Sion only requires two years of foreign language and by the class of 2025’s senior year, around 25% of the grade is enrolled in a language course. Sion currently offers French, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL), but many girls drop out after the two required years. 

Almost all of Sion students’ first language is English, which means that we can travel many places across the globe without needing more than basic greetings in other languages. Despite this, there’s an importance of learning a foreign language that is not emphasized throughout Sion.

Especially as Americans in the midwest, we don’t have access to a plethora of languages at our disposal. Other than Spanish, the predominant language in our region is English. By taking a language in high school, whether it’s French, Spanish, or even another language, you expose yourself to cultures and knowledge you wouldn’t have otherwise experienced. English is the lingua franca or universal language, but putting in the effort to learn someone else’s language, just like so many other people in the world put in the effort to learn English is not only beneficial for communication, but for creating connections of mutual respect across the globe. 

Let’s face it; the world sees Americans as inept and uncultured. Yes, you can go through life just fine without any knowledge of a second language, but you gain an appreciation for culture and put yourself outside of your comfort zone when pushing yourself to learn another language. 

Not only are second languages helpful to expanding your cultural perspectives, they can be extremely beneficial in career environments, especially a language like Spanish, which is already prevalent in America. Whether you work at a fast food restaurant or in the medical field, knowing a second language, or even a small portion of one, can help you communicate with more groups of people. America is often referred to as a “melting pot” of other cultures and communities. By being able to communicate in another language, doors are opened up to many other communities within the United States. 

There’s no denying the boost that four years of a language can make to your college applications. Colleges look for a well-rounded student, one who’s curious about the world and the people in it, who want to make a difference. Not only does taking four years of a language show commitment, it shows your drive for expanding your knowledge into the uncomfortable. Immersing yourself in a foreign language for four years isn’t required. It won’t make or break your career and it won’t restrain you from higher education, but taking that second language can offer you a form of learning that no other subject can and serve as a building block for your future.