Grace Wu

Leah Koo (9) and Alexis Santosa (10) excitedly chat with eachother about a Spanish project. “As Harker students and high schoolers, our lives revolve around school, so it’s really important to have a tight-knit class,” Ameera said.

Hands sweating and hearts racing, students prepare for one of the most stressful and important parts of the school year: revealing their classes, and most importantly, their classmates. They scan their new class lists on Schoology, wondering whether their friends might join them. More often than not, the first day includes meeting unfamiliar classmates who gradually bond over the school year.

However, compared to core classes like math or English, where more class periods and teachers are available, students in language classes are usually grouped into a few available periods from middle to high school. Junior Eva Liu took Japanese starting from sixth grade, moving from introduction levels to the AP course. She explained how this consistency for language classes allowed her to naturally bond with her classmates.

“Having classes together is forced proximity,” Eva said. “You see these people every other day in high school, so you have no other choice except to become friends with them. Because I’ve been in this same course for so many years, I just started getting closer with the people in my class.”

Harker mandates all students to pass at least level three in their chosen language course. However, many language students choose to continue studying a language past the AP level through additional elective courses. Junior Ameera Ramzan, who took Latin all the way up to the post-AP course, appreciated the benefits of being surrounded by like-minded students who shared their interest in the language.

“Everyone who takes Latin is really committed, since it is more of an unusual language to choose,” Ameera said. “Everyone chooses it because they love it, so you already have that camaraderie. Having that sense of community for so long and then having everyone in that community also be invested in the class just makes it so much more fun.”

French teacher Galina Tchourilova observes changes in her students as they grow closer together each year. She noted how students become more willing to talk with each other, which also helped them to immerse themselves in the topics and ideas of the class.

“Language teachers are fortunate in this respect, because we see the same students year after year,” Tchourilova said. “We see their progress, and very often this group of students stick together and really bond well. It gives me great pleasure to see them blossoming, and in the end the students really show their personal interest in the class too.”

For Eva, being in Japanese class helps her form and strengthen friendships, but it also motivates her to be more engaged in lessons. Whether it be raising her hand to answer a question or jumping in on an educational conversation with her peers, Eva notes how the structure of language classes supports both her education and her personal connections.

“It makes a big difference, especially in the way you talk with people,” Eva said. “When I’m comfortable with my classmates, I personally feel a lot more open in expressing my ideas and responding to the teacher’s questions. It fosters a very welcoming environment.”

Ameera emphasized how bonding with others can change their whole perspective on subjects and courses, transforming a regular class into a small, united community.

“As Harker students and high schoolers, our lives revolve around school, so it’s really important to have a tight-knit class,” Ameera said. “My favorite classes have always been the ones where we have this good vibe going. Everyone’s getting along, and you’re having a fun time learning. It’s just always an amazing experience to have that.”