Hallo! Bonjour! Hola! Ciao! According to the American Councils for International Education, 10.6 million students from grades K-12 are enrolled in a foreign language. A new study has shown that although many have learned languages in their early education, there is a decline in the pursuit of learning a language in college. According to the Modern Language Association 2023 Census, there was a 16.6% decrease in enrollment in foreign language classes by college students from 2016 to 2021. This is the largest decline since the association started its census in 1958 with language enrollment peaking in 2009.
Approximately 70 members of the Elon community attended a gathering of friends in the pavilion behind the Sklut Hillel Center on May 3 to share their feelings of loss and reflect on fond memories they’ve shared with Malinsky. Malinsky, who died on April 29 of brain cancer, was a member of Elon’s class of 2025 and an active member of the Jewish community. Jewish Educator Boaz Avraham-Katz, who was one of Talia’s professors, spoke at the event along with University Chaplain Kirstin Boswell — who led the service in a prayer before allowing Talia’s friends to speak about their memories with her.
