This paper argues for bringing insights from linguistics into the world language classroom. At any level of study, such insights can add intellectual interest to the study of a target language (TL), and can also help students accept and acquire aspects of the TL that are different from their first language or that are inherently challenging. As a supporting framework, the paper proposes five linguistics-based essential questions for world language education: (1) How is the TL different from other languages? (2) How is the TL similar to other languages? (3) What are the roots of the TL? (4) How and why does use of the TL vary? (5) How do people learn and process the TL? The paper illustrates each essential question with relevant aspects of five commonly-taught languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish. Finally, it outlines how teachers can incorporate the essential questions in their teaching.