SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County's 38 elementary schools will begin offering foreign languages.
School leaders hired more than a dozen teachers to teach the language classes, and all of them went through a training session.
"(I'm) so excited that I was chosen to do what I love to do, which is to teach," Spanish teacher Vilma Perez said.
Perez is one of 13 who were hired. Others were promoted from assistant positions or part-time jobs.
"Well, it's groundbreaking. It's kind of nice to be at the beginning of something," French teacher Victoria Trainer said.
Last year, six Seminole County elementary schools offered foreign languages. This year, that number has more than quadrupled.
Seminole County got a grant five years ago to add Chinese classes in four elementary schools.
The district decided last year to add Spanish classes in two more schools on its own dime.
French, Spanish, German and Chinese will be offered in the 38 schools this year.
Department head Minnie Cardona said Seminole County is ready for the big jump because it has been in the planning stages for years.
"We are taking it one step at a time. We already worked out the curriculum. We have the materials, and now, we are doing professional training for our teachers," Cardona said.
"It's groundbreaking. It's what it should be. This is the perfect time and this is the perfect place for it to happen," Spanish teacher April Bruton said.
The teachers will divide their time between elementary schools, teaching two days at one school and three days at another.
They believe that the hard work is worth it to give students a leg up in middle and high school, as well as better resumes for colleges and jobs.
"Children are like sponges. They learn languages quick, faster," Perez said.
Miami-Dade is the only other school district in Florida that offers foreign languages in all its elementary schools, but those schools offer only Spanish classes.
WFTV
