Foreign language credits should be mandatory
Ocean Watson
Foreign language credits should be mandatory because they allow students to explore new cultures. As someone who speaks a second language at home, I think that experiencing other cultures is very valuable.
For people who grew up surrounded strictly by English American culture, learning a language can expose them to other cultures and ways of life. Language programs in Seattle Public Schools provide this for some people. Alongside new vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structures, students learn about cultural norms, holidays, and much more.
Most high schools in Seattle offer Spanish, Japanese, French, and American Sign Language. Some classes, such as Spanish and Japanese, even offer trips abroad as well, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures.
I was able to experience one of these trips abroad. Throughout middle school I took Japanese, and in seventh grade, along with a portion of my class, I went to Japan for a week. We spent half of the time in traditional Japanese hotels and the other half with host families. It proved to be a very valuable experience to me because I was able to experience a way of life I had never seen before.
Languages can also open educational doors. Most selective colleges and universities require at least two years of high school foreign language study. Similarly, highly selective schools such as the Ivies often want to see three or four years of a language.
Learning languages is also very beneficial to the growing brain. According to Medical News Today, it boosts brain plasticity and ability to code new information. Researchers also found that language acquisition enhances capacity for learning.
When you learn another language, you will also be able to demonstrate your marketable skills in the global economy. Without the requirement of language courses, people may choose easier electives that don’t teach people such valuable and useful skills.
Learning languages can improve brain function, listening skills, and memory. While the language programs could always use their improvements, getting rid of the credit requirement only closes doors for students and their futures.
Foreign language credits shouldn’t be required
Alex Watson
Foreign language credits should not be mandatory in Seatle Public Schools. While taking a second language class can be very beneficial for students, this is based on the assumption that students retain the language and use it constantly outside of school. I know far too many students who dread going to their language class. Oftentimes this is due to a lack of passion for a language or how they fail to retain the language.
I have the experience of speaking a second language and also taking a language class in SPS while in middle school. While I loved the teacher and the students in the class, I cannot say I retained any of my Spanish now or even when I was taking the class.
My lack of Spanish knowledge was reflected in my grades. Despite the effort I put into the class, I couldn’t keep up with its fast pace — it felt like I would stuff 10 words of Spanish into my brain every week, then forget about it the next.
This is contradictory to how I learn and study Japanese. I find that surrounding myself with the language is much better for my learning. Going to the country, speaking the language at home, and reading Japanese literature is what I find best. I am able to study the vocabulary at my own pace without feeling the pressure of a big test or a bad grade. Even while I study by myself I can say I progress much more in the language compared to my one-and-a-half years at Eckstein Middle School.
Of course, if I put the same effort into Spanish as I do with Japanese, I would know how to speak the language — but the issue was, I wasn’t passionate about the language. I would do my homework and speak in class, but I didn’t take any initiative to study outside of the classroom.
This seems to be the issue with many of my classmates. Many feel it’s just another class they have to take. But of course, many students love their language and feel extremely passionate about their language. This is why I argue that all students should have the option to choose a language rather than be forced to take one.
Having two electives available to you is also very beneficial for your transcript and academic freedom. Since I tested out of the class, I’ve had the privilege to indulge in a wide variety of electives which has helped me understand what I want to do in my higher education.
While I do acknowledge the benefits of learning a second language, I believe the pros of not taking a language class should not be ignored. I believe that Roosevelt students are capable and intelligent enough to be given the freedom to choose.
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