TOW #23: "A Second Language for Every High School Student"

                In an article posted on Stanford News, Cynthia Haven makes a unique argument for language programs in high school. After speaking to Stanford German Linguistics professor Russell Berman, Haven summed up the unconventional argument in “A second language for every high school student”. The idea presented is that students should strive to be bilingual by the time they graduate high school. In order to achieve this, school districts would have to start languages when the students are in elementary school (which is when languages can be picked up more easily anyway), and then continue taking the same language as they grow older with increasing rigor. Although many may see increased focus in foreign language as unwarranted and unnecessary, Berman and Haven justify their conclusions by pointing out how important learning a language is. The article points out that “to worry about globalization without supporting a big increase in language learning is laughable”, and in order for America to be competitive and respected internationally, their citizens must be able to demonstrate that they can speak multiple languages. The article also references European education to refute the counterargument that becoming fluent in another language is too hard and useless. “Virtually all other industrialized countries require second or third language study in the school system”, and some Swedish schools are even looking into advancing programs that will have their students graduate fluent in four languages. If children in Europe can be proficient and even fluent in multiple other languages before they reach high school, it should be possible for American students to be fluent in one by the time they graduate high school. Personally, I think that this is a really good argument that makes a lot of sense in the modern world. Learning another language has made me appreciate a new foreign language and culture, and has also made me admire those who immigrate to America and must learn English quickly. Haven makes a truly well-informed argument, and educators would be wise to listen to the ideas presented in this piece.