by Rod Hughes

For a century the standard foreign languages in public high schools have been English and French and in recent years, the emphasis has been on English. But now, two, San Luis Gonzaga of Cartago and at Poas in Alajuela province, have added the language as an elective.

Before, if a parent wanted his child to learn German he had to shell out for tuition at a private school, Humboldt in Escazu, which conducts all classes in that language. In addition, a private cultural organization, Instituto Goethe, offers courses in the language.

The new course indicates increasing interest in this country in schooling students to be citizens of the world. The German government is cooperating in the effort by providing educational materials such as German-as-a-second language texts. This is the second year the Colegio San Luis Gonzaga has offered the elective.