America might be known as a global superpower, but one thing we’re embarrassingly behind in is our grasp of foreign languages.

Learning a foreign language from a young age is compulsory in many European and Asian countries; studying a second foreign language for at least a year is even mandatory in 20 European countries.

Students get their start as early as the age of three, which makes it easier to pick up a second or even third foreign language. Meanwhile, the United States has no national requirement that students learn a foreign language, and only 25 percent of adults report they are able to speak more than one language.

I get that in most of these countries, the second language they’re learning is English. English speakers can be found in most countries all over the world, so if English is your native language, you already have a huge advantage. But learning a new language is so easy for kids that it honestly just seems lazy to not take advantage of that and make language learning a part of early education curriculum.

After all, there are so many benefits. Foreign language learning has been correlated to higher standardized test scores, better academic performance in college, better memory and problem solving skills and it can increase your chances of getting a job. Regardless of how old you are, learning a new language physically changes your brain structure, making it more efficient and flexible.

Aside from all of that, learning a foreign language is beneficial because it allows you to connect to a different country or culture in a way that’s totally inaccessible when there’s a language barrier. The unique vocabulary and nuances of a language can give insights into a culture that otherwise would remain hidden. And, of course, being able to connect with people across the world in their own language is a pretty big advantage as well. In this day and age, the world needs more of that.

Foreign language education should become more of a staple in the American education system because frankly, it’s embarrassing that most of us only know one language. There are a lot of things we can do to save our slipping status in the world, and language education is one of the easiest solutions. So let’s get to work.