As President of Teacher's Discovery, I work closely with World Language teachers every day. Language learning, whether it's Spanish, English, Mandarin, German, or any other language, is personal to me—I know how much it matters to the future of individual students as well as to the future of society as a whole.
But I also know this: The value given to language education is being eroded. Sometimes quickly and obviously; sometimes slowly and quietly.
Let me share a story.
When my son was in sixth grade, his school offered a language course for the first time—Spanish. I was thrilled. When I opened the elective presentation, I imagined I would find a slide about the Spanish class that was filled with energy and invitations to explore culture, communication, and global connection.
Instead, the slide deck read like a warning label:
- "A lot of homework"
- "Locked into a year-long course"
- "Limited in other electives"
- Encouragement to "choose now": commit to Spanish or wait to take another language in high school, when others would be offered.
The message was clear: Sign up at your own risk.
It didn't celebrate the joy of speaking another language. It didn't highlight the lifelong advantages. It didn't mention culture, communication, or global connections. It seemed to devalue the opportunity.
My son chose to "wait for German." And as much as I wanted him to take Spanish, I couldn't blame him.
Sadly, I see this same mindset elsewhere. Shrinking budgets, shifting educational priorities, and rapid advancements in technology are pushing language programs aside. Parents, students, administrators, and policymakers are all questioning the need for language learning when there's pressure to focus on STEM, when language requirements are being dropped, when funding is tight, and when translation tools seem to promise instant solutions.
But here's the truth: Allowing language programs and requirements to disappear means losing something deeply important—for students, for communities, and for our society.
The Many Benefits of Language Learning
People often think of language learning in terms of travel or career opportunities. Those are real benefits, but the impact runs much deeper.
Cultural understanding and empathy: Learning about other cultures' traditions, perspectives, and experiences changes the way students see the world.
Cognitive benefits: Language learning improves multitasking, problem-solving, and memory. Bilingualism has even been linked to delaying age-related cognitive decline.
Academic gains: Students who learn additional languages often perform better in other subjects.
Global readiness: Whether it's business, diplomacy, or cross-cultural collaboration, multilingual students are better prepared for a connected world.
These are the messages my son should have heard—not warnings about homework.
The Growing Threats
Unfortunately, however, World Language programs across all levels of education are increasingly being devalued or cut altogether. The reasons are complex, but there are some trends.
Budget cuts: When schools face financial pressure, language programs are often among the first to go—viewed as nonessential "extras" instead of core components of a well-rounded education.
STEM-focused priorities: While STEM skills are undeniably important, an overcorrection has occurred. Coding is promoted as "future-proof," while subjects (like World Languages) that foster communication, cultural understanding, and creativity are often sidelined.
Removal of language requirements: Recent policy changes reflect this shift. Here are some examples:
- In May 2024, Oklahoma eliminated its high school World Language graduation requirement, replacing it with an extra math credit and career pathway electives. Language study is now merely "highly encouraged".
- The University of Oklahoma is currently reviewing its foreign language requirement for Arts and Sciences majors.
- Tennessee is actively considering dropping its two-credit high school foreign language requirement.
- Indiana and Texas have seen reduced investment in language education, with some districts scaling back programs in anticipation of changes in requirements and policy.
These changes reflect a larger trend: Language learning is being de-prioritized in favor of what are perceived as more immediately practical skills. The result? Not only do students often have fewer or no opportunities to learn a language, but the general attitude that this trend expresses is that language learning isn't that important… and, unfortunately, this attitude rubs off on students.
And then there are all the translation tools and translation technology available easily to anyone with an internet connection. With AI tools and Google Translate, students may question even more why they should learn a language. But while these tools are helpful, they can't replicate the human connection that comes with truly understanding and using a language. Real communication is nuanced, emotional, and cultural—something an app can't provide.
Reinstating the Value
So how do we protect and revitalize World Language education in this challenging climate? First off, language teachers and companies like Teacher's Discovery can work to inspire, not just require. A language curriculum and the language resources in a classroom should ignite curiosity and motivate students. For teachers, that means less rote memorization and more meaningful communication, storytelling, and exploration.
Bryan Kandel's book Give Them What They Want: A Guide to Increasing Enrollment in World Language Class offers very practical ideas for making language classes relevant and exciting. I highly recommend it, especially if you're seeing a drop in enrollment or if you live in one of the states where they're actively cutting back support for language programs.
And, somewhat similarly, we need to be emphasizing acquisition over memorization. Language really isn't learned by drilling verb charts—it's acquired through engaging, comprehensible input. This is the foundation of programs like Voces Digital's "Our Story" series, which supports natural, equitable language learning.
Speaking of equity, we need to prioritize accessibility. Language learning must be for every student—not just those in affluent districts. We must push for equitable access to strong language programs across all schools, including rural, urban, and underserved areas.
And we need to connect language learning to culture. You can't separate a language from the people who speak it. Culture-rich content—music, film, festivals, current events—makes the classroom come alive and builds respect across differences. It teaches students to see others not as "foreign," but as fellow humans with shared hopes and dreams.
The future belongs to those who can navigate diverse worlds, and in that sense, multilingualism is essential. From healthcare and business to social justice and science, students who speak multiple languages have a critical edge. Let's make sure they're equipped—not just with job skills, but with the cultural fluency to truly lead in a global society.
The Need to Act
Share student successes and stories that highlight the impact of language study. Connect with parents and ask them to contact your school board to check on how they're supporting language learning. Have parents advocate for strong programs. Urge administrators and policymakers to protect and expand access to language programs. Urge them to recognize language programs as essential, not expendable. Languages don't just teach us how to communicate—they teach us how to connect. And in a world that desperately needs more understanding, that's a lesson we simply can't afford to cut.
Together, we can do more than defend language education—we can lead its revival. Let's champion language learning as the essential skill and joyful journey it truly is.
