AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF FRENCH
I am delighted to extend greetings to all who are participating in National French Week. President Clinton, in his statement of international education policy, expressed his commitment to "expanding high-quality foreign language learning and in-depth knowledge of other cultures by Americans." National French Week provides a wonderful opportunity to act on this commitment. There is much the United States can do to stress the importance of learning an additional language to our students. Activities highlighting and promoting foreign language acquisition serve not only to provide information--they can help generate in young minds the enthusiasm to explore new worlds. The knowledge of a second or third language is an invaluable asset in today's information-based, global economy. With the advent of the Internet, we can instantly communicate with people all over the world. Proficiency in other languages can only enhance our abilities to take advantage of this wonderful medium and learn about each other. In studying French and French culture, we come to understand our own culture and the world more fully. The French contributed much to the development of our country, from the exploration of North America, to the settlement of this country as reflected not only in Louisiana but in place names along the Mississippi and across America. The design of our nation's capital, Washington, DC--which continues to inspire millions of tourists--was conceived by a French planner. And French citizens contributed to a gift that symbolizes America--the State of Liberty. As you participate in National French Week, you are helping our citizens to enrich their lives and our country to engage the world. Please accept my best wishes for a successful Semaine du Français. Richard W. Riley Our mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation. |
