The Facts:The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures is sponsoring language-intensive summer programs for the next three years in Urdu, Persian and Arabic. The programs are made possible through a grant from the National Security Education Program.

Our Opinion:The University should be commended for its efforts in promoting foreign language immersion. It should look to build on that momentum with other programs.

The U.S. has spent a great portion of the young millennia engaged with terrorists in Asia and insurgents in the Middle East.The uninhabitable locales and lack of infrastructure present problems in and of themselves, when language and cultural barriers are added in, it becomes easy to see why the current conflicts have been so difficult.The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures hopes to help with some of those cultural and language concerns with a new program, which was made possible through the benevolence of the National Security Education Program, a federal government scholarship program.The next three summers, students will have the opportunity to take six-week intensive courses in Urdu, Persian and Arabic. The courses, which are a part of the Critical Language Program, aim to immerse students in the grammar and cultural aspects of three of the most prominent languages in the Middle East. The grant that enables these new programs provides an amazing opportunity for students, whether they are interested in some form of government service, or not.Language is a critical part of any higher education and enables students to bridge the cultural gaps which separate people.English has become prominent throughout much of the world because of the economic and political reach of the U.S., and the British before. But it fuels an appearance of superiority which often causes negative responses, even hate from other people.Learning languages like Urdu, Persian and Arabic can help alleviate some of what separates many Middle Eastern and Asian cultures from the United States and can help foster mutual understanding.The first step to that process, though, is for students — the world’s future leaders — to take the initiative and learn about non-Western cultures and languages.If students have plans to join the military or work in one of the foreign services after college, the programs are no-brainers — let alone the eight credit hours students can earn during the session from May 17 to June 30.Nonetheless, all students should consider the different perspectives it could provide them in whatever future endeavors they pursue. The program is an excellent addition to the University and it should be commended for its efforts in backing it.