The question of
whether or not a foreign
language should be a
graduation requirement
from many high schools
in the United States is an
ongoing argument. This
argument equally
stretches on both sides of
yes, it should be a
requirement and no, it
should not be a
requirement.
In a world where
English is spoken by
virtually everyone, many
people would argue that
it is not necessary to have
to learn a foreign
language in order to
graduate from high
school in the United
States. By the same
token, others can argue
that we [in the United
States] should not be so
arrogant and secluded
and should be required
to take a foreign
language, particularly
with so many foreigners
living in the United
States today. Also, other
countries, such as
France, require students
to take English as a
foreign language.
Because of this, many
would protest and argue
that because other
countries have to learn
English we [in the United
States] should require a
foreign language as well.
“Learning a
foreign language helps
with understanding
English,” Journalism
Major, Lisa Harper said.
With there now being so
many foreigners coming
to live in the United
States whose first
language is not English, it
could be another
argument that it should
be required that we take
a foreign language in
order to understand the
incoming languages to
America, such as Spanish
for example.
States. With the exchange
programs for example,
Hunterdon Central
students enrolled in
Spanish get the
opportunity to travel to
Peru this summer while
students enrolled in
German had the
opportunity to travel to
Germany and host a
German student at their
own home as well.
Perhaps other languages
would be as popular if
they too offered exchange
programs.
Linda Childs, four
year guidance counselor,
currently for students in
the class of 2012, at
Hunterdon Central
Regional High School,
speaks of the importance
of language classes at the
high school.
Being required to
take a foreign language is
argued to be more
effective than non
effective. "It makes
students think outside of
the box," Childs said. “It
makes one understand and
aware of other cultures as
well.”
Childs explains the
course offerings along
with the five language
offerings at Hunterdon
Central; Latin, French,
German, Chinese and
"Spanish of course,"
Childs said. She also tells
how German is equally as
popular as Spanish. She
believes it is because of the
exchange programs for
both languages and
Spanish for being the most
commonly spoken
language, other than
English, in the United
With the
understanding of teaching
high school students, "kids
will be kids," French
teacher Patricia Wilkinson
said, "They don't always
appreciate what they are
learning at the time, but
they will later on."
Wilkinson loves her job
and what she's doing.
"French is my passion and
I love what I'm doing,"
Wilkinson said. Devoting
her passion to the
classroom along with the
admiration of retired
German teacher of 30
years, Ken Kuhns,
Wilkinson truly loves
teaching high school
students French, her
passion; she also teaches
Spanish. While she does
not enjoy teaching Spanish
as much as she admires
French, she loves sharing
the experiences with each
and every one of her
students. She is truly a
dedicated teacher and
one whom others should
look up to.
There are also different
types of students; there are
those who love taking
language classes and those
who absolutely hate it.
Current sophomore at
Hunterdon Central, Brooke
McAlister, tells how she
despises having to take a
language for graduation
requirements. "I'm not
good at languages,"
McAlister said. "I took
French for three years and
HATED IT!" With the
strong words being used in
her dialogue, it is clear that
this is a student who
strongly dislikes the fact of
having to take a language.
When asked what language
she would take in order to
fulfill her graduation
requirements, "Chinese
because it's cool,"
McAlister said. While
McAlister’s answer was
very blunt, it is clear that
Chinese is of interest and
hearing “because it’s
cool” from one student,
must mean that others
feel the same way as
McAlister.
There are clearly
students who hate
languages, however, there
are also those who
thoroughly enjoy them.
Current Hunterdon Central
sophomore, Glorianne
Montes, tells how she
loves being a part of taking
Chinese. "I find Chinese to
be very interesting,"
Montes said. "I find it to be
a challenging language."
When realizing how much
Montes enjoys taking a
language class, she was
asked if she would still
take a language even if it
wasn't a graduation
requirement. "Definitely,"
Montes said. "Languages
expand our intellect and
our knowledge [of the
world]," she adds.
Going from a very
blunt response that
shows great detail in why
one hates taking
language classes, to a
very complex response as
to why one loves taking a
foreign language clearly
shows the variety of
interest within the
students at Hunterdon
Central Regional High
School when it comes to
taking a foreign
language.
There are many ups
and downs as to why
languages are a graduation
requirement for all
students at Hunterdon
Central Regional High
School, however, it is
quite clear by a long run
that there are more ups
than downs. With
languages being a
graduation requirement,
students get the
opportunity to expand
their horizon, so to speak,
and go outside of their
comfort zone. Also, this
may too allow students
go further in their lives.
For example, with the
knowledge they receive
from taking a foreign
language, they could use
later on with exchange or
foreign programs.
Knowing another
language could also be an
encouragement to many
to travel internationally
which will expand the
intellect of those
individuals.
All in all, it is
quite clear that being
required to take a foreign
language to graduate
from high school is a
much more positive thing
that if not being required
to. It expands ones
intellect and knowledge
and in a way makes those
who take it seriously
smarter by the means of
it giving many a very
bright future.