Marshall Memorial Fellowship: Transatlantic Relations and the Value of Dual Language Education
Photo: BigBrotherMouse
Educational exchanges offer priceless diplomatic gains and the opportunity to gain global awareness. They help change the way Americans see the world and the way other countries see and build relationships with the U.S. Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF), a unique leadership and educational exchange program that offers American and European leaders with an incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity to gain a firsthand understanding of policy challenges and opportunities across the Atlantic. My fellowship began in Brussels, Belgium and was followed by travel to Hamburg, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; Bucharest, Romania; and concluded in Berlin, Germany.
In Hamburg, Germany, I met with leaders who are working on integrating refugee students from Syria, Iran and Turkey into the German educational system. They spoke about the humanitarian efforts taking place and the importance of providing young refugees with educational tools for success. In particular, Hamburg’s Education Authority is working to provide increased opportunities for students to gain proficiency in languages other than German. Students are taught literacy and academic content in German and a partner language such as Spanish, which ranks amongst the most popular. Worldwide, no economic development strategy has greater impact and influence than investing in education. By investing in dual language education, the leaders in Hamburg recognize that to remain globally competitive they need to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the twenty-first century workforce.
In the U.S, the structure and implementation of dual language education varies by State with Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese reported as the top three languages most commonly spoken other than English. A recent study funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition examined state policies and practices regarding dual language programs in U.S. public schools. The report notes the cognitive benefits associated with dual language education as well as higher academic achievement, increased earning power and preservation of heritage languages. While more States are incorporating dual language education into their classroom curriculum, four states (CA, AZ, MA and NH) have English-only laws limiting the use of bilingual education programs. Ensuring that all students acquire global competencies and achieve their potential academically, professionally, and civically is vital to the future of transatlantic relations.
One of the highlights during my time in Hamburg was a visit to Gymnasium Hamm, a school that embraces cultural and language diversity and whose motto, “a school without racism, is a school with courage,” is proudly displayed throughout the halls. The school offers refugee students a learning environment that values their native language and introduces them to the German language systematically as a second language. The students shared their hope and vision for the future, which is filled with optimism and gratitude for the new beginnings that they and their families have been afforded in Germany.
As the world becomes more globally interconnected and more diverse every day, Hamburg’s immigrant integration and education efforts remind us that developing key twenty-first century skills includes a well-rounded education that embraces different cultures and invests in a bilingual and bi-literate global community.
Alejandra Ceja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, is a Spring 2016 American Marshall Memorial Fellow.