No credit courses for any foreign language are offered at UH-Clear Lake. In this world of international business, world travel, global trends and cultural symbols, it is necessary to communicate effectively with one another. Adding credited foreign language classes at UH-Clear Lake would be beneficial to its students.

Most Texas universities offer foreign language courses, including the University of Houston. Depending on the student's major at other universities, a foreign language course can be a requirement for a degree. Students at these universities benefit in increasing and improving their abilities in academic skills. For example, knowledge of other cultures and world issues helps students benefit from access to a wide range of social interaction.

Offering credited foreign language courses at UH-Clear Lake will give students the ability to expand their minds to another dimension and at the same time, create a better understanding of their own proper language. UH-Clear Lake should at least offer French and Spanish as electives, if not requirements. Other languages could also be offered including German, Greek, Hebrew and Latin.

For years, language barriers have posed obstacles that have deterred the efforts to exchange ideas. Knowledge of a foreign language will give graduates the edge when applying for a job or in the case of a promotion.

Knowing a second language ultimately provides a competitive advantage in the work force by opening up additional job opportunities. Command of a second language is beneficial to virtually every field of study, including: government service, social work, public relations, travel industry, architecture, engineering, journalism, philosophy, banking, advertising, medicine and music.

Currently, UH-Clear Lake offers non-credit foreign language courses in French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish through the department of Human Sciences and Humanities.

For UH-Clear Lake students willing to dedicate time and money to learn a foreign language even though they will not receive credit for the course, the effort and determination involved in knowing a foreign language, will benefit them in the communication world.

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