Why is it important for an Alief ISD student to graduate with competency in English plus knowledge in another language?

LANGUAGE SKILLS - Learning a second language can help students understand their own language and culture better, through comparison and contrast with another language.

ACADEMIC SKILLS - By studying a second language you can improve your skills and grades in math; support language skills in English; and improve entrance exam scores to colleges/universities and graduate programs.

CULTURAL COMPETENCY – It is not only important to learn another language, it is equally important to possess the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures. Individuals who are culturally competent are better able to understand other people's points of view, lifestyles, and contributions to the community (local, national and international).

FLEXIBLE THINKING. Knowledge of more than one language can improve your analytic and interpretive capacities, and can improve your cognitive flexibility. Learning a second language can also increase your problem-solving skills and can improve your memory, self-discipline and self-esteem.  

FINANCIAL GAINS. More and more businesses work closely with companies in other countries. To be competitive on a global scale, the world of tomorrow needs individuals with strong skills in a second language, who can work within a culturally diverse environment. Workers who speak more than one language have a competitive edge to those who only speak one language.