Popular foreign languages such as German, Spanish and French may soon face more competition in classrooms.
The number of high schools across the country with Chinese language programs is growing, and Evanston Township High School is one more addition.
ETHS will offer Mandarin Chinese classes to students starting next year in an effort to recognize China’s impact on the global community.
“It’s not a language there should be any question about why we’re adding,” said Kathy Pino, department chair for world languages at ETHS. “We are making sure we offer our students something that will prepare them for the world they will be dealing with.”
In 2008 4 percent of all middle and high schools with foreign language courses offered Chinese classes, an increase from only 1 percent of schools with Chinese programs in 1997, the Center for Applied Linguistics reported.
The beginner course in Chinese will be available to students in the fall, and successively higher levels will be offered each additional year.
Though the planning process began about six years ago when parents and other educators showed interest in creating Chinese courses, Pino said they wanted to wait for the appropriate time to implement the program due to a lack of qualified Chinese teachers.
Now the field of teacher preparation for Chinese programs has grown and developed tremendously, she said. ETHS is currently in the hiring stage for the program.
Pino said the number of beginner courses offered will be decided after students make course selections this month for the upcoming year.
“We have the most extensive course offerings in languages of any school around,” she said. “Learning Chinese gives you access to a window into a culture that has a huge world influence right now.”
