For a long time, counselors at GPHS have advised freshman to avoid taking a foreign language for their first year of high school, claiming it to be too difficult.
      However, I see this not only as an insult to their intelligence, but also a blatant lie. It has been scientifically proven that the earlier that one begins learning a language the better they will learn and the easier it will be to do so.
      This is why it is best for children to be subjected to language from the time they are born—because youth and the ability to learn a language represent a positive correlation.
      Additionally, I also disagree that postponing the time in which one begins learning a language is not harmful.
      According to educational technology consultant, Alan November, in the world of today, it isn’t difficult to find people who are smart, but to find people who demonstrate “empathy” toward those of other cultures and ethnicites.
      In the modern global economy, it is inevitable that everyone will work with at one time or another someone from another country. And it is people who can respect, understand, and work with those cultural and national differences that modern employers seek.
      Thus, if our counselors truly desire the best for our school’s students, they should be promoting rather than discouraging early enrollment in foreign language classes.
      Not only will it lead to better job opportunities, but according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, it will also lead to greater starting salaries by up to $10,000 more dollars than any other liberal arts major if students eventually major in it.