate along with the self-awareness of each citizens to upgrade themselves by joining communities and other beneficial courses program available online has spreaded around digital system. 

Indonesia have been known as multicultural and multilingual country which consists of (1) national language, (2) regional language, (3) foreign language. These socio-cultural peculiarities has been namely as heritage which proudly becoming cultural identity of the Indonesian citizen. Otherwise, according to government and minister of education future goals to prepare students with sufficient tools and broader knowledges which concludes readiness in perpetual global challenges. This is why without erase the cultural identity, the needs of learning foreign languages are taking part continuously. It is undoubtedly, foreign language is the essential tool which bridges the communication between Indonesian and people with different cultures. Predicted future global phenomenon with the technology advance increase the probability of meeting people from a far has also contributed to expanding research findings, business relationships, education purposes, friendship, etc. In conclusion, upgrading abilities to speak foreign languages has indeed helped to expanding mutual cross-cultural relationships which give benefit to all life aspects depending on what are we focusing on.    

If you are one of those people who are likely to study, work, or living abroad must have ever felt curious and major confidence level issues related to peculiarities of communication and language culture among the destinated society. At this phase, you need to practice intercultural communication which happened among people with different culture. Intercultural communication is undoubtedly an essential part of broader life approaches as we learn to connect to various people on the other side of the world. United Nations for example has claimed 7 international official languages which included English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish. A recent concern arose in our society related to speaking a foreign language without putting attention on a deliberate cycle of professionalism competitiveness to actualizing achievements in the eye of global era. Numerous research has proven the effectiveness of foreign language in global challenges as to enlarging interpersonal relationship in the form of businesses and other professionals' prospect future work.

Unfortunately, there still some part of our communities who are not ready nor willing to equip themselves with language skills. Caused by several factor such as learning motivation and environment judgement. This is why I do really appreciate and respect fellow mates who bravely going abroad to pursue knowledge and life experience then coming back to Indonesia and contribute to a better future. This is how the concept of nationalism should take the right place and is not fully correlated with learning foreign languages. As mentioned before, able to speak foreign language is a tool to reach broader opportunities to create a global achievement. Hence, capable to speak foreign language as communication skill could enhance personal qualities as important as introducing Indonesian human resources known globally.