Page 13 - Edge Issue 2 2019

Advanced Advantages?
Are advanced language classes worth the work? Story and photos by Shannon Reid
The Edgewood requirement of three consecutive years of a language is something that challenges other schools in Brevard and even the state of Florida. Yet beyond Spanish and Latin 3 lies a far greater level of achievement: AP Spanish and Latin 5, which become options only after taking four years of that language. Many students tend to jump off of the language boat after meeting their language graduation requirement, yet teachers and counselors continue to encourage students to enroll in more than the three years that Edgewood currently requires. They preach that
taking these advanced language classes will benefit students both in college and in their future careers,
yet the question still remains: are these advanced
classes really worth it?
Students enrolled in Latin 5 and AP Spanish seem to think so. Haley Williams, 11, is currently enrolled in Latin 5 and has plans to pursue AP Latin next year. After 5 years of Latin, Williams enjoys the challenges it provides along with the knowledge she gains from it.
“I love Latin! I also think it helps me understand other cultures better because it allows me to read things the way they were intended to be read,” said Williams.
Another student who shares this point of view is fellow Latin 5 student Jack Klonowski, 12, who believes that without continuing beyond the basics, he would not have received many of the opportunities which Latin 5 offers him.
“I would not have had as good of an understanding as I do now if I had stopped at Latin 3 because as you progress through the levels of Latin, the passages we read are less edited and so we get closer and closer to the real messages that the original authors were trying to convey,” said Klonowski.
Though Klonowski believes in the value of advanced language classes, he also believes that the learning of a language has much more to do with just taking the classes.
“I would not say it is necessary to take an advanced language class but rather what you really need is a competent teacher which could come in the form of a tutor or a real-life experience.” said Klonowski. “Advanced classes provide
you the teacher, but not the experience so while I would say it is helpful, I would not say it is necessary for success.”
Someone who challenges Klonowski’s ideas about the importance and necessity of advanced language classes is Maria Garcia, 12. Garcia has been influenced by Spanish her whole life as her family are native speakers of the language.
“I definitely think someone who wants to be fluent should take an advanced language class because it is a college-level class that is challenging yet rewarding,” said Garcia, “When you practice it a lot you grow
more and more comfortable with speaking it.” Though the necessity and importance of advanced language classes are commonly challenged, one thing remains common: the impact they have on students. Many students taking advanced language classes plan to reap the benefits through a career involving that language or plans to travel
and study abroad.
“I plan on going into Veterinary Medicine
and Latin is super useful in anything involving medicine or anatomy, since it’s the root of many scientific words,” said Williams.
Williams is just one of many students who plan to use their knowledge of another language to give themselves an edge in today’s ever competitive world and growing job market. Along with Williams, Garcia also plans on using her
Spanish skills in her future.
“Speaking Spanish has already given me great
opportunities in the workforce and I will continue to use it in my future career. I also want to study abroad because I want to fully immerse myself in a
different culture,” said Garcia.
The topic of advanced language classes is one that
is likely to remain commonly debated, but students
will always remember the impact that their advanced language classes had on them.
“Taking an advanced language classes not only helps me understand other cultures,” said Garcia, “but it also gives me a better understanding of how diverse the world is and I will always remember that.”
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