In The World Is Flat, Thomas Friedman points out that the technology revolution has led to a world economy in which the global competitive playing fi eld is being leveled, or, as the title of his books suggests, “fl attened.” There is greater competition for what he calls “global knowledge work”—working across cultures—on a scale never before seen. Friedman goes on to say that America should be ready for this new challenge. Within this increasingly competitive global economy there is—and will naturally continue to be—an increasing obligation to attain profi ciency in languages other than English, and to gain competence in intercultural issues related to commerce, politics, and society