What Languages Can You Learn in High School?

If you’re going to be taking a foreign language in high school, consider yourself lucky! Learning a new language is always beneficial, and starting before college can help you choose your future career path and give you a leg up on your competition. But, with so many choices, how do you know which is the best foreign language to take in high school?

Don’t get overwhelmed—choosing the right foreign language for you doesn’t have to be difficult!

Maybe your high school is really dedicated to foreign language study and there aren’t many limits to what languages you can learn in high school. Or maybe your school offers the big two—Spanish and French—and it’s a fairly easy decision for you.

Either way, when you’re dedicating a few years of your life to studying something, it can feel like a big decision!

There’s really no such thing as the easiest foreign language to learn in high school. Instead, you should be looking at the benefits of learning each language. That’s because any language could be the best one for you, depending on a lot of factors.

There are a few things to consider right off the bat:

• Your overall desire to learn a particular language
• The personal connection you feel towards that language/culture
• The career benefits that language can provide

One thing is for sure—you definitely shouldn’t base your decision of what language you learn in high school on what you think a college will like. Colleges really don’t care which language you learn in high school, as long as you did well in your classes!

Your decision should truly be based on what you’re inspired to learn. Pick something that interests you and that will work well with your future career goals. Don’t be afraid to find your inspiration from something simple like your own heritage!

READ MORE: Why is it Important to Learn a Foreign Language?

What languages can you take in high school?

Depending on your school district, you might not have very many options for language classes.

This probably changes a lot state to state, between districts, and public vs. private schools. But the standard languages you can learn in high school are at least Spanish, French, and German.

Some schools with better funding may offer languages like Mandarin and Arabic due to how important they’ve become in the global landscape.

Do you have to take a foreign language in high school?

Requirements for taking a foreign language in high school vary a lot school by school and between states.

Most schools, regardless of if they’re public or private, have some type of foreign language requirement. This is to help all students develop crucial language skills, not just in a foreign language, but in English as well.

It’s surprising how much you learn about your native language when you’re studying a foreign language!

Do you have to take 2 years foreign language in high school?

Just like the above questions, the amount of time required for foreign language study in order to graduate depends a lot on your school district or state.

Most schools require two years, but this could be condensed into only two semesters if your school uses block scheduling. Check with your guidance counselor to see what’s required!

Should I take 4 years of foreign language in high school?

Even if your high school doesn’t require four years of foreign language study, it can still be a good idea to do so! For some people, this will mean there’s no foreign language requirement when you get to college, which can be helpful for having extra room in your academic schedule later on.

Others will want to take four years of language study just to become even more proficient in that language. If you are planning to study a language in college, this is a great route because you’ll test out of any intro language classes that would normally be prerequisites.

8 best foreign languages to take in high school

There’s really no such thing as the “best” foreign language to take in high school, as everyone has different goals and desires! But, to help get you started on your decision, we’ve outlined the top languages many schools offer and most careers benefit from.

If your high school offers all of these, then consider yourself extremely lucky!

1. Spanish

We all know Spanish is every US school district’s bread and butter, and is among the most practical, easiest languages to learn in high school. With all of Latin America right near us, it makes total sense!

This isn’t important just because of proximity, but also because of the volume of Spanish speakers around the world. With over 572 million Spanish speakers, it’s clear why Spanish skills are so crucial for students.

2. French

French has, for a long time, been sort of the standard academic language. At face value, you might not think French is important when compared to the more popular languages.

However, due to colonialism there are actually a lot more countries than just France that have French as an official language (especially in Africa). Even if you’re just traveling to Quebec, knowing some French can be really valuable!

3. German

Germany has always been a powerful country, and has become a leader in technology, science, and business (to match its longtime reign in the art and music world!). Now, pretty much any career choice will probably intersect with German language and/or culture, so it can only benefit you to study some.

Another top reason to study German: Did you know that English is a Germanic language? What better way to become even stronger of a speaker and writer than studying the language English came from!

4. Mandarin

If your high school offers Mandarin, do yourself a favor and take a semester or two. With China becoming the superpower that it is, Mandarin is only becoming more and more important to know.

Of all the Chinese dialects, Mandarin is by far the most widely spoken. Regardless of your future career path, this is sure to come in handy!

5. Arabic

Arabic is basically in the same category now as Mandarin: crucial. If you want to pursue anything in international relations, politics, science, or technology, knowing even a little Arabic can give you a significant leg up.

It’s now a widely-spoken language in and out of the US. Plus, it can really help you if you’re traveling in the future around the Middle East!

6. Italian

Ahhh Italian. The language of art, music, and—let’s face it—love. If you want to smooth-talk someone, Italian is the way to go. But seriously, Italian is a great language to study if you want to pursue literally anything art-related, but also keep in mind that Rome was one of the world’s leaders for centuries.

Knowing some Italian can be really beneficial if you want to pursue anything like architecture, engineering, history, or religion. And, just like French, there are more countries than just Italy that use Italian as an official language!

7. Latin

We know, we know, it’s a dead language. But hear us out! Latin is really important for anyone hoping to pursue careers in healthcare, history, or religion. As the foundation for many of the most widely spoken languages, studying Latin can really give you a leg up in your career.

Not to mention, it’ll help with just daily English usage, too! There’s no better feeling than being able to understand a new word by breaking apart its prefix and root.

8. American Sign Language

ASL might not be the first “foreign” language to jump out at you, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important. The Deaf community is frequently overlooked, making it even more crucial for more students to learn ASL.

Not only can this lead to a major benefit for your future job search, but it can be a deeply rewarding language to study with all of its nuances and intricacies.

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Learning a language in high school is 100% worth it

Who knows? Maybe your high school language study will help you travel later on!

There are tons of languages out there to learn, and it’s really hard to narrow down the list! But rest assured that whichever one you choose, it’ll be a rewarding and beneficial experience.

There’s no such thing as the “best” foreign language to take in high school, so be sure to consider all of the factors that are important to you and your future career goals. Buena suerte, viel Gluck, bonne chance, and good luck!