Caden Green isn’t your typical high school senior. While many students juggle extracurriculars and homework, Caden has mastered something a bit more unique—a second language. Fluent in both English and French, Caden recently earned the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy, a commendation that recognizes his bilingual abilities, and it’s an achievement that reflects not only his hard work but also his passion for language and culture.

"I took the test after my third year of French," Caden recalls with a smile, remembering the moment he earned the medal now resting in a box on the table in front of us. "It’s a small medal, but it represents a big achievement for me." It’s actually not so small. And it’s quite heavy. Regardless, it is no small feat—Caden is in French 4 now, and his fluency allows him to engage in conversation and casual reading with ease. "For most things, I feel comfortable," he explains. "Though sometimes I need a dictionary for more professional words—especially political ones."

Caden’s journey into the world of French began in an unexpected way. "In seventh grade, we were all supposed to take Spanish," he says. But that was the year the world turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of immersive language learning, Caden received a packet of vocabulary words, and it just didn’t click. "It felt disconnected," he admits. "But in eighth grade, when I started French with my teacher, Miss Riesch, something about it just clicked."

From there, his love of the language grew, culminating in a life-changing trip to Quebec with his former French teacher, Mrs. Stanley. "It was incredible," Caden says, recalling his time exploring the cobblestone streets of Quebec City and visiting Montreal. "Quebec City felt so welcoming, like a small town, even though it’s a city. It was one of the best places I’ve ever been." Mrs. Stanley added, “It takes a tremendous amount of dedication to learn a language, both inside and outside the classroom. Anyone who has tried, knows it is so easy to give up. Caden arrived in high school knowing he wanted to be a French speaker. He has pushed himself to learn and speak using his language skills at every opportunity. It is very difficult for a student to achieve the Biliteracy Seal after four years of French studies, much less three. It was such a pleasure to teach Caden for three years.”

His time in Quebec gave him not only a chance to practice his French in real-world settings but also to immerse himself in the culture. "You think you know French until you’re in a place where everyone speaks it naturally," he says. "That’s when you realize how much there is still to learn. The French people have such a rich culture, and seeing that firsthand was amazing."

But while Quebec might have felt like a European getaway, Caden notes the differences between French in Quebec and the French spoken in France. "Quebecois French has some older elements," he explains, launching into a brief history lesson.

"In some ways, it’s more old-fashioned French, influenced by British colonization and shaped by the people who settled there. It’s fascinating how languages evolve based on history." Caden then puts on a clinic in old French brought to Eastern Canada by settlers centuries before. “So there's an old folk song which says, ‘When I drink claret wine,’ they would say, 'Quand je bois du vin clairet.’ And so it's because there was an older French in, like, the 1600s that settled in this area. And because there was so much going on in the French mainland, they disconnected. For instance, there's a Voltaire quote, which is, "Quand la maison du maître bruite, qui se préoccupe de sauver l’étable?" which means, "When the master's house is burning, who is concerning himself with the stable?" So it's saying, ‘We have so many problems here in France, why are we worried about this new world where it's just fur trappers?’” I nod politely as I secretly regret not paying better attention to my own high school French teacher!

His fascination with language doesn’t stop at French. Caden’s love of literature has led him to explore how language works in different contexts, particularly in American and English literature. "I’m really into the modernists like Virginia Woolf and James Joyce," he says. "The way they twist language and time in their work really interests me."

With his language skills and love of literature, Caden is already thinking ahead to his next steps after high school. "I’m considering a few options," he says, mentioning Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and McGill University in Montreal. "I’d love to study French language and literature, and maybe teach English in France one day."

For now, though, Caden is focused on making the most of his senior year at Herrin High. Between his AP classes and his passion for French, he’s become something of a role model for younger students. "It’s a great school," he says. "Herrin offers so many opportunities. We’ve got multiple language options, AP classes, and teachers who really care."

As for the future, Caden’s confident that no matter where he ends up, French will be a part of his life. "Whether I’m in France or studying literature, French is something I’m going to keep pursuing."