WATERLOO - As the last month of the year begins, it's once again time to be reminded of a cultural milestone.

Forget Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa; December is Learn a Foreign Language Month.

While many may not think it's necessary to learn to speak anything other than English, and most can probably go their whole lives without learning a single word of anything else, learning another language can help further understanding of a different culture.

That's one of the reasons colleges look so closely at foreign language training and why high schools everywhere see such high enrollment in classes like Spanish, French and German.

Waterloo Community Schools spokeswoman Sharon Miller said there were 880 enrollments at East High and 1,579 West High enrollments in a foreign language class for both semesters combined. She noted Spanish was the most popular choice.

"I would say (learning a foreign language) is part of a skill set that can prepare you for careers that might engage you worldwide," Miller said.

But one doesn't have to set one foot out of the Cedar Valley to find jobs where foreign language skills are highly in demand. In this state, 178,333 residents, or 6.4 percent of Iowans, speak a language other than English at home, according to 2006 statistics from the U.S. Census.

And interpreters, no matter what language they can translate, are in short supply. Emily Chafa, deputy director of litigation with Iowa Legal Aid, said Spanish translation is needed the most. Other languages needing interpretation frequently at the nonprofit organization are French, Serbo-Croatian, Vietnamese and Arabic.

Iowa Legal Aid staffs a few interpreters and uses an outside firm for other needed translation.

"We could use more people (translating)," Chafa said. "I would think that will increase as our population continues to increase and become more diverse."

But even for those not looking for an interpreting gig, learning a foreign language can still help with basic communication. Classes in Spanish are available at Hawkeye Community College this spring, and the University of Northern Iowa offers foreign language instruction in several languages.

For those who already know a little and want to improve, the Waterloo Public Library hosts a Spanish/English Conversation Group on Tuesday nights. Those who understand both English and Spanish, at least on a basic level, are invited to come talk with others on a wide variety of topics.

"It's just normal conversation, learning to be fluent in both languages and practicing," said Claudia Ramirez, diversity services coordinator at the library. "Whenever you don't use the language, you lose it."

For some Iowans, English is the foreign language.

At UNI, international students get help learning English through the Culture and Intensive English Program, where they buddy up with a conversation partner at least one hour per week.

"While the international students can practice their English, the native speakers can learn more about other cultures," said Caiyi Deng, activities coordinator with CIEP. "Most of our current conversation partners have a good time."

Contact Amie Steffen

at (319) 291-1464 or

amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.