Language is Changing at Milford High School

Colleges and universities along with our high school require two years there are many benefits for students to continue with their studies. Besides Spanish, Milford High school also offers German, and American Sign Language in a classroom setting, but it also offer online classes or  Mandarin Chinese and Latin. Overall there has been a decrease in student interest in world language after the required two years at Milford High school. “The upper levels look like they are going great, but we have lost an hour of level three,” Spanish 2 and 3 teacher Grisel Alfaro said. The Spanish department also lost a teacher at the end of last year. The German upper classes also have decreased to rotating curriculums every year between level three and four.

“Online classes and American Sign Language are taking away some students,” Alfaro said. Both Latin and Mandarin Chinese are mostly online classes where the students meet their teachers twice a week and students are expected to study on their own the rest of the week; this independent study includes practice activities, cultural activities, and weekly quizzes.“It’s a good class, said Paulina Parr, a current Latin student “[The students are] very self motivated.”

The course selection booklet says, “The online learning platform helps students maximize their learning and practice experience.” The online students may have practice, but it is not the same as face-to-face with a fluent speaker. “You learn a lot about the Roman culture and Greek mythology, as well as the language,” Parr said. “The classes are lacking the real-world experience and the students don’t get immediate response on pronunciation like in-class students”, said Alfaro. Students in the online classes can retake the quizzes until they get the score they would like, but on tests you only get one try. “It’s not teaching you the right way to learn,” said Alfaro. “Learn how to learn” said chemistry teacher, Maya Kempff.

Colleges and universities require two years but they are looking for four years and such students get put in a different pile. If you get put in a better pile that can highly increase your chances of getting in to the school. Continuing with language can not only help you get into college, but even can help you earn a job in the future.  Learning Spanish is rapidly becoming a business necessity because of immigration to the U.S. According to Pew Research Center report, an estimated 37.6 million people in the U.S speak Spanish as their first language and growing. Having knowledge on a world language will also expand your world and can also make traveling more exciting. “I like taking Spanish because it increases my knowledge of the world” said Camden McNeil, a current Spanish three student. The language classes offered at Milford High School are a great opportunity to learn something new and also help you with college.