Reacting to former Harvard University President Lawrence Summer’s assertion that “English’s emergence as the global language…make it less clear that the substantial investment necessary to speak a foreign tongue is universally worthwhile,” a variety of voices take to the New York Times to debate whether learning another language is necessary or useful.

The verdict? The majority of the debaters conclude that learning a second—or third or fourth—language is indeed necessary and useful: it makes an English speaker more globally competent and thus more attractive to employers; it improves cognitive ability; and it generally makes life more interesting. 

Check out the full debate on the Times website.