Cecily Bensmaia, reporter: Since the beginning of each of our lives, language has played a crucial role in our development, both educationally and socially. At Lab, the primary language spoken is English, but since third grade, classes to learn other languages have been offered, and taken by most Lab students. While these classes provide intellectual stimulation in foreign languages, many students have participated in other forms of learning outside of their classrooms, from apps on their phone, to clubs centered around practicing in real time. For many students, taking a modern method to learning a language has proven to be the easiest approach, and has kept students entertained and active for long periods of time. An example of this is Syria Vegna-Spofford, who has kept her Duolingo streak for upwards of three years.

Syria: I currently have a 1,322 streak on Duolingo

Cecily: Duolingo gives students the opportunity to learn multiple languages easily, instead of in classrooms, where students are only really able to learn one language at a time.

Syria: I have been learning a bunch of different languages, but currently I am learning Spanish 

Cecily: While Duolingo acts as an accessible option for students to be able to learn a language, many users of this app end up being more concerned over continuing their “streak,” which is determined by how many consecutive days they have used the app, than actually improving their knowledge of a language

Syria: I wouldn’t say that Duolingo has helped me learn any of these languages, but I am sort of doing it to maintain my streak, and I’ve gotten to that point where that’s kind of all that I care about

Natural sound of Student Duolingo Saying Something and Student Saying it Back

Cecily: Additionally, a less accessible but possibly more effective form of practicing language skills comes from the two conversation clubs that were formed earlier this year. Sophomore Rebecca Rupp has attended the Spanish Conversation Club since the beginning of this school year, and has found it an effective way to expand her Spanish vocabulary.

Rebecca: It gives us a more practical application and time to use Spanish, compared to class where we’re more just learning stuff. In the club we talk in Spanish, which is helpful. 

Cecily: Participating in conversations in this club has allowed students to create meaningful connections, while simultaneously providing a space for them to improve their language skills 

Rebecca: I really like the people in the club, but I also just like being able to practice Spanish during school time.

Cecily: This application of Spanish in a more casual school setting than in regulated language classes, allows students to practice languages without feeling the pressure that is often applied in language courses

Rebecca: It helps me speak in a more non-formal setting, because sometimes class can be a little stressful, so when the pressures are taken off, it is easier to just talk, even when you’re wrong

Cecily: Students have been able to develop and grow in these languages, by participating in clubs and using online sources, and through this linguistic improvement will be able to participate more actively in school language courses, and use newly learned vocabulary in real-life scenarios. Reporting for the U-High Midway, this is Cecily Bensmaia.