By Luka Suraci, ’26
The ever-evolving world of education has been undergoing major reforms in recent years.
Schools all around America are constantly reevaluating their curriculums to better prepare students for the challenges of college and post-college life. One notable change that many high schools have been making is adjusting the World Language requirements. Schools have been modifying the traditional four-year World Language mandate to a more flexible three-year curriculum. This change has sparked much debate among educators, parents, and students in our community.
Chaminade High School (CHS) is continually evaluating and expanding their academic program. The decision to change the World Language curriculum stems from the desire to offer more courses, in particular AP courses, to the CHS curriculum. Dr. Michael Strandberg ’09, member of the math department and director of scheduling and data, said that he wants to make AP courses more available to CHS students, because they introduce more rigor into the curriculum and better prepare students for college. These AP courses favor STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). STEM has been a growing focus in schools around the country. With the possibility of additional classes such as AP Statistics, AP Computer Science, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, and Honors Engineering, it is clear that CHS is also trying to move in this direction. Beginning with the class of 2025, the curriculum change will introduce a more flexible class schedule, allowing students to take more AP classes or classes that better fit their interests.
Naturally, this shift in the World Language Department has caused some concern with students who feel that linguistic skills will benefit them later in life. This concern is justified because a multilingual skill set is becoming much more important in the job market and beyond. According to LinkedIn, proficiency in more than one language can increase job opportunities as it makes communication easier and allows mutual partnerships to run more smoothly.
Taking into account the concerns of students who would want to pursue a four-year World Language path, CHS has properly adjusted to their needs. Dr. Strandberg has said that AP World Language courses will be introduced for students who still wish to pursue a four-year World Language path. He also said that, in the future, the first three years of the World Language class may be adjusted so that the students learn more and build a better understanding of the language in less time. This will give more opportunities to the students who choose to pursue World Language for a fourth year, and ensures a sound basis in World Language for those who choose not to take a fourth year.
The shift from a four-year to three-year World Language requirement reflects the challenges faced in today’s education system. By reducing the mandatory World Language commitment, CHS aims to strike a balance between maintaining essential World Language skills and bringing in opportunities for students to pursue more AP classes and/or classes that peak their interest. Just as the world we live in is always changing, so must education change, ever adapting so as to better meet the needs of that world and of the students who will find success in it.
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