Lola Sekon
Contributing Writer
We were all required to take a language class in high school. My options were Spanish, Chinese, or French. I chose Spanish, per my mother’s firm demand.
Despite my initial reluctance towards learning Spanish, I don’t regret it. I’m glad to have had the experience of learning another language, especially Spanish since it’s so important to know while living in southern California. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate the language and all it has taught me, including encouraging me to pursue language learning in college.
If I had been given the choice, I would have chosen to study French in high school. I’ve always been fascinated by France and its culture, with one of my biggest aspirations being to speak fluent French and eventually study abroad there. So, when I arrived here, I jumped at the opportunity to enroll in a French class, excited to learn something new.
When I started learning this new language, I noticed something strange happening in my experience. I was able to pick up the language much quicker than I expected. I couldn’t tell if it was because I had more passion for the language or if it was something else entirely.
And then, I noticed that the learning process was exactly the same as Spanish: They had similar sentence structures, verb conjugations, tenses, and vocabulary. I realized that I was subconsciously applying the skills I acquired while learning Spanish to learning French, which only helped advance my progress since I could see the similar patterns that both languages follow.
My experiences of learning a language in high school versus college are significantly different. High school language classes were extremely rigid and offered little room for error. In college, I was allowed the option to choose which language I wanted to learn, and there was a different approach to learning the language that wasn’t as strict and allowed for more mistakes. My professors pushed me to have confidence in myself and to trust my intuition.
These two contrasting approaches to language learning had a significant effect on my ability to learn the language effectively and my confidence in speaking it out loud. In high school, I almost never participated, afraid of being wrong and sounding stupid. But, in college, I actively participate numerous times per class. I’m not concerned with embarrassing myself, because I’ve come to accept that it’s part of the process.
After high school, not many people feel the desire to learn a new language, but I cannot recommend it enough. Learning a new language in college is not only an entertaining experience, but it teaches you valuable skills that might have been overlooked in a high school setting.
I’m more open to taking risks, and I have more confidence in myself. I’ve learned to be more patient after gaining a better understanding of the language (and its history and culture), and I have more empathy for non-English speakers. Additionally, it has opened me up to numerous travel opportunities and potential careers.
Learning another language can be challenging, and, at times, genuinely frustrating, but I’ve found that it teaches you a lot about determination and grit, which only aids further in your other difficult endeavors.
The Bottom Line had the opportunity to speak with French professor David Moak who provided more details on this topic. He explained the inherent value of language learning from both a practical and abstract perspective.
Practically speaking, having the ability to speak another language offers many job prospects and is a great professional skill that several employers look for when hiring since the world has become more globalized.
When looking at language learning from an abstract point of view, Moak explained that language is “the critical cultural foundation for our ability to think, communicate, and form basic human communities.”
He expressed his belief that universities should require students to take language classes for a minimum of two years, though financial constraints and short-term planning often stand in the way.
Overall, language learning opens up a lot of doors and numerous opportunities on both a personal and professional level. It is very intellectually enriching and worthwhile, and more people should consider its value in college.