Foreign language benefits careers; Studying a second language could become requirement

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Foreign language benefits careers
Studying a second language could become requirement
By: Alison Kemp
Issue date: 1/26/06 Section: State

As the world changes, knowledge of foreign languages is increasing in
importance. Yet there is no foreign language requirement for high
schoolers in the state of Ohio. Individual school districts may have
foreign language requirements, but the state only requires foreign
language for a student to receive an honors diploma. Because of this, high
schools are required to offer three years of one language or two years of
two languages.

The lack of a foreign language requirement is because Ohio legislature has
not required state-wide testing in this area, explained Deborah Robinson,
the state's world language consultant. At Bowling Green High School,
principal Jeff Dever explained that even though BGHS does not have a
foreign language requirement, he thinks learning another language and
culture is very important.

"The country is changing. For certain jobs, you need it [foreign language
skills]," Dever said. "It is important to be bilingual." BGHS offers
French, German and Spanish, with a first year of courses available in the
eighth grade. The highest enrollment is in Spanish, which is also the most
common language to be taken in the state, according to Robinson. High
school is not the only factor that causes students to take Spanish. "There
is a false impression that it is easy to learn, and advisors ?
automatically suggest it," said Tim Pogacar, the chair of the German,
Russian, and East Asian Studies department at the University.

Career Choices

This generation has come to understand the importance of Spanish, said
Federico Chalupa, chair of the Romance Languages department. "Spanish adds
to your marketability," he said, adding that it can be beneficial in
business careers like accounting or advertising. The best language to take
depends on career choice, especially since English is not always used when
translating. For instance, the Chinese translate into French.

French is used for many diplomatic purposes, so it can be equally
important if a student wants to be in that field. "The University has
supported language programs like Russian, Italian and Chinese when they
have been cut [across the country]. BG is better in that regard," Pogacar
said. However, for Pogacar, adding courses in Arabic, Korean, or a South
Asian language would be beneficial. Swahili is being taught this year for
the first time.

A benefit of studying abroad is a proof of adaptability and versatility,
according to Pogacar. In addition, foreign languages can come in handy in
a multitude of situations. "It will serve you no matter what. World
languages open up the world,"  Robinson said.


Funding

Dever said that BGHS is lucky to have the University so close, because if
students want to take a language the high school does not offer, they can
take post-secondary classes. But even with the University, Dever wishes
there were more offerings. Because of a lack of money that prevents school
districts from offering many language choices, President Bush is planning
to ask for $114 million in 2007, according to The Washington Post on
January 6. This money would allow languages necessary to national security
to be offered. These languages are Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Hindi and
Farsi.

Enrollment

At BGHS nearly 75 percent of students are enrolled in language programs.
At the University, Pogacar said that enrollment is way up. The University
has the largest beginning Chinese program in 20 years. Also the beginning
Japanese class has been at capacity for three years.  And Russian is up
100 percent from two years ago. German's beginning classes are the highest
in 10 years. Even though the number of students in these classes has
risen, the actual numbers are not that high. A full Japanese class has
only 50 students.

"There are a greater variety of students taking language courses," Pogacar
said. He explained that business, music and technology students are in
these classes when the class is not needed. Over 3000 students will take
romance language classes this year, according to Chalupa. This year, the
University eliminated the High School Articulation Policy, which stated
that students needed two years of the same language to attend. If students
did not have this, it would need to be made up. This policy was designed
in the 1980s, but was outdated and eliminated a year ago, said Mark
Gromko, vice provost for Academic Programs.

The language department on campus asked for a foreign language requirement
to be reviewed. This would be a standalone requirement, similar to the
requirement before. Gromko said that it will be at the end of the spring
semester before a decision is made.

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