Monday, January 27, 2025
More than 100 MPS students proved proficient in the French language—to the satisfaction of the French government—and now they hold diplomas in French language aptitude, delivered to them from the French Ministry of Education in Paris.
The diplôme d’études en langue française, known as DELF, was awarded in a ceremony to 85 students from Milwaukee French Immersion School, a K4 through grade 5 school, and 25 students from Milwaukee School of Languages, which offers French, German, and Spanish immersion for grades 6 through 12.
Non-native speakers of French are eligible to receive the diplomas. The diplomas are valid for life and recognized worldwide.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson greeted students from the two schools, staff, and students’ family members at the ceremony with “Bonjour, everyone,” before extolling the value of the diploma. “It reflects the kind of education that will serve you well in your future endeavors,” the mayor said.
The mayor told the students that, because they’re learning another language, “you will grow up to be not only citizens of Milwaukee but global citizens.”
Besides gaining lifelong cultural awareness and greater job opportunities as adults, children who learn a second language also receive cognitive benefits, such as improved problem solving, attention, and mental agility, studies have found. 
Other special guests at the diploma ceremony included MPS Interim Superintendent Eduardo Galván, Director Erika Siemsen of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors, and Anne Leplae, executive direction of French cultural organization Alliance Française de Milwaukee. The ceremony was held December 5 in the auditorium at French Immersion School.
French Immersion’s 2nd graders performed at the ceremony, singing the classic French song “Les Champs-Elysées” from the stage.
DELF is awarded to students who perform at a basic through intermediate level in the French language. The 110 students who received diplomas had to pass a test administered completely in French by trained examiners. Students were assessed across four key areas: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing production, and oral expression. Oral profiency is measured in a one-on-one interview. The entire test takes about two hours and was given at the same time in other cities, including New York and Denver, to ensure its integrity.
Students in grades 2 and 4 at French Immersion take the A1 and A2 levels of tests, respectively, each spring. As they advance in profiency, students in grade 8 at School of Languages take the A2 or B1, while high school students take the B1 or B2. Diplomas are awarded in the next school year. A level B2 diploma or higher allows entry into French-speaking universities or employment with French-speaking companies or countries.
French Immersion students first began taking the DELF exam about eight years ago, and Milwaukee School of Languages students began taking the exam about four years ago.
Milwaukee French Immersion School, at 2360 N. 52nd St., and Milwaukee School of Languages, 8400 W. Burleigh St., are accredited with the Label FrancÉducation. It is awarded by France to schools incorporating French language and culture into their curriculum and offering bilingual education at a high standard, according to the Consulate General of France in Chicago.
Only 13 schools in the Midwest have that accreditation, and French Immersion and School of Languages are the only two such schools in Wisconsin.