Why are German and Spanish the 2 most common foreign languages taught in school?

Question

I'm just curious why those 2 were focused on.

Answer 1

German is probably the easiest language for English speakers to learn

Spanish is just practical in the US.

Also, if you know English, Spanish, and German, you should get an oustanding Verbal score on the SAT. There are enough roots in those languages that you will hardly ever encounter a word you don't know.

Answer 2

While French has always seemed more prevalent than German to me, I can see why German would be valuable. I have been told (by my of course unbiased HS German teacher) that German is becoming the language of medicine. He says that due to its flexibility in forming words (combining several to make meaning), it has become more useful than the dead Latin language. Sources below also indicate that in the world market, German-speaking nations are at the economic forefront. Sure, most of those people probably know a little bit of English, but if you have put out the effort to learn their language, how much more competitive are you?

A similar argument can be applied to Spanish, but closer to home. When my husband was looking for a job, his bilingual status made him more saleable than his college degree. He works with Radio Shack, and although many of the Spanish speaking customers know enough English to make their purchases, they still feel more comfortable with him, and so he gains those commissions.

I teach Spanish, and I tell my students that it's just good business to learn a language with booming Hispanic populations. Whether or not they feel immigrants should have to learn English, the simple fact remains that if they speak Spanish, too, they will be more marketable.

Plus, on my Top Ten list of reasons to learn Spanish, I like to point out how learning that language in particular opens them up to music that is all around them and new friends and community. After all, if I hadn't known Spanish, how could I have nabbed my bilingual husband? :o)

Answer 3

These are the languages that had been tradiationally foremost to humans within the United States (French and German extra in order that Spanish, till lately). In its early years, the US's most powerful relationships had been with nations in Europe, so that is why those languages had been foremost. Because the languages had been foremost, humans studied them, and those humans would turn out to be academics of those languages for the following iteration. This has persisted to the gift, with way more academics certified to train Spanish, French, and German than different languages. It's rough to get whatever new began with university curriculum. So, despite the fact that the US govt wishes pupils to be taught languages like Chinese and Arabic, it is difficult for colleges to hooked up new publications and uncover new academics. Also, pupils desire to take a language in top university that they are going to be competent to keep in university, if it is required. Smaller schools wouldn't have the extra wonderful languages, in order that would make pupils hesitate to take them. Plus, it IS precise that non-European languages are so much more difficult for English audio system to be taught. One intent those languages stay sensible is their have an effect on on English. You'll uncover many extra phrases and expressions from those languages than from others. Most American pupils may not ever move to Asia or the Middle East, however they are going to be competent to admire a few of the ones phrases and terms they discovered in French elegance after they see them in English writing. I'm in want of extra largely instructing different languages within the US, however I feel it would take awhile earlier than that occurs, for sensible motives.

Answer 4

I am not sure. In my son's school, he is taught French. Spanish is a logical choice and many languages have germanic roots.

Answer 5

Many people are of Hispanic heritage. German is a great technical language.

Answer 6

I don't think they are.
It varies by state, of course, but the enrollment numbers seem to be:

Spanish
French (dropping currently)
German
Japanese
Latin
other LCTs (Chinese is coming up, Russian way down from a high in the 60s, Italian mostly in the NE)

Why?
Availability of teachers
Demand from students/parents
prejudices of administration (only slightly tongue-in-cheek, there)

Answer 7

German, really? I took French in high school, and the school I worked at last year offered Latin.

Answer 8

maybe because they are easy to learn

im in high school and i took french for a year and it gets hard

my school also offers japenesse and of corse sign-laguage