There are almost 120 ethnic groups in the U.S., seven of which—Mexican, Russian, Chinese, Indian, Philippine, Vietnamese, and Cuban—account for more than 55% of the total ethnicities. Did you know that, according to recent census data, there are almost 15,000 Russian speakers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area? This number continues to grow! Texas now has two Russian language newspapers, Russian Dallas and the Houston-based Our Texas, which claims to serve an estimated readership of 90,000!

Mr. Holschuh and the first MHS Russian class in 2004

In fact, on a national scale, of the 20 non-English languages spoken most widely at home, the largest proportional increase in the last 10 years was Russian. The U.S. Russian-speaking population surged 254 percent from 1990 to 1998, currently totaling over 4 million Russian-speakers in the U.S.! These numbers translate into increased employment opportunities here and abroad for Americans with a knowledge of Russian. Additionally, there are large numbers of job applicants who have studied Spanish or French or German, but very few who have studied Russian (which has an exaggerated air of difficulty about it), so it stands out on a transcript or resume. (Russian is still taught at most major universities across the country... Click here to see a list of them compiled by U.S. News & World Report magazine.)

Russia is the largest country in the world, offering a potentially huge market and a knowledge of Russian is valuable for those working in international diplomacy, trade, environmental issues, and many other fields. Because fewer Americans speak Russian than other European languages, those who do have a competitive edge on the job market. And, since the end of the Cold War, the number of people studying Russian has declined, meaning less competition in the job market for those who do study it, especially as the Russian economy continues to improve over time.

Here at home, the growth of Russian-speakers is not going to slow anytime soon; there will continue to be new opportunities for Americans who speak Russian. From social services to private industry, Russian will remain a language necessary to reach an already large and growing community with the same needs of every other American. Advertisers already know this. So do we here at Mansfield High School...

So. What are you waiting for? Go talk to your counselor and get into a Russian class-- you won't regret it!