Learn A Language

Hola. Bonjour? Ni Hao? 

Do you take a language?  

Language classes at Oyster River High School (ORHS) shrink in numbers each year, as the level increases.  My AP Spanish class has 9 people in it, and it’s the only section running this  year. AP French didn’t run this year. AP Mandarin barely exists.  

This downsizing of language classes upsets me. I believe that continuing to learn a language throughout the four years of high school, and possibly beyond, is valuable.  

I want to teach Spanish when I graduate, and I am planning on majoring in Spanish in college. I believe that knowing a language is important for more than just the people who want to be teachers. Knowing more than one language is a valuable skill, because it provides the ability to connect with more people. 

Fiona Grove, a world language teacher at ORHS, who is certified to teach in French and Spanish, says, “I think there’s this misconception that language learning is only important if you want to be a teacher, or if you’re planning to move abroad to live your Emily in Paris lifestyle…but language, at the end of the day, is how you communicate. It’s just as important as…a writing class, a public speaking class.” Grove believes that language learning is valuable to any person, no matter where they want to go in life. “It’s because communication is the cornerstone of everything that we do. And if you’re only able to communicate in English, you will without a doubt have less opportunities.” 

Wendy Gibson, head of the Spanish department at ORHS, agrees with Grove. She says, “there are numerous reasons [to continue taking a language]. Including empathy and an understanding of other cultures. It can make you marketable. It gives you the edge over someone else.” 

I agree with Gibson. Understanding Spanish has allowed me to value the stories and lifestyles of people in Spanish speaking cultures, because I have learned about their history, and their lives. Similarly to Grove, I believe that language is one of the most valuable things humans have, because it is how we convey ideas and share thoughts.  

Bella Smith (’26), dropped Spanish after taking it for seven years, but still adds that it has helped her in her life. “In fast food jobs, like how I work at Dunkin’ and there’s plenty of Spanish-speaking people that come in, and sometimes they can’t communicate, so even having that high school or middle school baseline of language can be helpful for simple things. I think in the real world, it’s very applicable.” 

Yes, there are so many things to do in high school, and learning a language isn’t everyone’s priority, so it is difficult to remain in a language class. However, I wish there was a way to fit it into each student’s schedule or make it a requirement for a certain number of years. It is so beneficial, because it helps students widen their cultural lens, and creates this newview where students are able to empathize, like Grove. 

Language learning can feel difficult at times, with new grammar rules and conjugations, but making it through can teach you a new skill.  

Smith says, “I feel like [language learning] was very academically focused, even in middle school where school is kind of supposed to be a little bit more fun and engaging. There weren’t any field trips, and it wasn’t very immersive as a class. And I feel like because of that, it kind of continued into like my high school language so, I just lost passion for it.” 

Another reason to learn a language is to travel. Everyone knows that travelling to another country that speaks a different language from English will be more immersive if you are able to communicate in their native language.  

Cambridge University Press released a study titled “The Extent of Bilingualism”, which claims that more than half of the world’s population is bilingual. However, most people who live in the United States live in a bubble where we think everyone only knows one language. Modern westernization has led to global English use, causing many English speakers to never expand their language learning because there is no need to.  

In my experience, language learning is not emphasized as a very important skill,  and rarely people say “yes, you should take that language class for all four years of high school.” There are so many things you can take away from a language class, and now I am able to share my love of a language with so many people, since I can connect with more people now. I am able to feel more confident in my interpersonal skills, gain empathy for other cultures, and connect with so many more people.  

So, PLEASE, learn that language. Keep taking language classes even though they get difficult. Languages help connect the world and allow people to form meaningful connections they didn’t know they were able to. The values of knowing another language will seem invisible until they appear. 

“[Knowing a language] expands your education and knowledge in a way that is useful in the real world,” says Smith. 

-Riley Duggan