Languages Other Than English

Why take American Sign Language?

American Sign Language is used as a means of communicating with people that are hearing impaired in the United States as well as Canada. It is a living language that is used by many not only as a means of communication but also as a form of artistic expression. American Sign Language is the most comprehensive and extensive sign language systems of any country in the world. As interest continues to grow, sign language is now considered the fourth most used language in the United States. In keeping with the Plano I.S.D.'s commitment to be educational leaders, students can take this class as part of their Foreign Language requirement.

Why take Chinese?

Fluency in Chinese is a 21st century resume differentiator in today's global market.

Facts about China:

• It is one of the world's oldest continuous cultures in the world (over 5,000 years old).
• The Chinese language is spoken by 1.3 billion people world wide.
• It is the world's second largest economy.
• It is the largest trading partner of the United States.

Why should students be bilingual in French?

French is the native language of over 75 million people around the world. Over 51 million speak it in France, 6 million in Canada, 4 million in Belgium, 1.3 million in Switzerland and 1 million in the United States. It remains the language of all the arts and of international diplomacy. French is the second most popular foreign language studied in the United States due to the proximity of Canada and other influences such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. A reading knowledge of French or German remains a requirement of many graduate school programs at major universities