Milwaukee City Wire

More than 100 students from Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) have been awarded diplomas in French language studies by the French Ministry of National Education. The diplôme d’études en langue française, or DELF, was presented to 85 students from Milwaukee French Immersion School and 25 students from Milwaukee School of Languages.

The diplomas are available to non-native speakers and are recognized globally. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson addressed the ceremony attendees, emphasizing the diploma's value for future endeavors and encouraging students to become global citizens.

Other notable guests included MPS Interim Superintendent Eduardo Galván, Director Erika Siemsen of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors, and Anne Leplae from Alliance Française de Milwaukee. The event took place on December 5 at French Immersion School.

French Immersion’s second graders performed "Le Champs-Elysées" during the ceremony. DELF is given to beginner and intermediate learners who pass a test administered entirely in French. Students in grades 2 and 4 at French Immersion take A1 and A2 level tests each spring, while eighth graders at School of Languages take A2, B1, and B2 tests.

Milwaukee schools began participating in DELF exams eight years ago for French Immersion students and four years ago for School of Languages students. Both schools hold the Label FrancÉducation accreditation for incorporating high-standard bilingual education into their curriculum.