Foreign language curriculums across the nation have a problem. According to a study done by the Modern Language Association, foreign language enrollment at the college and university level has seen a drop in student enrollment, going from nearly 1.7 million and rising in 2009 to just under 1.2 million in 2021. Many languages, most notably French, German, Chinese, and Spanish have experienced sharp declines in formal enrollment data. This represents a 30% drop in language enrollment rates in a 10 year period. Such a drop in numbers begs numerous questions, yet perhaps most pertinently the following: Why is there such an increased lack of interest in the pursuit of formal language learning? To begin, the prevalence of STEM related majors and respective classes has gone up, growing 16% between 2017 and 2021. This correlates with the rate at which language enrollment rates have decreased, dropping by 16.6% between the years of 2016 and 2021. Furthermore, many students believe that the overall need for language has fallen out of practice. Finance major Aiden Iucci ‘29 believes the following: “there is no real benefit to learning a foreign language. Especially now, with the increased capabilities of online resources and translators, the necessity of learning a language is [no longer] there.” Certainly, language resources have become much more prevalent in recent years. The very act of turning on Chrome ensures (unless one has turned it off) that Google Translate will automatically convert entire passages to a “readable language” from the original one. By removing the need for understanding from both our online and personal interactions, our modern society has removed the need for learning languages other than our own. Additionally, the rise of streaming platforms and social media has made foreign cultures and languages more accessible than ever before, allowing students to engage with languages informally through media rather than through formal classes. While this exposure can boost interest, it may also reduce the perceived need for structured language study. Another concern that is partly responsible for a drop in formal learning rates are societal influences. Such influences play a significant role in shaping language enrollment trends in colleges. One major factor is the changing landscape of popular culture, which heavily affects students’ interest in learning particular languages. For example, the global popularity of Korean pop music (K-Pop), Korean dramas, and films has sparked a surge in Korean language enrollments. The Modern Language Association reports a 38% increase in students who are formally enrolled in a Korean course. Despite the identifiable shift in the direction of language enrollment, it is still a beneficial pursuit to thoroughly study a language and reap the advantages of speaking it. In the words of Leanne Hassett, a Spanish teacher at Bishop Brady High School in Concord, NH, “Practically, any language is valuable. It doesn’t matter which [language] courses you take because they all build the brain.” Several studies exist that further illustrate this point. By exercising one’s skills in a language consistently, the human mind develops a particular set of skills that improve memory, problem solving, and overall brain health. Moreover, learning a language comes with benefits separate and apart from mental health and ability. On a deeper level, it enriches the experiences and bonds that one has with another speaker and improves the cultural appreciation of the respective language, yet perhaps most significantly it opens a wide array of career opportunities. In a competitive job market, bilingual employees are highly sought after, generally earning between 5 to 20% more than their monolingual colleagues. As a bit of final advice, learn to speak a language to some degree of proficiency, even if doing so seems entirely unnecessary. No matter the reason you find, you will undoubtedly be some benefit, and competitive edge, in doing so.