As  an ELL teacher, Mrs. Ippel helps explain to students topics that they don’t quite understand, on Tuesday of this week. Photo by: Elia Figueroa

By: Elia Figueroa

To graduate from Plymouth High School, a foreign language credit is required. However, English class could be considered a foreign language to those who did not grow up speaking the language. Students of all languages think about foreign languages in different ways.

Having foreign languages has allowed high school students to learn a different language and to experience different cultures. “I think it is great to have other languages in our school. It brings more culture,” says sophomore Felicia Dixon who is taking Chinese and Spanish. Freshmen Wilfredo Ascencio just moved here to Plymouth says, “It’s really difficult because I was not used to being around people that spoke a different language.” Both students express their feelings about a foreign language and share the experience of trying something new.

Mrs. Wendt was teaching her Spanish class, on Tuesday morning. Photo by Maria Ortiz. think it is great to have other languages in our school. It brings more culture,” says sophomore Felicia Dixon who is taking Chinese and Spanish. Freshman Wilfredo Ascencio just moved to Plymouth says, “It’s really difficult because I was not used to being around people that spoke a different language.” Both students express their feelings about a foreign language and share the experience of trying something new.

It takes effort and dedication to learn another language, but for some people it wasn’t difficult at all. Freshman Vanessa Baca stated, “I think for me it was easy to adapt into new languages because I really did pay attention.” Listening is a key concept in foreign language classes. One has to have self control in order to do well and succeed. Students must pay attention and dedicate time outside of class to get a good grade.

Learning any new language and coming to a totally new country can be a very difficult obstacle to overcome, but very rewarding at the end because students get to communicate with other people. The struggle for years to learn to master English and being able to go to PHS has taught students to communicate and be fluent in another language.