Memorial High School
Foreign Language Dept.

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Foreign languages are becoming increasingly important to the people of theUnited States today. We are living in a world where the most advanced nations realize they can no longer be ignorant of the languages and cultures of the other people of this world. With the growing involvement of the United States in international business and the increasingly multinational character of the American society, the importance of foreign language is quite evident. "Young people need to be familiar with other cultures and languages to reduce the chance of conflict and also to participate effectively in the international marketplace. The future of the world is in their hands." Learning a foreign language is the first step to increasing the students' awareness of the world. It will open up cultures other than their own: different ways of living, thinking, and seeing. As we venture into the 21st century, a foreign language will help prepare students to meet the challenges of the global market, to communicate with and understand their coworkers from very diverse backgrounds.

The foreign language department of Reitz Memorial High School is focused on providing all students with the opportunity to study a language and a culture different than their own. A foreign language provides the background for a few very specialized jobs, the vital preparation for a growing number of university majors and careers, and the expansion and enhancement of the pleasures of travel, good literature, the arts, and social interaction. "It is the door by which we enter the world of others."

A recent curriculum report published by the National Association of Secondary Principals (Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1997 ISSN 0547-4205) states that research shows that students that study foreign languages...

• Score higher on the SATS

• Develop greater cultural sensitivity toward others

• Have larger vocabularies

• Perform better on tests of reading and math

• Have higher developed listening and retention skills

• Are more creative

• Display more highly developed thinking skills

• Possess skills critical to the national defense

• Are better prepared to contribute to the ability of local, state, 
  and national economies to compete in the global community

Foreign language study is the logical complement to English to strengthen word skills, develop sentences logically and grasp grammatical concepts more readily. Universities are recognizing these facts and reinstating foreign language requirements for many degrees (professional programs such as medicine, law, veterinary science; arts and science degrees; telecommunications degrees; etc.) This is where Memorial's foreign language program can be a benefit to you. With our high academic standards, a student who completes a three or four-year program can test out of one, two, or three years of university requirements, thereby saving the student time and saving their parents some money, as the cost of higher education continues to rise.