There is a stereotype in the East that Americans do not understand cultures outside their own. How accurate is this stereotype? Well, it is supported by the fact that around 80% of Americans are reported to be monolingual. With only 20% of the population knowing a second language, many Americans lack the linguistic skills necessary to meet the expectations of a world power. 

Despite programs like the Peace Corps that aim to foster understanding of other countries, many Americans remain uninformed about the world beyond their borders. A significant number of U.S. high schools require only two years of language study, which is barely sufficient to gain a meaningful understanding of another language. 

Cultural understanding is largely achieved through full immersion—something that Americans with limited proficiency in a second language cannot experience. It is essential that high schools in America enhance language requirements for college-bound students. This should not be viewed as an optional extra, but rather as a necessary expectation to better prepare Americans for their growing involvement in foreign diplomacy.