Cherie Garrett has been a Spanish teacher for 35 years, spending 10 of those years as the World Language Chairperson for Dallastown.

Garrett oversees World Language Department activities, including the Global Scholars Program, PA Seal of Biliteracy and the Intermediate World Language Program at Dallastown Area Intermediate School. 

Over the years, she started to notice that students didn’t always see the long-term value of their world language education.

“I realized that many students felt that they would never use their language skills which is far from reality, especially in such a globalized world,” Garrett said.

This led Garrett to form a Dallastown event in 2015 that would encapsulate the importance of being bilingual. 

This year, on March 25, Dallastown hosted its 10th Annual World Language Symposium, planned and prepped by Garrett. 

Garrett designed the symposium to share different career paths with students and to introduce them to college language programs and opportunities to study abroad.

It was important to her that students learned both the advantages and disadvantages of different careers. 

The symposium  connects what is learned in language classes to the workplace, making students think about their future plans and explore various pathways.

Senior Suresh Venkataraman intends to study International Relations in college, and plans to continue his education of Spanish. Venkataraman’s experiences with the World Language Symposium have shown him many possibilities of how learned language can add to his career. 

“Many businesses from all over York County participate; and there [are] lots of ways to network to find a career pathway easily,” Venkataraman said.

Venkataraman shared that knowledge of a second language is important for interaction with people from varying cultures, and for future career opportunities. 

Both Venkataraman and Garrett expressed the world’s need and desire for bilingual people in the workplace. 

“Many employers are seeking bilingual and multilingual employees, but there aren’t enough in the workforce to meet the demand,” Garrett said. 

York, Pa. businesses also understand how important it is to be fluent with language.

The York Literary Institute is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping people learn English as a second language. The institute’s Next Step Program assists their students with future career goals and plans. 

Brodi Zimmer has been the Community Relations Manager at York Literacy Institute  since Sept. of 2024. She maintains connections with other human service organizations and manages relationships with the community through social media and their website . 

Zimmer’s work has impacted the community by offering free classes to students looking to learn, and by having bilingual teachers on standby.

“Only one woman in our office speaks Spanish fluently. She often gets called when we need to speak to someone who only speaks Spanish,” Zimmer said. 

Zimmer commented that being bilingual is a good form of job security, as clear communication is so valuable in the job market. 

Learning a second language is not only a financial benefit, but it can also impact your understanding of the world.

Dallastown graduate, Rachel Miller, has been studying French since middle school, and is on her way to receive the Intermediate French and Francophone Studies Certificate at the end of the semester. Her advanced skills have granted Miller many opportunities to gain more knowledge and experience with language. 

“Next semester I will be having the opportunity to go on a 1.5-week-long study abroad trip to Martinique and Guadeloupe with my French class to focus on French colonization and the impact on the Caribbean,” Miller said. 

 Language doesn’t only enhance your brain, but it also strengthens your heart. 

Jennifer Black is an ESL, English as a Second Language, teacher here at Dallastown, where she focuses on helping students become proficient in reading, writing, listening, and speaking the language. 

“Teaching language has deepened my appreciation for cultural diversity…It has also taught me patience, empathy, and the value of lifelong learning,” Black said. 

Black’s experience with language has given her a greater appreciation for language learners and the abilities to support students who continue to learn English. 

Supporting student’s growth and curiosity with language isn’t just a duty of Black’s, but it is one of her passions. 

Senior Chloe Anderson thinks similarly, as they’ve continued their education in Spanish because it’s begun to feel like a natural part of their life. 

“The want to understand leads to a search for the meaning, which increases my knowledge and enriches my experience of the world. It’s a positive reinforcement cycle,” Anderson said.

While learning a second language can be difficult, both Anderson and Venkataraman believe that knowing multiple languages is what connects people. That the outcome outweighs the challenges the learning process may stall you with. 

Language can be seen as a barrier, but it can also be seen as an opportunity to meet new people and expand your worldview. So take up a language class, you never know what experiences it will give you.