Rationale for language learning

Why study another language? Language learning...

1. Opens doors for you to meet millions of people and tell them about Jesus in their first language.

2. Makes you smarter. According to FluentU, learning another language, "improves your memory and increases your attention span." Students who take a world language score better on standardized testing (Weatherford).

3. Expands your career options. In the interconnected world, knowing another language makes employees more valuable to employers. Fluency in a second language also results in a higher pay for many careers. One study notes that people fluent in another language earn up to $128,000 more than their monolingual colleagues (Saiz).

4. Improves your first language. By comparing and contrasting languages, people's skills and vocabulary in their native language are strengthened.

5. Facilitates and increases your enjoyment in travel.

Language Learning at KML

All students are encouraged to consider taking a world language course since the language can be used to further God’s kingdom by building connections through mission work both in the U.S. and abroad. Credits in world language courses count toward the elective credit graduation requirement.

Enrollment in world language classes is not necessarily dependent on good grades in English. In fact, those with lower level English skills might find the most benefit in learning another language, as students are taught to make connections to English in relation to the grammatical similarities and differences.

There are no world language graduation requirements, but colleges and universities have various requirements regarding world language. Many majors require 2-3 years of world language study for graduation. Students who have completed three or more years of study in high school may be able to receive retro-active credits (14-16 on average) at their college or university. Students who plan to study fewer than four years of a world language in high school are encouraged to schedule these courses so that their final language course is taken during the senior year (a student wishing to take only two years of a language would take it junior and senior year).

Students should consider studying German because:

• Many German-based companies have subsidiaries in the USA. Learning German helps prepare the student to compete in the world market.
• Many graduates of German find success in careers such as international business and engineering.
• Students of German are able to study our Lutheran heritage in the original language.

Students should consider studying Spanish because:

• Learning Spanish allows the student to build relationships with people who speak the second most commonly spoken language in the United States.
• Spanish ability offers advantages to those entering the business world, medical field, engineering, service industry, and civil service, among others, due to to the current need for workers who can communicate with native Spanish speakers.
• Spanish fluency aids in Latin American and Mexican mission work.

Students should consider studying Latin because:

• Latin is a fundamental second language. Learners of Latin primarily study the grammar of the Latin language which enables them to analyze and discover the subtle meanings and word usage within a variety of other languages.
• Latin creates a solid foundation in language syntax for young men who intend to enter the pastoral ministry and study the original biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek.
• Latin creates a solid vocabulary and grammar foundation for any students who are interested in pursuing a career in the medical or law field.

Students should consider studying Chinese because:

• Many American companies have offices in or are expanding into China. Learning Chinese helps prepare the student to compete in the world market.
• Learning Chinese allows the student to build relationships with people who speak the most commonly spoken language in the World.

Students should consider studying American Sign Language (ASL) because:

• It is the primary language of the deaf community in the United States. Learning ASL allows students to communicate with a group of people in this country that are often overlooked.