If it is time to put the "world" into a world-class education, the author argues, then it is time to make foreign languages a greater priority in the U.S. education system. About 6% of the world's population speaks English as its primary language. English is widely spoken as a second language in countries where it has official status along with another language, and it also serves as a lingua franca among speakers for whom no other language is mutually known. In all, it is estimated that about one-fourth of the world's population has some degree of competence in English. Given that so many people around the world speak or are learning English, why should Americans bother to learn foreign languages? In this article, the author evaluates this issue. Sections include: (1) Why Learn Other Languages?; (2) Access to Foreign Language Learning; (3) Best Practices; and (4) Building on Best Practices. (Contains 15 endnotes.)