Taking a foreign language for two credits is a graduation requirement at Lockport Township High School, but there are often complaints about how difficult the classes are and how useless they can be. However, taking a foreign language can prove to be extremely beneficial for cognitive development, job and travel opportunities, and developing a deeper sense of empathy for those around you.
Learning a different language and becoming sufficient in it can prove to be extremely beneficial for cognitive development. A bilingual brain has distinct differences from that of a monolingual person, which includes enhancements in memory, perception, and attention. Students who take foreign language classes must think more about what part and how they want to say it when switching back and forth between languages. This constant stimulation and focus in the brain activates and strengthens levels of alertness, focus, and perception as students must practice actively thinking about their word and sentence structure, grammar, and what exactly they want to communicate. These skills are not only good for practicing focus and being intentional with learning, but they are also beneficial for improving writing and reading skills.
Being in a foreign language class also opens up job and travel opportunities. Developing the skills and potentially taking qualification tests allows students to add language abilities on applications and resumes, as well opening up studying abroad and foreign exchange options. Though many people applying for a job in a certain field will have similar qualifications and achievements, being skilled in a foreign language is a skill that sets applicants apart from others, and is invaluable in jobs that require communication. Being proficient in another language also opens up opportunities for studying abroad during college, and can also make communication and navigation significantly easier in foreign countries. Specific to Lockport Township High School, there are travel opportunities during the summer every two years for students who take a foreign language. These trips include going to Spain, Japan, France, and Germany, all with classmates and teachers from the classes.
Being around people who are fluent and comfortable in a different language than you can be an extremely uncomfortable and unfamiliar experience. However, it forces you to communicate in a language different from your own. This may not seem like that big of a deal, but it can greatly improve one’s sense of empathy and understanding of people who have vastly different experiences in life. There are many students at Lockport, and in general, whose second language is English and who spend a lot of time struggling to learn English while also being a student. It is extremely difficult to empathize with the frustration of having to communicate in a language that you are not proficient in on a daily basis until you get a taste of it yourself.
It is true that foreign language classes can be extremely difficult and frustrating. Learning how to read, write, speak, and listen in a different language requires focus, empathy, memorization, and much more, which means it is often a daunting class to take. However, the benefits of learning and becoming proficient are plentiful and persist past high school and even college graduation, making it worth taking.
