JavaScript as a Foreign Language

Would you rather learn to roll your Rs in Spanish or roll through a for-loop? Would you code in French or speak in Python? Prepare for a future in tech or immerse yourself in a new culture? These are the kind of questions many high school students in the USA are facing today.

The topic of programming and STEM education came up while talking to some friends. And, although the idea may be a bit dated, we ended up discussing an initiative in the United States to consider programming as a second language at the high school level.

In summary, the idea involves counting credits from programming classes (e.g., Coding, Computer Science, Technology) toward the foreign language requirement (e.g., Spanish, French, German).

Some states are proposing –or have already implemented– a similar initiative. Just to name a few: Kentucky and Oklahoma passed bills recognizing coding as a foreign language; Texas offers it to some students, too; and Florida ended up rejecting a similar bill after pressure from education lobbies.

I find it an interesting topic, but I’m divided about it.