Spanish is a widely used language across the world, and there around 20 countries that speak Spanish as their national language.

Lillian Baxter, 11, takes Spanish IV which is taught by Marlene Oxner, teacher. They started their journey in learning Spanish in middle school, in what was Foreign Language Exploration, and is now called World Language Exploration.

“Well, [I started learning] in seventh grade or sixth grade with Foreign Language Exploration at the middle school.” Baxter said.

Although they could have many reasons to take Spanish, whether for credits, or just to learn a new language, everyone has their own intentions.

“I’m passionate about having this as a skill, even as an adult, and I obviously want to get better at it,” Baxter said.

Many people in countries sometimes see Americans as uneducated in other cultures and languages. Baxter hopes to break this assumption

 “I feel like, as an American, there is a stigma that you don’t really learn languages that much, which is true. Like, if you go to

Europe, so many people know different languages, so I don’t want to be an ignorant American when I travel.”

Baxter plans to travel to various places once they’re available to. Whether it’s across the country, or across the world, traveling can be a big deal.

“Some of my family speaks Spanish, and I feel like a lot of people–like if you want to travel, Spanish is one of those universal languages that is good to learn and know and speak,” Baxter said, “I would like to go to South America. I’d also like to go to Spain, and even in, just, like, California, which I travel to, like, a lot, they speak a lot of Spanish.”

Baxter will be able to do all of this, through taking all of these courses, and being so successful at them. Even through difficulties, they have succeeded in learning Spanish.

“Don’t let one teacher for one class affect how your perspective of a language is…It’s not about the teacher, it’s about the language. There are so many apps and platforms you can learn Spanish on.”