Should students be required to take 2 years of foreign language classes?

[7Grace]

Should students be required to take at least 2 years of foreign language classes to graduate high school? Within Harlan Community School, you are not formally required to take any foreign language classes to graduate. But a question that could be posed within the school is, is it worth forcing students to take these classes?

I think overall there are some positives and negatives to this idea. The positive that is shown after requiring these classes is the increase in knowledge overall. Students who take foreign language classes usually end up being more advanced in other classes due to the heightened knowledge of another language. Another benefit is that students who take a foreign language and stick with it can get better jobs and better opportunities in the long run. Some students may eventually find it easier to get a better job with an even higher pay rate due to the ability to speak another language. The last pro I will mention is the fact that if you even start it earlier, as in elementary school, it widens a younger student's brain and makes their knowledge more flexible. 

Contrary to the pros of this idea. Some cons come along with this requirement. One of them is that forcing a student to take a foreign language may take away from a student within the classroom who wants to be there and is eager to take on the challenge of learning a new language. It takes away some one-on-one time with those who are striving for achievements such as their seal of biliteracy. Another con is that along with requiring a student to take a class, you are bound to have more students failing the class than if the class was chosen. Students are more likely to try a class if they have chosen to take it off their free will. 

Overall I think that both the positive and negative reasons are reasonable. But, in the end, I think that it is better to not require it. I feel like the students who want to push themselves and strive for a better future will choose to take on the challenge of a foreign language. So to sum it up, I believe we should keep it as a non-required elective.

 

https://www.leadwithlanguages.org/why-learn-languages/middle-high-school/#:~:text=Bilinguals%20have%20better%20problem%2Dsolving,academic%20progress%20in%20other%20subjects. 

 

Do you think we should have to take 2 years of foreign language to graduate?

Are you in a foreign language right now?

Do you think they should start teaching younger kids different languages?

[2Alex]

I think that we should take two years of a foreign language to graduate because most colleges require it anyway. Their isnt any harm that an come of taking a foreign language. 

[7Grace]

I agree that we should take it, and it can help us. But I don't think it should be required.

[2Aidan]

I don't think that we should take two years of a foreign language to graduate because when you get to college you'll be able to get it done in college and you can worry about the classes that you needed in high school instead of worrying about a foreign language class. I don't think that they should teach younger kids because some words are hard to pronounce for them and they could also forget the words.

[7Grace]

I agree that we shouldn't be required to take 2 years.

[3Mylee]

I think we should have two years of foreign language to graduate. Alot of colleges require at least two years anyway so I feel there isnt any harm in taking it.  Also its good for people to know a little foreign language since our country is so diverse. 

[7Grace]

I agree that most colleges require 2 years, but I don't think that if you aren't going to college you should have to take it.

[5Levi]

Some colleges require two years of foreign language before you graduate in certain majors, but I don't think that foreign language helps very much. I am not in foreign language right now, but I will have to for the degree I want. I think that starting teaching kids younger is a good idea because then high schoolers won't have to cram their schedules.

[7Grace]

I also think it doesn't help you as much as people think it does.

[7ColtonS]

I do not think that we should have to take 2 years of foreign language to graduate, I think that taking a foreign language will benifit you in your later life but I think it should be optional. Yes I am in a foreign language right now. No I think they should only teach them what the kids want to take.

[7Grace]

I agree, I don't think we should have to take it.