The U.S. Embassy India is celebrating September as the month of U.S.-India friendship, and the diplomats are busy showcasing their respect by reciting Indian poems and taking road trips. The last two weeks have been busy for U.S. diplomats in India as they were learning Indian languages such as Hindi and Urdu to recite the poems of Ghalib and Dagh.

21 September 2017 the British Council officially launched its first English training centre in mainland China. With classes beginning on 20 October, the branch will initiate the British Council’s “myClass” English program for adult learners in Nanjing. The British Council operates in over 80 specialist training centres globally and as co-owner of IELTS (International English Language Training System) works in partnership with the NEEA (National Education Examinations Authority) in mainland China.

Pupils across East Renfrewshire will be getting a helping hand with their language lessons, thanks to the arrival of teaching assistants from Germany, France, and Spain. A number of foreign students will spend the next year helping youngsters in the Barrhead area get to grips with another language. The project is being supported by the British Council, which is the UK’s international organization for educational opportunities and cultural relations.

Yes, English will to be the universal language far into the future. Even so, learning languages like Mandarin is imperative. It is a matter of respect for the people with whom we are increasingly engaged in the new global economy.

As former President George W. Bush once noted, learning a foreign language is not just an education priority; it also relates to our economic security, our national security, and the effectiveness of our public diplomacy. President Bush also observed that when you take the time to learn someone's language, you are sending messages that you also care about that person -- her country, her heritage, her future.