Des Moines Public Schools boasts a robust multilingual and multicultural community speaking 110 different languages. The district has sought to build on that diversity with world language courses that empower all students as global citizens who are both culturally and linguistically prepared to enter the next stages of life.

The work has been so well received that the DMPS World Language program was named one of the Exemplary Programs in U.S. Language Education by America’s Languages.

“DMPS World Languages was selected as an exemplar program for its work on equitable access, excellence in program design, shifts in teaching practices, community partnerships, expansion of heritage Spanish courses, and available study abroad opportunities,” said a news release from America’s Languages.

America’s Languages created a process of nomination, application, and review by 200 fellows to collect model programs from across the U.S. The America’s Languages Guide aims to support teachers, administrators and funders in meeting the needs of communities that have been traditionally deprived of the educational and employment benefits of functional bilingualism.

“We are so honored to receive this recognition,” said Sam Finneseth, DMPS World Language Curriculum & Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator. “All students benefit from learning other languages. It not only offers many cognitive benefits for all students, but it also creates cultural awareness and appreciation.”

Most importantly, language connects our communities. Our IB schools have more than 1,500 elementary students enrolled in Spanish classes. Our World Language programming is expanding Heritage Spanish and Novice (new to) Spanish to all ten middle schools and Virtual Campus in the 2021-2022 school year to reach more than 7,300 students. As students enter high school, they have the choice to study eight different language pathways, all offering four years of study with choices that include Advanced Placement and dual college credit.

High school language choices are: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Spanish as a heritage language. Our World Language program aims to expand the number of languages with heritage course offerings.

Due to the district’s strong multilingual community and high-quality instruction, DMPS qualified more than 200 students for the Iowa Seal of Biliteracy in the first two years of implementation.

“One of the chief complaints we hear from parents about their own education is that they took four years of a language in high school and they are unable to communicate in the language now,” said Finneseth. “Also, studies have shown that not learning an additional language is often in the top three regrets of people in the United States once they reach 30. We are actively changing our approach to curriculum and teaching to improve student experiences. Our hope is that students leave DMPS World Languages ready to communicate and express themselves in multiple ways.”

The world language program at DMPS strives to offer relevant, rigorous, and proficiency-based instruction to build students’ abilities to communicate in an additional language. We acknowledge that all students can develop an additional language with appropriate support and coaching. We believe our world language courses help our students grow both academically and socially as community members. By focusing on what students can accomplish, we seek to build communicative skills and advance literacy development in the student’s primary and additional languages.

Students should exit world language courses with the confidence to communicate effectively with others as their careers and education paths continue beyond their experiences in DMPS.

To read more about the changes happening in DMPS World Languages, visit our website at WorldLanguages.dmschools.org.