WOrld Languages

The choice of language is really up to you.  Learning any language has many benefits:

• It opens new worlds of literature, art, poetry, film and human relationships.

• It improves academic progress in other subjects.

• It stimulates higher order, abstract, and creative thinking.

• It promotes cultural awareness and empathy.

• It enhances career opportunities (The Partnership for a New American Economy reported that between 2010 and 2015, the demand for bilingual workers in Massachusetts had more than doubled).

Which language is most useful?

• This question is not as easy to answer as it may appear, and perhaps not even the most important question to ask.  You might think in terms of the most widely spoken languages in the world or your region (Linguists estimate some 7,000 languages are spoken on this planet), but there are lots of good reasons to study different languages.

• Some choose a language because they find it beautiful—a very subjective idea, but perfectly valid.

• Some choose a language based on family heritage or previous travel experience.

• Others are already thinking of future careers.

• Really, learning any second language is worth your time, regardless of your reasons for choosing it. It’s about widening your cultural perspectives and about what you love.

• There is no wrong answer. Our hope is that all of our students in Wellesley will graduate high school with proficiency in another language (and perhaps apply for the Seal of Biliteracy when they are seniors).

Which language is right for me? 

• There is more information, including some WMS/WHS student videos on the World Languages page to help you.