What Schools Say About VIF

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
(Charlotte, North Carolina, United States)

In the 21st century, there can be no high-quality education that omits a strong international education component, which our students will need to become successful citizens, workers and leaders. Our VIF teachers play a very important role in preparing our students to thrive in our increasingly interconnected world.

Ynez Olshausen is the principal of Smith Academy of International Languages in North Carolina. In 2005, Smith Academy was honored with a second-place award for Excellence in International Education from the Goldman Sachs Foundation. The school has nine VIF teachers.

A mere five years ago, few people used the phrase "international education." Today it's on everyone's lips. The 21st century is the "global age." U.S. educators realize that meeting the challenge of the global economy requires us to prepare today's students to be competitive in a much bigger arena than ever before. Political leaders at the national and state level increasingly underline the importance of learning foreign languages and developing the ability to communicate and cooperate with others beyond our borders. Suddenly, the foundations of international education - knowledge of world regions and cultures, proficiency in languages other than English, critical thinking and problem solving skills - are matters of national security in a complex world.

In our schools, we no longer need a special day or week to recognize other cultures. As our communities change from a solid fabric to multi-hued tapestry, we reflect many other cultures in our classrooms. Today's schools, with students and staff from around the world, provide us with living laboratories for infusing international content into every classroom as we learn about each other. VIF teachers add to this richness by helping thousands of students to make connections between the content of the state curriculum and the global marketplace. Smith Academy has hosted more than 100 VIF teachers from five of the six habitable continents, and from countless countries.

VIF teachers can also help teachers and students meet several important goals: to experience another culture firsthand and to build international school partnerships. International travel expands horizons for students and teachers alike, and the impact of exchange programs on the school climate is tremendous. The personal relationships forged between colleagues or students can enhance knowledge about the world and provide motivation to learn with and not just about people from other countries and cultures.

For staff and students alike, VIF teachers serve as models of openness to new experiences and confidence in meeting the challenge of working in a new culture. We must encourage our U.S. teachers and students to follow their example. VIF teachers who returned to their host countries have been instrumental in starting Smith Academy's student-exchange programs - and the friendships between exchange partners of all ages can last a lifetime.

Learning a foreign language is not the answer to the challenge of the global era, but it is the beginning of the answer. Language and culture are intertwined, and fluency in a second language opens the door to a new world. Knowledge of the world and competence in interacting with other cultures begin with proficiency in another language, an essential tool for success in a global economy. At Smith Academy, VIF teachers teach traditional "foreign language" classes, as well as language immersion classes in German, French, Japanese, Spanish, and now Chinese!

In the 21st century, there can be no high-quality education that omits a strong international education component, which our students will need to become successful citizens, workers and leaders. Our VIF teachers play a very important role in preparing our students to thrive in our increasingly interconnected world.