by Jinianne Lutz

Created on: July 11, 2009   Last Updated: July 25, 2009

School students should not be forced to learn at least one foreign language, but they must be given the option to do so. Schools need to offer foreign languages, but should not force the student to stay with one only language. For example, a student may sign up for German, then decide he would like to try French the next year. He should be allowed to do that; in fact each year he should be encouraged to take a different language, unless he really favors one over the other.

This sounds like I believe that students must be forced to take a foreign language, but I don't believe that's true. I know some students who struggle with school and a foreign language would be very difficult for them. If such a student is forced to take a foreign language, there is a possibility that their grades in other subjects would fail due to a lack of available studying time.

Students in the United States need to learn to master our language. Spelling and grammar is becoming increasingly worse among youth and text messaging is not helping them at all. Consider words such as you're and your and how often your is used instead of the correct you're. Students must master this language in speaking and writing so they can function better in the business world.

It seems as if students learn at a more rapid rate than in the past, thanks to inventions such as computers and the advancement of the Internet. However, scattered within the Internet is a myriad of incorrect grammar, misspelled words, and misused subjects and verbs. Many websites have misspelled words right on their home page, a sign that our schools have not properly taught our native language.

Students entering college needs writing and reading skills, both of which may not have been properly learned in high school. In some schools, teachers don't care about the students and just give them a passing grade. Other teachers work with the students, believing that each one has the ability to learn what is placed before them. We need more teachers who will take the stand that students have abilities and want to teach those students the fundamentals of our country's language.

Students should not be discouraged from learning, and mastering, a foreign language, but there should be more flexibility in the teaching of the subject. In the 1960s, when I was in junior high school, we had to sign up for one language and take it for two years no exception and no changing. I feel that policy should be changed to a buffet of foreign language studies. Each semester could be focused upon a different language and perhaps a student could learn a little bit about four or so foreign languages.

As with all school subjects, foreign language is important, but it might not be as necessary as honing our mathematical or science skills.

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