World Languages Supervisor Felix Plata

As the world moves towards a global community, it is increasingly important to be able to communicate in languages other than English. It is imperative to understand the perspectives of a culture that generate its patterns of behavior, ways of life, worldviews, and contributions. Proficiency in a second language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture. The study of a second language enables students to develop insights into the nature of language and culture.

The goal of our language programs (World Languages and ESL) is to educate the students of West Orange in language and culture besides their own. Our current course offerings in the World Languages Department are Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish Heritage and Spanish. Our course offerings in ESL include English Literature, Contemporary Themes, Study Skills, LEP Math, LEP Algebra 1/2, LEP Geometry, LEP World History, US History 1/2, LEP Earth Science, LEP Biology, and LEP Chemistry. The study of another language leads to understanding other cultures. Our goal is to recognize what is common to all human experience and to accept that which is different.