The usefulness of foreign language is a hotly debated topic. Some students can’t stand it while others find it to be an enjoyable class. At Patterson Mill, foreign language is strongly encouraged.  While students can escape it by taking some technology courses, very few students graduate without at least two years of a foreign language.

                Patterson Mill language teachers offer many reasons why a student should take foreign language.  “You need to understand someone else’s language and culture other than yours in order to be a well-rounded person in today’s globalized society,” says Miss Consla, a German and Spanish teacher. She also adds that foreign language “gives you an appreciation for another culture and teaches you patterns of language and grammar structure and it helps you understand your own language better.”

Mrs. Holman, a Spanish teacher, says that world language gives students “a different perspective on their society. It gives them a world view versus just a personal view on things.”

But some students plan to go into a career where foreign language will not benefit them. They feel that taking the class wastes time they could spend in a class that interests them.

Sabian McIntyre says, “I plan to work in technical theater where a foreign language won’t benefit me. I would rather take a drama class and be more prepared for college.”

Parents may force a student to take a certain language that the parent thinks will benefit them the most. However, Miss Consla says that “Parents need to consider that their students are the ones sitting in the class and the most effective students are the ones that have an interest in the language they are learning.” Allowing students to choose their foreign language will help them stay focused and do well in the class.

                More emphasis is being placed on foreign language as more jobs require international travel and interactions. Learning a foreign language in high school can give students a head start on foreign language courses in college and make them stand out to employers. Miss Consla says, “In other countries around the world they know two, three, four plus languages, not perfectly, but to some extent and we know English and that’s it.” Knowing a foreign language can allow students to attain higher-level positions in the workplace.

 However, some careers do not value foreign language as much as others. Students who know they want to pursue one of these careers would benefit from taking other classes instead.  Ultimately, knowledge of a foreign language can either be helpful or be useless depending on students’ interest and application of what they learned. Students should carefully consider what type of career they plan to have and how a foreign language will help them attain their goals.