Facing an increasingly interdependent global society, in terms of government, politics, trade, technology, mass media, ecology and health, today's students must be able to communicate in at least one language and understand the cultural complexities reflected in that language. Thus, our goal at Overlea High School is to develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to become effective participants in this continuously expanding world. The goal of foreign language instruction at OHS is to enable students to communicate effectively in a second language. Additionally, students who study a foreign language gain knowledge of language in general, enhance their knowledge of English and learn to appreciate and understand another culture.
Students also become aware of the utility of a foreign language in the world of work.
At Overlea high School, students have the opportunity to explore other countries and cultures and to broaden personal and academic horizons through travel. The students' learning begins from the moment they begin to think of the tour, discovering the history of the destination and forming ideas about what they think the trip will be like. We believe the travel is a vital component to understanding another culture. More then 100 of Overlea's students have participated in Baltimore County-approved filed trips travelling to cites in Mexico, England, France and Italy. We look forward to and welcome students who are interested in participation in this very rewarding venture.