Impact of Learning a Second Language in School

Hola. Bonjour. Marhaba. Different words, same meaning.

Languages are the most prominent part of daily life, whether people realize it or not. Language shapes character and oftentimes, affects the way people view others. People who know more than one language are often thought of as more intelligent, for it takes a lot of effort and time to learn a second language.

"Learning a new language changes the way you see the world, and expands your understanding of logic," said senior Maya Ross. "Thus making you a better thinker and a better global citizen overall."

Because of that, many schools in America offer second languages to students, though they are not a mandatory part of the curriculum in most cases. "I think the main thing is just to bust out of the easy western European rut and teach a more global set of languages," said Ross. "Russian, Arabic, Japanese and Chinese strike me as languages that are growing in importance on the global stage."

To some people, being required to learn a second language has pros and cons. "It sounds good in retrospect," said freshman Angelina Lam. "It can benefit you in the long run, like having it on a credential." But Lam believes that being forced to learn a second language on top of the subjects students are already required to take sounds intimidating.

In a high school setting, many languages are taught by non-native speakers. While some people disagree with the idea of having non-native speakers teach the language, others think that there are some benefits to having a language taught by a non-native. "It helps those students who aren't non-native speakers either to be able to connect with a teacher that isn't non-native," said Lam. "It's easier to ask this person what they think about the language and what they used to learn the language."

From the perspective of a non-native Spanish teacher, Jamie Nichols thinks that although there would be many positive things to being taught by a native speaker, there are also some things that a non-native teacher would be better at. "I think that having learned a language as a second language allows teachers to know some of the areas where students may have problems or can be easily confused," said Nichols. "They can explain those things well to students who are also learning a second language."

Although Nichols has been teaching Spanish for 30 years, she continues to learn more about the language and culture from her native students. "They add a great deal to my classes, and I'm thankful to have their perspectives," said Nichols.

Story by Arob Altower