What's the beauty in learning a new language and discovering global cultures? Hear more from a few of Maggie L. Walker's language teachers about what international language means to them!
Mr. White, MLWGS Russian Teacher
"If you were to list all of the wonderful, fascinating, stimulating, exhilarating, memorable, thrilling, scintillating languages available for study at any time or place in the history of humanity or any other species, either on Earth or on other planets, Russian would undoubtedly be one of them. If you’re an English speaker, you’ll find Russian to be similar yet different, simple yet complex, familiar yet strange, in comparison to any language you’ve studied. Take Russian at Maggie Walker if you want to discover a strange but entrancing worldview, read a deep and distinctive body of literature, and explore a rich and colorful history."
Ms. Li, Former MLWGS Chinese Teacher
"English is the most widely used language in the world. However, Chinese has the biggest number of users on Earth. China is an ancient civilization country with 5,000 years of history. Chinese is broad and profound. It is worthy of study and research. Chinese is one the six working languages at UN, and is playing more and more important roles in this diverse society today. This makes it more important to study Chinese."
Ms. Lemco (Señora Lemco), MLWGS Spanish Teacher
"Learning Spanish allows us to connect to other people in powerful ways. Not only can we communicate better with neighbors in our own communities, but Spanish is spoken as the official language in 21 countries! This opens the door to a richer travel experience that I hope students will pursue. There is so much joy to be found in exploring the world and its diverse cultures."
Mrs. Welles (Señora Welles), Former MLWGS Spanish Teacher
"Why study a language? For me, language began as a direct connection to other cultures and opened my world to experiences I could have never otherwise have known. I still remember the first day I sat in Sra. Lucia’s Spanish I class and her Cuban personality and vivaciousness effused from every fiber of her soul. Her world was so different than mine and I knew in that moment, language was the portal to deepen appreciation and foster understanding of world cultures. She further inspired me to study French and German, but no matter what language you choose to study, you will not only gain greater respect, but confidence to extend a kind word and offer a helping hand, building stronger connections with those around you."
Madame Terrana, Former MLWGS French Teacher "It is important to learn a world language, such as French, because it helps us to be better human beings. We're better able to show compassion and empathy through communication and the cultural knowledge gained in a world language class. It enables us to do better in school and in the workforce. Plus, it's just plain fun!"
Ms. Khashroom, MLWGS Arabic Teacher
"Learning a language outside your native tongue offers many mental and emotional benefits, allowing you to express yourself to others in meaningful ways, increase your confidence and sense of personal achievement. In addition to the many personal perks provided by becoming bilingual (or even multilingual!), mastering some languages may lead to more career opportunities and potentially even higher pay."
Mrs. Bradner (Señora Bradner), MLWGS Spanish teacher "Learning a new language not only will add to your traveling experience but it will also improve your future job opportunities. Many companies are looking for bilingual people to enhance their services and support customer needs"