Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

Opinion

To the Editor:

Poetry & Art

Classified Ads

Back Issues

Blogs

Credit where credit is due

The Commuter

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Here at LBCC we offer a wonderfully wide selection of foreign languages, ranging from Spanish and French to Latin, Chinese, and American Sign Language. What is unfortunate is that students planning to enroll for next term will find that they will only receive college credit for just one out of the 11 different languages offered: Spanish. Last year, the administration chose to drop the credits available for French from three to zero. This winter term, students will be able to receive credits for classes on Improvisation and Floral Design, but not French, a language spoken by over 170 million people and the national language of 28 separate countries.

One might argue that the classes are still available, but for many, zero credit classes are out of the question. We have more students than ever receiving Financial Aid and for some, it is the only way they have been able to continue their education. This service requires a minimum amount of credits attempted each term. For students balancing their class load with a full or part time job, or who have small children or elderly relatives, classes that won’t count toward Financial Aid may be offered, but they are still out of reach. Those who need a language are forced to take Spanish regardless of whether they have any interest or if it’s beneficial to their degree. Spanish is helpful here in the United States, but those whose major takes them abroad to Europe, the Middle East, or Africa would greatly benefit from learning French or German, and gain little from learning Spanish.

After speaking with Gary Ruppert, a speech and music instructor, he explained that French was dropped last year due to cuts in the budget. I’m fully aware that LBCC, as well as other community colleges, have struggled with the economic downturn, and I sympathize greatly. However, I would like to point out that United States as a whole has also struggled with a terrible stigma. We are known for being exceedingly ethnocentric. As one of the richest and most educated nations on Earth, we are largely unilingual. As quoted in The Seattle Times, President Obama himself has urged us to take foreign language education more seriously for the sake of international relations. “When we as a society do a really bad job teaching foreign languages – it is costing us when it comes to being competitive in a global marketplace.”

I believe the money to reinstate the credits for French can be found in the budget. I understand that many classes have lost their credits due to necessary cuts to the school budget. But in times of scarcity we shouldn’t compromise our core values. The Peace Studies class organized by Doug Clark here at LBCC has been able to send students abroad to the International Symposium on Education for Peace, Justice, and Human Rights in Berlin, England, Lithuania, Norway and many other countries since 1988 on fundraising alone – students have never had to pay their way. This is an excellent example of how dedication to a subject can prevail over financial hardship. If fundraising is necessary, then let us raise funds. But I encourage LBCC administrators to let us try. Continuing credits for French is a small step, and I hope that one day, when pastures are greener, we may be able to afford credits for all the foreign language classes, because no one language or culture is more or less important than another.

Magdalen O’Reilly
LBCC student

Comment

Commenting is closed for this article.