“I'm really interested in going back to Germany for university. And with the Bilingual Diploma Program, I'm able to surpass the requirement for the language examination. I think the program is great. It's one of the primary reasons my parents and I chose Dwight, just because it was important to them for me to do work in my mother tongue. I recommend it to people.”
—Mia van Eickels ’25

The IB Bilingual Diploma is a distinction awarded through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) to students who show fluency in two languages. To earn this recognition, students at Dwight can either earn a 3 or higher in a Science or Individuals and Societies course that is in a different language than their literature (Language A) course or take two Language A courses in two different languages. This is all in addition to fulfilling the standard IB DP criteria. 

The Bilingual Diploma Program is offered at IB schools around the globe, but a few of the things that make the program unique at Dwight are the number of languages offered, and the typically large number of candidates who participate in the program (a remarkable 13 students received a bilingual diploma in 2025; more than 10% of our graduating class). Bilingual diplomas are offered in a remarkable range of languages at Dwight, from the core languages of Spanish, French, and Mandarin offered at other schools, to German, Hebrew, Russian, Italian, and Japanese. The program allows students to study these second languages at such a level that they interpret challenging texts, write, read, and speak as a fluent person would. By the end of Grade 12, these students take not only the IB English Literature exam but also an equivalent exam in the other language. 

Dwight’s Head of World Languages, Nathalie Mattheiem, shared an anecdote about how, in the bilingual program, the World Language class is just as thorough as the English Literature course. There was one particular student who had English her first period, and French during her last period. One day, during her French class, she noticed that she had been taught the same exact lesson, but in English. Ms. Mattheiem explained to her student that this was unsurprising because she could learn French at the same level as English. “Analyzing poetry is fundamentally the same thing… a metaphor is a metaphor.” Regardless of the language, the lesson is universal. 

This aspect makes the program particularly rigorous, especially in an environment where students spend the majority of the day working and thinking in English. As Mandarin Teacher Jialu Du says, the program is challenging even to native speakers. “It's hard work. Often people take it for granted, ‘oh this is your native language…’ But, it's more work compared to living in the native speaking countries.” 

But this rigor allows for a deeper understanding of both the language, and the culture that surrounds it. French bilingual candidate Matteo Ruiz ’25 said, “It helps me become more of a global citizen and understand different views.” French bilingual candidate Albane Baniol ’25 similarly noted, “I better understand how life works in other countries.” They both agreed that diving more deeply into the French language is a way to explore different viewpoints, different cultures, and different things in the world outside their own. 

This enriching approach certainly isn’t limited to the Bilingual Diploma Program at Dwight, of course. From a young age, Dwight World Language students are introduced to creative assignments in their language classes, and experience cultures through language events and trips. Think of the Bilingual Diploma Program as the pinnacle of what happens throughout an engaging, enriching World Languages Department: students learning about new culture through language, and then sharing that culture. This can be seen through the numerous achievements in the School and beyond.

As part of a unit on storytelling through graphic novels, grades 6 and 7 Spanish Language and Literature students created original comic strips, which were then proudly displayed in the school’s library. Grade 8 French Language and Literature students made a remarkable debut at the "Première Scène" French theater festival in New York. An original play, Le Testament, written by the students, collectively earned them the "Coup de Cœur Comédie" for their performance and the Writing Award. (Read more about their win online.)

Mandarin students won multiple awards for their exceptional talent and creativity in Chinese writing. Entering the CLASS National Essay Contest, which received more than 1,000 submissions from students across the United States, John He ’28 won the Silver Award, Jamie Knox ’25 won the Silver Award, and Adrian Fang ’25 won the Bronze Award.

In the German program, Jonas Broening-Chai ’27 achieved second place in the Immanuel Kant “Sapere Aude” Essay Competition held by the Goethe Institut Washington in honor of the philosopher's 300th birthday. His sister, Naila Broening-Chai ’26, had an article published in Der Tagesspiegel based on a one-year IB program research project. 

Hebrew student Alexa Prashker ’27 was invited to the finals of an international Hebrew competition organized by Tel Aviv University: The Hebrew Language Olympics.

Ultimately, throughout Dwight’s World Languages Program, but especially its Bilingual Diploma Program, vast skills are built. But more importantly, connections to culture are made. This is important to students who see the bilingual program as a way to stay connected to their family history and heritage. Ms. Mattheiem explained, "As an IB school, one of our missions is really to support native speakers in their own native language and culture… because for a lot of families, it’s really important — it’s part of their identity."

Ofer Rubin ’26 said, “Why is learning Hebrew important to me? I've left Israel and I'm not there anymore. So I've kind of lost connection with the language and the culture. And most of my family is still in Israel. So it's important to me to maintain my abilities in the language so I can communicate with them and still stay connected to that.”

Cici Zhu ’25, felt a similar way, saying, “Mandarin's my first language, so I feel it's really important for me to still learn my mother tongue while I'm learning English here. I am definitely not going to be using Mandarin as much... so I feel like learning my mother tongue [is] really important.”

Dwight’s Bilingual Diploma Program ensures that students who have two or more identities can pursue the languages and cultural contexts academically in an equally advanced way. Whether it’s preparing for university abroad, staying connected to family, or deepening cultural understanding, language learning at Dwight is not only about fluency, but about giving students the tools to grow as global leaders.