Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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Fourteen credits is almost as much as a related field. RON TROXEL, sophomore: I'm against the regulation because you're putting people in classes which they are not interested in. They are there just for the requirement and not to learn. I feel they should be put in a cultural class where they study a special culture for a semester or for a year. BOB MIKO, Clarion editor: If a person wants to drop the language requirement, why is he here at a liberal arts college? Also, one of the great faults of the Americans is that they are monolinguists. If you go to any foreign country you find that the people are bi or tri lingual. It's rather presupposing of these Americans that they expect everyone to learn their language but make no effort to learn others. Is it any wonder that the world hates Americans? JOHN MOORE, sophomore: I would like to see the language requirement abolished for all upper classmen as well as incoming freshmen. A language course could be revised though, from the present form, and tailored to complete credits for a specific degree. RAY SMITH, junior: Our language requirement helps, in its own small way to bring the world closer together. What's wrong with that? Dropping the language requirement only reflects America's tendency to slothfulness. Foreign Language

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Language Lab: the other side of a theoretically good idea What is your opinion of the language requirement? Should it be dropped? ELDON ELSETH, senior: In my thinking there are two reasons students take a language course. First, for preparation in future vocations such as preaching or being a doctor; secondly, for those who intend to live abroad. Both desire grammatical training. The majority of students, however, do not need or desire this training. For those who desire a liberal arts education, a cultural course is needed. This could stimulate interest in other cultures rather than stifling it as it presently does. There should be an option — grammar study or culture study. PAT FAXON, senior: 1 don’t think it should be abolished, but the ways in which it can be fulfilled should be broader, for instance, the student should be able to fulfill it through study tours or intensive Studies of a culture. LAVERNE LARSON, freshman: I think the study of a language can be fun and rewarding if it's not done with the idea that it is compulsary. Anything done on one’s own initiative is more interesting because one is genuinely interested and studys harder. With these ideas in mind, I believe the requirement should be dropped. KAREN NELSON, senior: I feel it’s vital to a liberal arts education, but two years is too much. Foreign Language

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