The Highlights of the Inauguration of the French Dual Language Fund

 

First, I’m extremely proud that we as a city, are elevating bilingual education by embracing bilingualism and opening more and more dual language programs into NYC’s public schools. It is in great part to the city’s commitment and thanks to commitment of other entities such as the French government that we are able to provide more bilingual education for more students. 

 

Second, I was moved and inspired by the future generations. The play performed by BHSIS (Boerum Hill School of International Studies) was a powerful piece about refugees. The students were able to move the audience on a difficult subject, and it made me think about the state of our world today…. “don’t tell us you want peace through violence.” 

 

 

Third, Emmanuel Macron. Truthfully I never thought I’d be able to day “I was in the same room as the President” because it isn’t one of those things I think about often. But there I was in a room with the president of a country that has given me so much, and for whom I have much love. 

 

 

President Macron spoke about the importance of this cultural exchange, of bilingualism as a way to cosmopolitanism. 

 

He spoke of Molière and Shakespeare, and the advantages of the children who will grow up knowing both. We are more open to understanding someone if we speak their language. 

 

  

 

President Macron made a slight reference to the fact that perhaps, France and the United States will “s’eloigner.” (drift apart).  We all know what he’s talking about. With the UN General Assembly speeches fresh in our minds, there are clear differences in the “leader” of the USA and the leader of France (yes, I’m using these quotation marks on purpose). He referenced these “pont humains” human bridges, that could save us. These human bridges being these bilingual children who are growing up to appreciate the multicultural world (my words, not his!)

 

Je ne sais pas ce que réserveront les prochaines décennies. Mais je sais juste une chose : plus il y aura d’élèves en France qui auront appris à parler l’Anglais et qui sauront échanger avec un Américain, plus il y aura d’élèves américains qui sauront parler le Français, qui auront été émus par une œuvre française, qui auront aimé un acteur, une actrice française, un chanteur, une chanteuse française pour ses chansons, qui auront partagé un peu de nos univers culturels, nos imaginaires, ceux-là pourront nous sauver du pire. Parce que dans les moments les plus graves, dans ces moments où on peut tout oublier, ou tout peut basculer, ils se souviendront de ces petits détails qui font la vie.

Photo credit: André Beckles, CUNY

“I don’t know what the coming decades hold. But I do know one thing: if there are more students in France that will have learned to speak English and that will now be able to have an exchange with an American, if there are more American students that will know how to speak French, that will be moved by a French work [of art, theater ], that will love a French actor or actress, or a French singer or French songs, that will have shared a bit of our culture, that can be able to save us from the worst. Because in the worst moments, in the moments where we can forget everything, where everything can tumble, they will remember these small details that are what life is about.” 

You can read the entirety of Macron’s speech here. 

The Inauguration of the French Dual Language Fund = lots of feelings. 

Click here to support the French Dual Language Fund. 

Sad, but super proud. At the end of the program, my heart was full of pride, because of the program, because of the success of bilingual education in our city, especially at a time like this, where bigotry and xenophobia and attempting to win. I was proud because I felt that being in that room was a testament to my dedication as a mother raising a multilingual child and as an advocate of bilingual education. After all, it was because of this that I had been invited to be a part of this special moment.

The biggest highlight. In my mind, I had a question prepared in case there was a Q&A portion of the session. I was going to ask President Macron if he would be supporting bilingualism in France with other languages, meaning, if Spanish, German, or Arabic for example, would be taught in schools as well. I didn’t get chance to ask because there was no Q&A. (I am just putting it out there into the universe so that maybe one day I get to ask him). 

At the end of the program, on our way out, I saw him. I did get a chance to speak to him, and of course, the question I had so diligently prepared went out the window; instead I said, “President Macron, can we take a selfie? ” and he said “OK!”