Writing 2   Diagnostic Assignment Comparison of Two Newspaper Articles
   MA Accounting & Control

English has been established as 'lingua franca, spoken widely from Berlin to Beijing, Paris to Tokyo' (Jacques, 2006). As a result, a debate has been going on about the ability of the British to speak a foreign language. Both Jacques (2006) and Holt (2006) have noted that Britons have increasing difficulties with learning foreign languages,  but these two writers discuss the problem from a different point of view. This shows in their interpretation of both the problem and the solution.
Jacques (2006) takes a political point of view towards the problem, recognizing that Britain will fall behind in a globalized world if the British have too little knowledge of foreign languages and how to learn them. He states that the Britons 'ought to feel extremely uncomfortable' (Jacques, 2006) about the monolingualism of the Britons and discusses three problems of the Britons in their viewing English as a lingua franca. Not only does not everyone speak English, but language is also an expression of culture besides its function as a means of communication, and 'the present status of English is not necessarily cast in stone' (Jacques, 2006). Holt (2006) takes a more practical point of view, arguing that the problem is mainly practical since it is not only a lack of knowledge on expressing oneself in a foreign language but also a lack of knowledge on learning foreign languages and analytical skills in learning in general. 
On the solution of the problem the writers agree, both arguing that unless attention will be paid to good education, the knowledge of Britons regarding learning and speaking foreign languages will hit a downward spiral and the position of Britain as an integrated country in a globalized world will deteriorate.  However, their proposals of the solutions differ. Jacques argues making it compulsory for Britons to start learning a foreign language at a young age, as well as expanding the offered languages in the education program, and integrating the skills of citizens who speak multiple languages into the program. On the other hand, Holt notes that 'teachers' leaders are not so keen' (Holt, 2006) and thus it is important to eliminate the reluctance towards expanding the education programme for foreign languages. 
Concluding, where Jacques takes a political point of view and thus mainly worries about the position of Britain in the world in the 'global era', Holt focuses on the practical problems and worries about the 'embarrassing sight of British holidaymakers trying to make themselves understood by shouting in English and pointing' (Holt, 2006). Since both writers see a solution in education, it seems wise to focus attention on the curriculum and find a way to integrate the solutions as suggested by both writers. 

References
Martin Jacques, The Guardian, Friday 15 December 2006, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/dec/15/doesitmatterifweonlyspea?INTCMP=SRCH
Richard Holt, The Guardian, Friday 13 October 2006.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/oct/13/whybotherlearningforeignla