THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING EXCELLENCE IN WORLD LANGUAGE EDUCATION 

Supporting our district’s mission to provide students with an educational experience that develops confidence and capability to face the challenges of a rapidly changing world, we offer a proficiency-based, comprehensive K-12 world language program promoting global citizenship.

According to a 2018 Pew study, only 20 percent of K-12 students in the United States have the opportunity to study a foreign language (compared with an average of 92 percent in Europe), and only 10 states and the District of Columbia make world language learning a high school graduation requirement.

In a recent article, Bénédicte de Montlaur, the cultural counselor of the French Embassy in the United States, shared his opinion of the importance of world language education:

“Americans want the next generation to be active participants in a multilingual world, dual-language and multicultural education is crucial... The necessity of world language education could not be clearer right now. The future in America, and everywhere, is multilingual. And so is the present.”

 

Technological advances for translation are only a small part of participating fully as a global citizen. As our world becomes ever more interconnected, learning a second language is no longer a nice to have but a must-have. Working in a global economy requires not only linguistic skills but also cultural awareness. Well developed world language and culture programs open up the world to our students and are the beginning of a bright future on a global scale.

Thank you to our parents, Board of Education and district leadership for recognizing the importance of a global pathway. This generous and enlightened support of comprehensive World Language programs, our participation in the NJDOE Seal of Biliteracy Program and our unique Exchange Programs provide our students with essential skills to become global citizens.