"The frequency and ease of international travel, the cultural diversity that is commonplace in small and large communities, and the increasingly globalized marketplace have necessitated a closer examination of how best to prepare children for these realities. The PYP seeks to enable children to function as international citizens which, in part, entails the ability to function capably and comfortably within and between cultures. Developing the capacity to speak more than one language is an integral part of this preparation and, as a result, the provision of additional language instruction has been made a mandatory requirement of PYP schools." (Primary Years Programme, Learning additional languages in the primary years: A review of the research, 2002)