SLLIS Emphasizes Importance of Learning a Second Language during National Foreign Language Week National Foreign Language Week is March 2-8
St. Louis, Mo. (February 24, 2025) According to studies, learning a second language can open the door to better and higher-paying career options, improve brain function and help people connect with others around the world. National Foreign Language Week is March 2-8, and St. Louis Language Immersion School (SLLIS) is emphasizing the importance of St. Louis students learning a second language.
SLLIS brings in teachers from all areas of the world who speak one of their three target languages, Chinese, French and Spanish. This means not just hiring French teachers from France, but also from countries where French is also spoken. This allows students to learn about other cultures and become culturally well-rounded global citizens. First-grade teacher Abir Darif started teaching French two years ago at SLLIS after moving to St. Louis from Morocco.
“We want our students in St. Louis to graduate and go on to do big things like working in another country or working at home and using their language skills to better the St. Louis area,” Darif said. “At SLLIS, we think it’s vital to put an emphasis on culture in the classroom. If a student doesn’t know the traditions and culture of the people they’re working with or talking to in the future, it’s harder to communicate and understand each other. SLLIS truly prepares our kids for tomorrow’s job market. If a recruiter sees someone who knows French and has been immersed in it since they were in kindergarten, they’re more likely to hire that person. During a business meeting in a country that speaks French, that student won’t just know the words, but they’ll know the customs, building a deeper connection to those in the room, which leads to better outcomes.”
Darif said with SLLIS’ approach, students in her class learn science and social studies in French. This allows them to consistently use French words and phrases throughout the day in applicable, real-world lessons. Darif pushes her students to only use French during these times and won’t allow science experiments to proceed until her students find the words to say in their target language.
“Our students always work with partners and ask each other questions and help each other find the right words in French,” Darif said. “I’m so proud of their teamwork and willingness to learn the language. At the beginning of the year, my students were feeling stressed and I told them, ‘You’re going to do amazing things by the time we get to the middle of the year.’ That’s exactly what happened. It’s all about feeling comfortable and being welcome to make mistakes. We want students to speak their second language with joy.”
National Foreign Language Week is about acknowledging how vital speaking a second language is for Americans, especially students. In a world where economies, businesses and politics are interlinked across the globe, it’s increasingly crucial that local students continue to build their language skills for a better tomorrow.
About St. Louis Language Immersion School
St. Louis Language Immersion School was founded in 2009 and is a charter school serving Pre-K through 8th grade to the City of St. Louis. The school provides students with a world-class, global, dual language immersion education in French, Spanish or Chinese, taught by native speakers. The one of a kind school was named the 2024 Best Public Charter School in Missouri and plays an essential role in the fabric of the St. Louis community. For more information, go to www.sllis.org.