Reporter Newspapers – Ann Marie Quill
“Dr. Shamita Johnson wants to send her Sutton Middle School students to France. Laura Miltner brings Germany to her Ashford Park Elementary kindergarteners. They are just two of many teachers in local schools determined to guide their students toward becoming global citizens through language and cultural immersion programs. “This is something that needs to be the new wave of education; everyone should be doing this, not just language classes,” Johnson said…Miltner said that language immersion programs are important because of what they do for the brain. “A lot of research shows that learning another language helps with brain development,” she said. “Students start thinking in two languages, which is really good for the thinking process, for creativity, and for success in school all around. And culturally you’re raising children with a wider world view. There are lots of plusses and no minuses.” Johnson said it’s not just language arts students who benefit. “I’m seeing more [science, technology, engineering and math] students in those professions going overseas more,” she said. “They not only need STEM but need the language and to be exposed to other cultures in order to be competitive. The more we go outside our four walls, the more competitive we will be.””(more)