Staff Writer
Most students need a foreign language to be accepted into a university,
but simply pulling one out of a hat isn’t the best choice. So, how should an
Apex High student choose the right option? Because not everyone is interested
in the same field of study, a student would be wise to consider his/her future
goals before signing up.
The first path one could go down is the sensible road of Spanish
class. Kate Lasher, an Apex High Spanish
teacher, describes her subject as a “useful skill in today’s global community.”
It is widely spoken in the United States and dominates South and Central
America as well as a slice of Western Europe, and may increase one’s likelihood
of finding a job in travel, communication, business, medicine, or even
accounting. This language would not only
be useful to people frequently working with the public, but would also be the
most helpful in everyday communication, as 13 percent of the American
population is Spanish speaking. There is also a wide variety of Spanish classes
offered at Apex High. The seventh level is AP Spanish Literature, taught by Elizabeth
Mata; it can be described as an active, creative class where students will gain
a deeper understanding of the language.
Although French may not be the most commonly spoken language here
in the United States, it is number two with our northern Canadian neighbors.
Aside from communicating successfully in Canada, Kimberly Pilling explains how “French
art is highly influential, and is credited with starting the modern
impressionist movement.” Before French artist Monet, American painters put down
on canvas what they saw, not what they felt; famous American Theodore Robinson
painted with Monet in Giverny, France, inspiring his heartfelt piece, “The
Wedding March.” A future artist would take great pleasure in the many
impressionist art projects all levels of French classes complete, as well as
broadening their horizons on international art.
The arts are not the only aspect of culture however, and another
country plays a bigger role in the field of worldwide business and economics.
Apex High School German teacher Paul Maseman explains, “German is the language
of all types of business and technology, the most spoken mother tongue of the
world’s largest economy, the European Union.” German is a sensible language to
learn for an aspiring politician or anyone interested in working in
collaboration with the worldwide market. In order to learn the language effectively as
well as acquiring teamwork, creative, and thinking skills, Maseman provides a variety
of learning methods and unique projects; including having his German III students write an original fairy tale.
Spanish, French, and German are a student’s options here at Apex
High, and the reasons for taking them vary as much as the languages do. Once a
student decides which one best fits his/her interests or goals, all that is
left to do is study.
