Effectively communicating with peers from various different cultures often requires a level of proficiency in unfamiliar languages. Therefore, students need to start their language-learning journeys today and go beyond the average high school requirements to gain language proficiency.
Cultural competence, a person’s ability to understand and effectively interact with people from different cultures, is one benefit of language learning, according to the National Library of Medicine. When people gain cultural knowledge they inadvertently analyze cultural stereotypes, which leads to the acquisition of both linguistic and cultural understandings. AP level language classes, although they are not required, teach students more about the culture of their chosen language, which helps students gain cultural competence.
According to Spanish teacher Emily Czaja, in every world language class students are not just being taught how to say certain things, but are learning how to interact using that language outside of the classroom.
“We are in an interconnected society on so many different levels that, in order to connect with the rest of humanity, in order to understand what’s going on in the rest of the world, to better our corner of it, there’s so many reasons to have a little more cultural awareness,” Czaja said. “And learning another language is just one of the ways to do that, but it really helps connect you to a deeper sense of community and on a global scale.”
Many people believe that high school language classes are not beneficial, as the minimum requirement of just two years is insufficient for students to retain the language long-term. Many classes are ineffective because students passively participate, knowing they are likely to forget what they learn, according to Smart Language Academy.
However, if students study a language for more than two years, such as through AP classes or by taking a language class in each of their four years of high school, they are more likely to retain the knowledge and experience the full benefits of learning another language.
Mental benefits also come with learning another language, as brains are fed by knowing more than one language and knowing at least a second language also reduces people’s chances of cognitive decline as they age, according to the Language Connects Foundation.
Taking stock, knowing more than one language is extremely beneficial and it is imperative for students to understand and take language classes in high school in order to reap the cultural and mental benefits. This knowledge equips them to extend what they’ve learned beyond the classroom and use it in real-world situations. By learning a second language in high school, students gain valuable skills they can apply in future academic pursuits, during travel and when communicating with peers from different cultures.
