Learning Foreign Languages vs. Coding

When I took Java course our instructor used to say: “Please, after this course is over still continue coding to maintain the skills you gained. It is similar to foreign language use: once you stop using a foreign language you have learned you simply lose it.” Since then I was constantly thinking: are there any similarities between learning a foreign and programming languages?

First thought that comes to mind: “Possibly...” I remember how we had to learn by heart lines of code to pass a test. I’m more of a copy-paste person however storing the code in your memory supposedly enhances your coding skills. It is very similar to memorizing foreign language vocabulary in order to be able to utilize it in your speech, writing as well as to facilitate reading. You always have an option to refer to the dictionary. Yet language fluency cannot be achieved without knowing vocabulary.

I went further and tried to find online any references to this topic - I was sure that I’m not the only person who was thinking of this. I was not wrong. One of the first articles I found was posted by ACTFL (American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages) and called “Supporting the Study Of World Languages And Computer Science” in which the organization states that while learning foreign languages and computer skills are both essential the obtained skills are not equal by no means. In other words, learning one does not automatically negate the need to learn the other. It is an important message from the entity that in charge of creating standards for foreign language teaching and learning.  Apparently, there are enthusiasts who went further with the idea of comparing foreign language and coding learning entailing their proposition of receiving equal benefits if studying any of them.

As for me, I would not encourage a person to take a programming class if s/he finds learning language a daunting class but still wants to possess necessary skills associated with foreign language learning. Nevertheless, I will continue thinking about this matter to see if some strategies for teaching foreign languages could be transferred to the coding instruction as it seems plausible.