Graph fails to show true language enrollment

Although it was nice to see an article about language enrollments at MSU (Language studies influence careers, global business SN 10/19), the graph accompanying the article was misleading.

The graphed numbers were the number of students majoring in a language, not all students enrolled in the language. Therefore, for example, the fact that Arabic enrollments have increased almost 500 percent — from 59 students in 1999 to 291 students in 2009 — was lost in your graph.

It also didn’t capture the fact that the Arabic major was just added this fall. The graph does not even accurately show the number of students majoring in the given languages, because it included only those students with language as their first major, and not as their additional major, which we encourage in the language programs.

Overall student enrollments in our language courses have seen a 188 percent increase in student enrollment since 1999, and we have added more than 15 less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) and African Languages (AFR).

At a time when academic programs are under scrutiny because of budget concerns, it is vital that presentation of data regarding enrollments be accurately presented. MSU’s growing enrollments in languages represent not only our institution’s commitment to the expansion of international reach, but also a national trend validating the importance of language study to the promotion of global awareness, as well as economic and national security.

Danielle Steider
Less Commonly Taught Languages coordinator

Anne Baker
assistant director of Arabic Language Instruction Flagship and associate director of Center for Language Teaching Advancement