By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–The French government has bestowed an elite credential to students at The Language Academy, honoring their mastery of the French language with an internationally recognized certification.
To mark the milestone, a prestigious awards ceremony took place this morning at the campus. An official with the French Consulate from Los Angeles presented the high honor, known as the Label, which is granted by the French government.
The Language Academy is the only school in San Diego to receive the designation this year, and one of only four in California.
“I’m so proud of the students and staff at The Language Academy for their hard work, dedication, and talent in receiving this well-deserved recognition,” said San Diego Unified Superintendent Dr. Lamont Jackson. “The value of learning a second language opens up a world of possibilities. This designation will help set up our students for a lifetime of academic, career, and enrichment opportunities.”
To qualify for the Label, students must pass the official exam, known as the DELF (Diplome d’Etudes en Langue Française). The test measures a student’s listening, written, and oral mastery of the French language. The test was given to sixth graders at The Language Academy in March and was sent to France to be graded. The school recently learned the results: all students passed.
A diploma, which is recognized worldwide, was presented to each student, validating their French language skills.
“The richness of a language is rooted in its culture and people. At The Language Academy, we focus on providing a well-rounded education to provide context,” said Principal Graciela Rosas. “Just mastering one language is difficult enough. To reach this level of excellence in a second is magnificent.”
The Language Academy is a public K-8 school within San Diego Unified School District that offers students a unique opportunity to become bi-literate in either French and English or Spanish and English. The school’s emphasis is on both second language acquisition and culture. All students are expected to meet California standards in all subjects.
