Should Foreign Language be a requirement?

In many schools and colleges in US, taking a foreign language class for at least 4 years is a requirement to graduate. Many people I know have taken the requirement (mostly Spanish), learned as much as they needed to pass the class, and forgot it all a year after graduation. My question is: should taking a forgeign language be a requirement or an elective? Why or why not? People are forced into taking it whether they like it or not and many forget it afterwards, so is it any use to make it a requirement?

many people forget it after graduation but many people still remember it even after graduation. however, i believe that a person should not be forced to study languages they do not want and it is supposed to be an elective course instead of a core course. it will be a waste of years of hard work if they have to study the language because they had to and then forget everything because they don't have to study it any longer.

I think its really useful to study a language but it should still be a choice therefore most people who take it will enjoy it and therefore not forget it

Originally posted by: rongna

many people forget it after graduation but many people still remember it even after graduation. however, i believe that a person should not be forced to study languages they do not want and it is supposed to be an elective course instead of a core course. it will be a waste of years of hard work if they have to study the language because they had to and then forget everything because they don't have to study it any longer.

Originally posted by: missindia26

I think its really useful to study a language but it should still be a choice therefore most people who take it will enjoy it and therefore not forget it

But also I know many people still remember words for quite some time after they stop learning anyway

Originally posted by: _LalithaJanaki_

That's exactly how I feel! I studied Spanish for 4 years but only because I had to. Now I barely remember it except for a few verbs here and there. I think for those who want to study it, it should be made an elective but not forced on the students. I would have taken more art classes instead if I had the choice.🤔

so i reckon you study in the usa???

Originally posted by: rongna

so i reckon you study in the usa???

if you want to progress, then certain languages must be known to you

Originally posted by: -ATP-

if you want to progress, then certain languages must be known to you

i agree with this now being a bilingual is just too popular that it is no longer appreciated. being able to speak english is just a necessary especially when we are faced in a world of globalization, therefore we have to study another language other than english and our native tongue.