By: Killian Johnson, Reporter

Though learning and speaking a foreign language is not a popular trend among people, it holds many benefits. Whether it’s higher test scores or making connections, the results are very helpful.

Knowing more than one language helps people expand their vocabulary in their native language. Other benefits include employment opportunities and a better chance for college acceptance.

Sophomore Marco Terron-Barreto says, “I get to meet more people, like [the] Hispanics around school. I’ve learned a lot of words easily, vocabulary mainly. I trace English words back to Spanish and associate the similarities. Also I have great connections with Spanish teachers; I’m even the host for Hispanic Heritage Month.”

Here at Seminole High School, Spanish, French, ASL and German are offered. It is now mandatory for students to take at least two years of a foreign language class to graduate. Taking more than two years of a foreign language is extremely helpful and looks good when applying to colleges. Colleges here in Florida require incoming freshman to take two foreign language classes. When a person is fluent in multiple languages, they obtain the necessary knowledge required for learning higher level skills in school and in the real world.

Junior Noah Lei says, “I take French and it really came in handy when I had a foreign exchange student stay with me over the summer. She was from France and spoke a tiny bit of English so I used what I learned in class to talk to her. Being able to speak French also makes it a lot easier to learn vocabulary.”

Studies show that students who speak two languages scored higher on the SAT by an average of 100 points. A test conducted by Lopata in 1963 showed that third graders who received fifteen minutes of French lessons everyday performed higher than third graders who did not receive the lesson.

Senior Alex Gorman says, “I took two years of Spanish at Seminole and it was extremely helpful when learning vocabulary in my English classes. It helped me make connections with how to recognize words and it is useful because of how many foreigners live here in Florida.”

Many occupations require workers who are bilingual. Health care, hospitality careers, such as hotel service, and even food service require people with this skill.

A steadily increasing Hispanic population, such as Florida, brings the need for professionals that speak both Spanish and English.

Obtaining the skill of speaking another language brings forth many benefits in the real world; just by knowing another language a person becomes more valuable to colleges, careers and the whole world. Overall, people who are bilingual possess multiple, positive attributes to offer to this world.