By Brendan Wilmot '04

When it comes to language instruction, we're trend-setters.

Or maybe we're simply trend-followers.

The ebbs and flows of enrollment in German, Spanish and other languages at Deerfield reflect a nationwide phenomenon at America's high school's and colleges.

The most popular language at high schools is Spanish, a development that was almost unthinkable a generation ago. Languages such as Chinese, Japanese and Arabic have attracted more interest. French and German programs are slipping, except in regions of the United States with large populations of immigrants from western Europe.

Choate Rosemary Hall is typical. "Spanish and Japanese are flying," said Charlotte Murphy, the director of communications. At Deerfield, dozens of Caucasian students are taking Chinese-a language once dominated by Asians. Choate has seen the same phenomenon. At the same time, Asian students are branching out from their native languages. Many Chinese students at Choate have started studying Japanese. Choate's Chinese program is growing, too, while French and Latin remain stable. Interest in the Russian, Italian, and German are waning; those departments are only offering advanced courses.

Although Choate dropped Arabic about twenty years ago, the school may resume instruction because turmoil in the Mideast has made the language seem relevant.

At Phillips Exeter Academy, Spanish is the most popular language. French remains popular but has been gradually losing its luster. Japanese is growing the fastest, and Chinese and Russian are also expanding. Latin and Greek classes maintain stable numbers of students. The German and Italian programs have been downsized, with only senior electives being offered in the German.

And yes, Choate is also considering adding Arabic.

Bucking the national trends, Westminster School's language program has barely changed. In the past fifteen years, only Spanish, French, and Latin have been offered, with Spanish edging the others for popularity.

The last major change in the program came in 1985 when Russian was phased out.

At Deerfield, administrators regularly review the interest in languages before deciding what courses to offer. Headmaster Eric Widmer, who has traveled widely and lived overseas, says learning a second or third language is crucial for Americans.

Combined, Headmaster Eric Widmer and his wife Meera Viswanathan, who is spending this year in Japan, have studied thirteen languages, including Chinese, German, Japanese, Old English, Old Norse and Tamil.

Mr. Widmer said that that given that there is already an Arabic Literature class, it is possible that Arabic will be added in the coming years.

Deerfield's graduation requirements for languages have also changed. In the past, students could take either three years of one language, or two years of two different ones.

The Language Department now strongly encourages students to take three years in a language. The teachers say mastering one language is more important than a brief brush with two.

By Kat Benesh '04

Spanish is in. So is Chinese. German, though, is kaput.

Deerfield is phasing out German this year because of dwindling enrollment. Only two students expressed interest in taking upper-level German courses next year, so the language won't be offered.

In an interview last week, Headmaster Eric Widmer said Deerfield might add courses in Arabic in coming years because of increased interest in Arabic literature and language. Mr. Widmer, who taught Chinese and Central Asian history at Brown University, added Chinese to Deerfield's curriculum.

Teachers tried everything from talking to parents to sending out mailings in order to lure students to German and even sent out summer mailings, says Christophe de Bord, chair of the Language Department. Unfortunately, German is rarely taught in middle schools these days.

"It's ridiculous," said Erica Mayyasi '04, one of the two German IV students. "If they have AP computer programming classes for one student, I don't see why we can't take German." Relatives in Germany inspired her to start taking German.

Said Sean Morton '04, who makes up the other half of the German IV class, "I'm not complaining, but I am disappointed. I am disappointed because Deerfield tries to promote diversity, but they are shutting down a program that makes [it] more diverse." Russian was dropped six years ago as it lost luster. Spanish is the most popular language among Deerfield students, with French running in second. After that, the numbers drop significantly, splitting among Chinese, Latin, and a few brave souls in Greek.

Chinese teacher Xiaofeng Kelly, who arrived four years ago, said the number of students studying Chinese has more than doubled in that time, from 22 to 46. She attributes that partly to the rising number of Chinese classes offered at middle schools. Among the new eager students: Dean of Faculty Rich Bonanno.