americans have a reputation for being global illiterate?

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americans have a reputation for being global illiterate, only one in ten can speak another language. that does not stop millions of americans touriste, businessmen, diplomats and journalists from visiting and working in nearly every country in the world. americana simply expect everyone else to know their language. few americans study foreign language extensively and few american schools and universities ask them to. the american preference for english is hardly discouraged in the nation's schools. few schools teach languages to students under 12, when they can best learn another language.as a result fewer than 3percent of all high school graduates achieve meaningful competence in a foreign language. but that is no bar to getting into the nation's universities. still there are many students who want to learn foriegn languages. one reason is the tight job market.if you have two qualified people applying for a job at an international firm and only one speaks a foriegn language, it's obvious who will be chosen.