Benefits of Foreign Language course too often overlooked

At FAHS, there are currently 499 students taking a class in the foreign language department.  However, only 161, or less than a third of those students, are enrolled in an upper level class (level three and above).  This shows that while almost half of the students at FAHS take a foreign language class, a relatively small number of them continue into the upper levels of that language.Some students choose not to continue due to the challenging nature of upper-level coursework.

“I’m not going to go on after this year because the work is just too hard,” Junior Eric Johnson, a Spanish III student, said.

It is impossible to be sure of every student’s motive in quitting a foreign language class after two years.  However, one strong possibility for the “falling off” in numbers of students continuing to advanced levels of foreign language courses is that many students only take the classes to meet the standard college admission requirement of taking two years of a foreign language.  This, however, is a very short-sighted decision for students to make, considering the numerous advantages that learning a foreign language offers one in life.

In addition to the obvious benefits of meeting the requirements of post-secondary institutions, including UW-Madison (one of the the most popular colleges in recent years for FAHS graduates), there are other benefits.

According to United States Congressional data, around 80 percent of new jobs in America are created as a result of foreign trade.  This means that students with even basic knowledge of a foreign language are better equipped to communicate with a more diverse workforce and customer base, putting them at a competitive advantage.

“Maybe [learning a foreign language] is not your life’s ambition, but you can easily combine it and make yourself more marketable,” French Teacher Deborah Lemke said.

“I think that with the Mexican population [in America] getting bigger all the time, it’s important to learn Spanish,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s point is the just the tip of the iceberg. 18 percent of the population do not consider English to be their primary language, a number that is growing yearly.

Because of the large number of non-native English speakers in America, these people are already playing a large role in the economy.  It is likely that success in the business world will soon depend upon communication with this segment of the population.

Lemke also points out that learning a foreign language in high school can save one time and money in college through retro credits — credits accumulated from taking a placement exam.  Proving oneself to be proficient in subject matter such as a foreign language, classesthat one would otherwise have to learn through taking (and paying for) the class, students can literally save hundreds or thousands of dollars at post-secondary institutions.

“The angle I always take with the kids is to do your best, push yourself, go as far as you can in language, take the placement exam, and see where you end up.  You can easily minor [with retro credits],” Lemke said.

Through weighing the pros and cons of taking a foreign language class in high school, one can see that the positives far outweigh the negatives.  The next time one finds themselves thinking that taking a foreign language class is pointless, too much work, or unimportant, they should consider the long-term benefits and remember that there are worse things in life than a little bit of hard work.