New York Daily News – MARK LEVINE, DANIEL DROMM
“Mayor de Blasio’s announcement that within 10 years all New York City public school students will take computer science classes is welcome news. But Java, Python and C++ are not the only languages critical for 21st century success. Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic and French are vital, too. Learning human languages other than English is not only a major career asset, it opens the door to cross-cultural understanding, boosts self-esteem and expands horizons in so many ways. Sadly, in the nation’s most diverse and global city, home to the United Nations, the benefits that come with learning a foreign language are being acquired by far too few public school students…We know what works in foreign language instruction: early learning and immersion…Only through bold action can New York City succeed in preparing our children to compete for jobs in a polyglot world.”(more)