Foreign language teachers collaborating

Several significant details were missing from an article about the meeting of more than 60 foreign language leaders from across Long Island ["Hope for Regents exams," News, Jan. 15].

State Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport) was part of a panel that consisted of representatives from Stony Brook University, St. John's University, the Italian Consulate, international businesses and the Board of Regents.

The purpose of our meeting was to discuss maintaining and improving our already robust foreign language programs on Long Island. Panelists discussed ideas like developing partnerships with multiple school districts to offer instruction in less-commonly taught (yet never more critical) languages such as Chinese and Portuguese, and the expansion of elementary school foreign language programs. Regent Roger Tilles and Sen. Flanagan agreed with the panel that foreign language studies are a critical part of a student's comprehensive education.

In this era of financial difficulty, we must be creative and find ways to do more with less. The foreign language consortium, which includes more than 70 school districts, will create exams in lieu of those recently eliminated by the State Education Department. The consortium will offer them, free of charge, to schools across New York.

Carmen Campos

Brightwaters

Editor's note: The writer is the president of the Foreign Language Association of Chairpersons and Supervisors.