{"id":15785,"date":"2020-05-20T14:51:46","date_gmt":"2020-05-20T18:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.pimsleur.com\/?p=15785"},"modified":"2025-11-20T15:15:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T20:15:24","slug":"relationship-language-learning-computer-programming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pimsleur.com\/blog\/relationship-language-learning-computer-programming\/","title":{"rendered":"New Study Links Hi-Tech Success to Foreign Language Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Computer Programming Aptitude and Language Study are Related – Benefits of Learning A Foreign Language <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are the best-suited careers for people with language skills?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teaching, translation, interpreting, journalism,\ninternational business\u2026 yeah, yeah, you know the list of old favorites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bet there\u2019s one you haven\u2019t <\/em>thought of, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Computer programming.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s right!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
University of Washington Study<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A recent study from the University of Washington found that knowing\nsecond (third and fourth) languages can increase a person\u2019s success at computer\nprogramming. People with natural capabilities for programming also know\nlanguages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also said that math ability \u2013 what you\u2019d probably think is the most relevant discipline to computer programming \u2013 did not have a relation to strong programming ability, whereas the strongest programmers in their study also spoke multiple languages<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, What\u2019s the Link Between Foreign Language Learning and Programming?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It might sound odd, but when you look at it more closely, it\nmakes sense. ComputerScienceZone.org lists these skills that are useful for\nsuccess in programming: attention to detail, logic, abstract thinking,\npatience, communication and empathy, long-term memory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sound familiar? That\u2019s because language learners use these\nsame skills every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you can\u2019t remember a word in your second language, you search\nyour memorized bank of vocabulary for another way to explain it, to make sure\nyour listener is still engaged and interested. This uses a bunch of the skills\nmentioned above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plus, language learners are used to learning and working\nwithin unfamiliar structures: even learning Dutch, a language closely related\nto English, needs knowledge of multiple grammatical rules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Computer Science is In Demand<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re in the middle of a STEM craze because we\u2019ve got unprecedented demand for tech-literate workers. Automation, developments in technology and the transfer of work to the online sphere has created a huge gap in knowledge, and lucrative careers are available for those who can fill the skills gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This created an explosion in the number of computer science majors offered, which, unfortunately, are often offered at the expense of humanities courses. For example, the University of Montana recently consolidated six language majors into one broader major entitled \u201cWorld Languages and Cultures\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While schools work to fill the technology skills gap in the workforce, they use unnecessarily narrow definitions to measure students for their suitability in tech: they look for students who are good at math, logical, and with scientific mindsets. The study from the University of Washington gives fine reason to consider applicants with unorthodox backgrounds to fill places on much-sought-after computer science courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Language Teaching in Schools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, the school system doesn\u2019t always embrace the variety\nof backgrounds that can produce a skilled techie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many schools, leaders, and educational organizations only recognize and accept the traditional routes into tech: that is, an aptitude for math and logic, backed up by qualifications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Universities \u2013 especially in Europe \u2013 ask for undergrads to have studied math, science, or engineering in high school before beginning courses in computer technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This requirement at university level filters down into elementary\nand high schools, which then prioritize and fund STEM subjects over humanities\nand languages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how that works in the USA and UK:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
USA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the United States, although the specific curriculum\nvaries by region, the common themes are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
High school students take four years of math, and or computing courses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Foreign languages are optional in some areas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
UK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UK\u2019s National Curriculum categorizes computing as a\n\u201cFoundation\u201d subject, that all schools must offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Languages are relegated to an \u201cOptional\u201d class, where\nschools are obliged to offer a minimum of one of the following: humanities,\ndesign and technology, arts and languages. So, it\u2019s the principal\u2019s\nresponsibility to decide whether languages are offered at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting into Computer Science as a Back-Up: The Impact on Humanities<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s easy to see why students would take up computer\nscience, with a clear need for it in the workplace and with schools pushing\nSTEM subjects throughout their school career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what about the students who aren\u2019t sure what they want\nto do? There are plenty of those who exist. After all, how many people actually\nend up in the career they imagined at 16 years old? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s more sad news here for languages. Students are encouraged by educational leaders to study STEM as a backup or an insurance policy, a way of keeping their options open. The mindset is \u201cthere\u2019ll always be a career in STEM, so getting into computer science will be a good failsafe\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This creates elevated demand for STEM courses, because of the\nidea that specialized study in computer science is the only route to it as a\ncareer. As a result, funding favors math and technological disciplines, rather\nthan humanities, and so humanities courses disappear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If institutions recognized that language study is equally,\nif not more, efficient at producing great techies and coders, we could reverse\nthis trend and push students to study what they want to. Right now, students\nsee STEM as the \u2018safe\u2019 route into a well-paid career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Foreign<\/strong> Languages and Programming Go Hand-in-Hand<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When we focus on specializing in computer sciences, we don\u2019t\nrecognize the value of a broad education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think about the stereotype of a computer programmer: a socially awkward, robotic, and emotionally unintelligent man. They are great at what they do but are not well-rounded as people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The comedies “Silicon Valley” and \u201cThe IT Crowd\u201d are entire shows written around this stereotype!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although that stereotype is an exaggeration, the underlying\nmessage is true: with a narrow, subject-specific education, a person\u2019s ways of\nproblem-solving are naturally limited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A STEM student wouldn\u2019t have the same diversity of ideas as someone who comes to coding from a languages background. Someone with training in other cultures and norms and who is used to thinking outside the box, just to get their point across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another key soft skill that language students have is one\nthat many specialists in other disciplines lack: communication! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the benefits of language learning is that students can\ncommunicate their ideas succinctly with tact and discretion. What tech company\nwouldn\u2019t want that kind of soft skill on their team? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, we have more need than ever for tech-literate people to work in computing and technology. But we\u2019re failing to recognize the different qualities that those with language and humanities studies can bring to those roles: flexibility, adaptability, organization, creativity, self-correction, and the ability to own and learn from mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Careers for Language Learners<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We need to abandon the idea that humanities and computer\nscience can\u2019t benefit each other and recognize language students\u2019 value by\nproviding more access routes to the tech world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of this, languages need a higher priority in education. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine agree and are in favor of returning to a greater balance between science and humanities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the meantime, keep learning your French past participles\u2026 you never know what tech career it can lead to!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay Competitive – Round Out Your STEM Skills with Language Study<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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