In June 2001, Asia Society's National Commission on Asia in the Schools released its report which concluded that "young Americans are dangerously uninformed about international matters" (National Commission on Asia in the Schools, 2001 p. 6). Since then, Asia Society has been leading a major national initiative to stimulate teaching and learning about the history, geography, cultures, and languages of Asia and other world regions in America's schools. In this article we explore the crucial relationship between the early language classroom and the international knowledge and skills that are so vital in the 21st century.