Check out the following testimonials and speeches. If you would like to submit a testimonial or public hearing speech to share on behalf of early foreign language programs -- immersion or FLES, please email us at fairfaxflags@gmail.com.
Life-changing benefits of foreign language: This video features William & Mary college student and Fox Mill alumnus Cara Ferraro. Her testimony is in Japanese so be sure to turn on the closed caption for subtitles if you need them!
Need subtitles? Start the video, then on the bottom right on the video screen, hover over the up arrow and click on CC (Closed Caption).
Alumnus Now Living in Japan Says Immersion is Not Just a Language Program
When I heard that Fairfax County was considering ending the partial Japanese immersion program at Fox Mill Elementary School, I was shocked. That fact that such a wonderful and enriching program could be in danger of being cut is a travesty.
I was lucky enough to spend my six years of elementary school immersed in Japanese, and I now even live in Japan teaching English. One of my greatest aims is to instill in my students the same joy of learning language that I felt learning Japanese.
Even beyond language, the immersion program is invaluable because it exposes kids to a completely different culture. I grew up singing Japanese folk songs and playing Japanese children’s games, and I came to identify with the Japanese.
In this way, the program not only cultivates bilingualism in children, which is already reason enough to celebrate it, but it also encourages biculturalism as well. What normal language class can boast that?
I sincerely hope that the county can come to realize the inestimable value of this program and reconsider ending it.
Lisa Howe
Alumnus Attributes Japanese Immersion Program for Current Success
Dear Dr. Dale:
I am writing in support of the Japanese Immersion Program in Fairfax County Schools. I am an alumnus of Fox Mill Elementary School’s Japanese Immersion Program and am now working at BlackRock in New York where I am on the Japan desk covering Japanese institutional clients.
I believe the Japanese Immersion Program is very important in keeping students in Fairfax County competitive in the international job market. My interest in Japanese culture and language started in the Japanese Immersion Program. I went on to study abroad in Tokyo during college where I landed an internship at BlackRock’s Tokyo office before receiving an offer to start full time in the BlackRock’s headquarters in New York.
I attribute the success in my early career to my Japanese language abilities which wouldn’t have been possible with the early education and interest in Japanese culture that the Immersion Program fostered in me.
My fellow alumnus, Jamie Ferrer, has also had a similar experience. Jamie’s interest in Japanese culture and art began in the Japanese Immersion Program. He recently started his own advertising agency in Japan and is now living in Yokohama.
With local and state government budgets decreasing I understand the pressure your office is feeling to cut programs. However, I urge you not to cut the Japanese Immersion Program.
I believe that the Japanese Immersion Program is vital in keeping Fairfax County competitive and will make America richer culturally and stronger economically in the future.
Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any help. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
John Martyn
Parent Testimonials
Barrett Family urges officials to keep foreign language programs: This video spotlights the Barrett family of Lake Anne and features classroom footage of Kent Gardens, a school with both immersion and FLES programs. Many thank you's to the Barrett family, Kent Gardens, and Jason Smith and Washington Video Marketing, LLC, for producing this video!
FLAGS Barrett Family Profile from Jason Smith on Vimeo.
Rich Sargent, PTA president at Kent Gardens, urges citizens to contact elected officials to help save world-class FCPS programs like foreign language
More Testimonials & Speeches
Georgetown & George Mason Universities’ Evaluation of Fox Mill Elementary Immersion
