What is the point in learning Spanish?
I'm in high school and I have to have 2 credits in a foreign language. What's the point? It's just more stress.
19 Answers
Because Spanish sounds sexy - the ladies love it. I think that's reason enough, but if you're still searching for more, I suppose that it can open up many employment opportunities as well.
Hola, bmwhitley! 
I understand how you can feel this way, because I felt the same way about Biology 
Since your curriculum requires the foreign language credits to graduate (just as I needed the Biology credits), there's really no way around it. I'd like to suggest that you choose a language that you think you'd feel most comfortable with and do your very best. Maybe even try to find a friend who might want to take the class with you. Either way, you may find that you truly enjoy it!
I took 3 years of French in high school, which I enjoyed; however, I ended up in Texas where most everyone speaks Spanish! The only 2 native French speakers I've met here are the two lovely French women who were in my Spanish class! How incredibly ironic is that?! 
Though I rarely use the minimal French I've retained, the experience of learning a foreign language in high school actually helped me to be more receptive to learning a new language now (and thank goodness for that...most people I know won't even try).
I know it might seem like a pain-in-the-rear or maybe even "useless" to you right now, but trust me, it'll prove to be far more rewarding than the 2 credits you'll earn!
Should you decide to choose Spanish, remember that we're here to help you and most of us will be going through it right along with you! 
So buckle-up, hold on to your hat, and try to enjoy the ride! 
¡Buena suerte!
If you have to take a foreign language and English is your native language, Spanish is probably the easiest to learn. If you live in the United States, it's also the most potentially useful language to learn.
And if you didn't have a foreign language requirement, they would just fill your schedule with something else, like quantam physics. Wouldn't that be fun?
Don't learn Spanish... learn Chinese... the fact is that you need 2 credits... (y a llorar a la Iglesia )
[1] What would have happened if you didn't learn English? Take English out of your knowledge and all the literatures and phrases and movies and music and the entire culture just vanishes in a moment. Language is the backbone of a culture.
On the same note, when you add a rich language, you get ACCESS to that rich culture. When I watch a good English movie, I wish there were more. Well, there certainly ARE, in different laguages.
Btw, I am from India and I can pretty much understand and enjoy music and movies and arts and culture in Hindi/ Bengali/ Tamil/ Telugu/ Kannada etc. To me, the advantage is imperative. To you, you're just opening your doors.
[2] The cultural diversity: Imagine what happens to people who can't understand English? They are living in a shell. And trust me, English is not as omnipresent as it seems to be. You get out of your country, go to the East, or even to many parts of Europe and English doesn't work anymore. Even if people understand you through your English, you will not understand them through their English. To understand people, to understand culture and that is, to understand the bigger world, it's necessary to understand multiple languages, and mostly a basic/ intermediate understanding will also help you to go a long way. The same culture that might seem bizzare right now because you don't understand it, the language gives you the key to decipher it. Trust me, it's a wonderful world out there, outside your home.
[3] Make new friends people who look weird when you can't understand them and as soon as you can communicate to them, they get 'converted' to good friends. It helps us to discover that the same ideas can be expressed or interpreted in so many different ways, and it builds a habit in us to try and understand people before we start criticizing them.
You don't really learn a language for 2 credits. The learning itself is the gateway of treasure. Why look for what you are going to get at the end when your journey itself is its reward?
Welcome to the world of oceans, leave your pond
Well I can certainly relate to your "stress" concerns, I felt exactly the same way 40+ years ago. Now I'm here cramming to learn because I like to travel and it's really nice being able to talk to the locals. But you know what? Learning Spanish on this site is fun and I have to warn you, it's addictive. So take the Spanish course, come here for help and in the end walk away saying, "That was actually fun and I got 2 credits to boot".
Lots of people and countries speak Spanish in the world. It is a very useful language. Also learning Spanish is fun and enjoyable.
It is to teach you how to think, and to get you out of your shell.
Show the courage of your convictions. "It's just stress". Then refuse to take the course; don't receive the two credits, stand up for your principles, don't graduate from high-school (don't receive a diploma). Three cheers for those with the the courage to maintain their convictions.
I'm in high school and I have to have 2 credits in a foreign language. What's the point? It's just more stress.
No point.
Graduating from high school and receiving a high school diploma means that you are educated in some well-rounded way in order to function in and contribute to society. Your school system has apparently included "Having some working background in a foreign language" as a criterion for a well-rounded high school graduate. The point is for you to experience and learn information that you may not have otherwise been exposed to, making you a more valuable member of society.
The main reason you are expected to study a foreign language in high school is to better understand your own language.
Besides better employment, you can use Spanish to communicate with people casually, watch movies and listen to music that is in Spanish and, most importantly: expose yourself to an entirely different culture than what you are used to. I don't know if you explore the cultures in your Spanish class but we do in ours and it's awesome!there are 21 spanish speaking countries in the world- just think, if you were fluent, you wouldnt have to hire a translator if you visited one of those countries...but, if you hate Spanish that much, and it's not required, you may just want to drop the class.
Become fluent in Spanish and it will increase your job opportunities and paycheck.
Si tienes que pedirnos por qué, probablemente no hay un razón. La unica cosa puedo decirte es que hace dieciocho meses, supe nada de esto. Ahora, tengo casí viente paises a que puedo viajar y esta va a hacerlo mas sencillo para tener divertido...
