SHS is home to many different languages that students can choose to take. The world language department is home to Spanish, French, American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, and Latin classes, and they are all unique in their teaching styles and activities. Despite their varied class structure, however, they share one common thread: connection. The Leaf asked five world language teachers about the importance of infusing language into life. They each shared how their classes go beyond conjugations and vocabulary, helping each student who enters their doors find a new way to connect with the world around them.
Dr. Ning Zhang, who teaches Chinese at both the high school and junior high, said that learning a second (or third) language is important for high school students today because “it opens their minds to different cultures and perspectives, helping them become more empathetic and globally aware. Language learning also strengthens critical thinking and communication skills, which benefit students in all areas of study.” Zhang added that when students choose not to study a language, they miss out “on understanding other cultures, enjoying fun cultural activities, strengthening critical thinking, and gaining skills that give them an edge in college and careers.”
The Chinese classes are full of cultural immersion, where “students explore cultural traditions through stories, festivals, and even food, which makes abstract concepts come alive.” They also engage in traditional Chinese holidays, cook authentic dishes, and take field trips. As a whole, learning language while celebrating culture “builds empathy and curiosity, helping students see the world through many lenses, not just their own,” said Zhang.
Right across the hall, the ASL room looks a little bit different. During Mrs. Nicole Price’s class, students do not sit or have desks, allowing them to stay up and moving while communicating in ASL. They also engage in lots of projects and limited paper testing to continue the tactile nature of the course. “By learning another language you gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and perspectives which promotes respect for the diversity of our world,” said Price. “It fosters inclusivity.”
To the left, you will find the Latin classroom. Led by Mrs. Melissa O’Mahony, students learn about the past and how language can be applied to the future. O’Mahony said that language “helps people realize that no matter the time or place we’re all so similar,” and we can find “something in common no matter the culture.” Language fosters connection and cross-cultural understanding, which is especially evident as Latin students read past texts that still apply even today, such as Ovid’s advice for dating.
Furthermore, she reminds students that though AI can translate, learning language and engaging with peers is important simply because “people need language. You need to study language, and if you take that away, kids are going to lose the ability to communicate in their own language, and then in any other language. And we need that communication.”
Further down the end of the world language hallway, Ms. Lesley Chapman’s French classroom is full of language and conversation. Here, students participate in everything from philosophical discussion, to taking the Seal of Biliteracy test to French club. Above all though, Chapman said that one of the most important things students learn by taking a world language is the fact that it helps “them understand that their worldview isn’t the only worldview, and that their experience is very different from the experiences of people who are on the other side of the world.”
Taking a language here at SHS is “much more than just grammar and vocabulary. Language courses are a lot of discussion, and a lot of digging into why people do the things they do,” said Chapman. Learning language and engaging with culture is the easiest way that students can broaden their worldview and gain empathy for the world around them.
Finally, the last language offered here at SHS is Spanish. Mr. Michael Vega teaches Spanish 5 and AP Spanish courses. Vega emphasizes the real-world importance of language learning, explaining how bilingualism can help students in every field. He said, “If you want to be a lawyer, a trash collector, a carpenter, a businessman, a doctor…you guys have pretty reputable colleges that you went to. You have good resumes and volunteer work. You’re good people. But I see one has one more thing extra that the other one doesn’t. I don’t think I would hesitate to choose a person that knows another language. They’re going to make my business, my hospital, my whatever better. They’ll be able to communicate with others.” Learning a language is not just an academic skill, it is a mode of connection and opportunity in a global world.
When asked why it is important for schools to continue investing in, Vega simply said, “Not important. It’s a must.” His words serve as a reminder that in a world that is increasingly reliant on technology and artificial intelligence, the human element of language cannot be replaced.
