Text Table of Contents #15: Heuristic Thinking: Risks and Benefits

Conclusion: The US educational system should not require fluency in a foreign language for all high school graduates. 1. English is the language used in international relations, for global communications, and as the major media language. 2. English has increasingly become the international language of business. 3. English is the most-learned second language over the entire world. 4. The inputs such as resources in the forms of money, time, and teachers required to develop foreign language proficiency for all high school graduates exceed the benefits.

1. Have to assume Reasons 1, 2 and 3 are saying fluency in a language other than English is not ‘necessary’.  Might have been easier to follow the logic if reasoning said:  R1 = Being fluent in a language other than English is not necessary. ◦ SR1a = English is language of international relations, global communications, and major media. (evidence…) ◦ SR1b = English is international language of business. (evidence…) ◦ SR1c = English is most-learned second language. (evidence…)

1. Reasons 1, 2 and 3 are saying fluency in a language other than English is not ‘necessary’. 2. That most important reasons for language being ‘necessary’ are international relations, global communications, business. Other uses for language (culture, tourism, etc.) not so important. 3. Subjects taught in high school are ‘necessary’.

 Reactive ◦ Instinctive, quick, holistic. ◦ Successful when situation/problems are more familiar. ◦ Reasoning considered afterward to justify behavior.  Reflective ◦ Analytical, systematic, procedural. ◦ Needed when situation is not familiar – need to understand more. ◦ Reasoning used to develop the decision.  Heuristic thinking ◦ Relying on pre-established (pre-experienced) rules, shortcuts, procedures to aid in decision making.