!e foreign four year language policy at Friends has been around for generations. Friends has made it a requirement for students to learn another language in order to graduate from the school. On the one hand, this policy has opened doors for people who would otherwise not have tried to learn another language and who are glad they were made to explore a new culture’s way of commu- nication. However, on the other hand, it has caused stress and frustration for other students who are not as fond of the subject and feel it is an unnecessary course and a waste of time. So, should foreign language be a required course? Let’s look at some di”erent perspectives and view- points to #nd an answer. !e #rst question we have to ask ourselves is why in the #rst place does our school require us to learn a second language? !e #rst and most obvious reason is the culture. Learning about di”erent cultures and ways people live worldwide can help broaden your perspective of the human experience. Bringing aspects of other cultures into our school also creates a greater sense of community for people from di”erent backgrounds and makes us more diverse. When asked if she believed we should be required to take a foreign language, Jamie Feldman ‘24 said “Yes. It leads to a greater understanding of other cultures. Under- standing other cultures and incorporating them into our lives brings a greater sense of Quaker community”. One argument against the foreign language policy is that it is not a useful subject. Many students wonder “Will I ever really use this skill?” Upper school Chinese teacher Xuedan Yang says “In China, students have to take a second language, especially in high school. Learning a second language is a good way to explore the world. It helps you to communicate with people of di”er- ent backgrounds.” Communication is a thing that we as humans o$en take for granted. We can get so much rich information from someone if only we stop to listen, and sometimes the richest information can come from people with completely di”erent backgrounds than ourselves. Jamie Feldman ‘24 says “I think understanding someone’s language is the key to understanding someone’s culture.” Since learning a foreign language requires a lot of work and e”ort it can be somewhat intimidating to take the #rst step. Student Oscar Wilson‘27 says “Most people don’t have the willpower to actually put time into learning a language so having an academic program that makes you do it is nice.” !e requirement to take another language makes it so that students have the motivation to learn about another culture that they otherwise would not have even thought about exploring. So what is the consensus of the student body on whether foreign language should be a required class? A poll sent out to the entire upper school that yielded 113 responses revealed that approximately 69.9% of students support the foreign language policy while 30.1% are less enthusiastic about the requirement. When asked about his thoughts on the foreign language requirement, student Jacob Sepehriazar’27 stated “I don’t think it’s a necessary part of the school experience because learning a second language is a lot of pressure to put on someone. It should de#nitely be an option for students but not a require- ment.” In conclusion, WFS’ foreign language policy has given students the opportunity and the means to learn a new language and even though it is mandatory, it has gained the support of the majority of the student body. !e opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture does not come every day and students are encouraged to look at the policy with an open mind to learn about the fascinating world of another culture’s way of communica- tion.