This study examined why preschool, kindergarten, and 4th grade students had poor comprehension of a second language. The reasons for this were threefold: learning a second language is not essential to a child's life at these ages; they are not motivated to learn a second language on their own; and it was widely thought that learning a second language would be too challenging and time-consuming for children at these ages. A buddy program was used as a means of increasing their awareness of a second language. The program worked, because once it was instituted the children were indeed more aware of a second language. This was judged to be beneficial to the students for living in a global society. Appendices contain parent, student, and business surveys, a parent consent form, and several other items that could be used for handouts and other classroom activities. (Contains 27 references.) (KFT)