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Council Rock World Languages. Secondary Program Grades 8-12 2011-2012. The Importance of World Languages. Position statements for ACTFL*: 1 All students should learn or maintain at least one language in addition to English.
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Council Rock World Languages Secondary Program Grades 8-12 2011-2012
The Importance of World Languages Position statements for ACTFL*: 1 All students should learn or maintain at least one language in addition to English. • Language learning should be offered in extended, well-articulated sequences that develop increasing levels of proficiency at each level of instruction by teachers who are well qualified in language proficiency, cultural knowledge, and teaching skills. ACTFL – American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages.
“ Ensure that ALL languages are supported in our educational system, not just the languages that are deemed critical for today. ..” 2.”…make foreign languages truly a part of the core curriculum in every school. (Pre-K through 20). “ --These are 2 of 7 official legislative priorities of ACTFL More ACTFL Priorities (supported by CR -WL teachers)
Pennsylvania Chapter 4 requires…. • There is no World Language requirement for High School Graduation in Pennsylvania • 2 World Languages must be offered in every Pa. high school (Legislation passed in 1999)
Scope of Curriculum High School Elective Program • 4 languages offered since 1999* • French I-V, Spanish I-V, German I-V, Latin I-III Middle School Program • Level I French, German and Spanish • Grade 8 only- part of CORE program * Mandarin Chinese has been offered since 2009
Standards-Based Programs Standards-Based Formulated from • PA State standards • ACTFL Standards • SAS standards
World Language Teachers • Thirty- two in 2011-12(consistent since 2004) Pa. Certificated K-12-Secondary Language Specialists • Majority of teachers have Masters degrees
Evidence of a Quality Program: Curriculum Renewal • “Updated” or renewed in regular 7-8 year intervals since 1975 • “Frameworks” begun in 1999 – • dynamic • undergoing regular revision • cyclical renewal • Renewal process • Research • Publisher presentations • Spanish Renewal expected 2012
Curriculum Renewal History, Since 1998: • French 1998- 2001; and 2006-2008 • German- 2000- 2002; 2007-2008 • Latin – 2006-07 (Latin was re-introduced in 1999) • Spanish- 2003-06; (2011)2012-2015- (expected)
FUTURE Curriculum Renewal in World Language • Spanish Curriculum Renewal will begin Sept 2012-to conclude 2015 or 2016 • French and Latin Renewal to begin 2015-16 • German Renewal to begin 2015-16
World Language Committees… • Since 1998, Middle Level and High School Committees work with each language • In 2004, course committees, with course leaders formed- Still active in 2011 • Course leaders in charge of collaborating for pacing, normalized Mid Terms and Finals in all World Language courses
World Language Best Practices • Staff use of Intranet to share and revise curriculum In Classrooms: • Student-centered-Active learning • Emphasis on higher-order, critical thinking • Extensive paired and cooperative learning; accommodation for multiple learning styles and differentiation of assessments • Teachers will review their approaches to standards using B. Marzano’s “Art and Science of Teaching” research (2011--)
Differentiated Instruction • Levels II , III and IV in German, French and Spanish offer a differentiated sequence • Each individual course framework offers a variety of instructional practices
Remedial Instruction/ Enrichment • All teachers- multiple clinics weekly • Take-home (online) Tutors available in Spanish; on-line workbooks or textbooks available in German, French and some upper-level Spanish courses • Student tutors offered in all languages in the high schools by the Language Honor Societies
Assessment Practices • Oral Proficiency component in each formal assessment • Normalized Mid Terms-keyed to standards • Normalized Final Exams-keyed to standards
Goal -Proficiency Levels in World Language ACTFL Proficiency Levels – Goals Level I courses – Low to Mid-Novice proficiency Level II courses – Mid-Novice Level II Accelerated – Mid-to High Novice Level III – Mid to High Novice Level III Honors- Low Intermediate Level IV – Low to Mid-Intermediate Level V AP – Mid to High Intermediate
..Evidence of high standards… • 2006-07 was the first year of AP offerings in French, German, and Spanish- Student scores, on average, continue to improve • From 1998 until present,, students have sat for AP exams, and averaged scores of 3.0 or higher in French, German and Spanish
Program Strengths • CR Curriculum is rigorous • Dual-sequence—”Regular” Level II, Level III and Level IV in French, German and Spanish, as well as parallel sequence of Honors II, III, and IV Level Three in these same languages • Honors Latin II and III offered • Higher than 50% retention rate in most Level III to–Level IV courses (most years 2004-2011) • Honors IV – AP showed near 50% retention rate (last 2 years)
Chinese offering • Mandarin offered since 2008 as part of dual-enrollment with Bucks County Community college • Mandarin course may again become available for interested Juniors and Seniors for the 2012-13 school year
Course Enrollments • Spanish continues to be the language attracting the highest number of students • French • German • Latin • (Chinese)
Student Achievement Winners • Bucks County Oral Proficiency Contest – 19 year run • CR hosted 5 times • Hundreds of 1st place winners • New Language competition created in 2010 to replace BCOP, is titled the BC WORLD LANGUAGE TOURNAMENT: 2-team concept per language per school • CR may host this competition in 2013
More Competitions • National Language Exams: Dozens of local and regional award-winners in French, Spanish and German National Exams- trophies, plaques, trips • Since 2005 – Students of Latin I, III and III have sat for National Latin exams –highly ranked in Pa. and nationally
National Honor Societies Chapters in each High School: • French – Since 1998 • German – Since 1999 • Latin – Since 2004 • Spanish – Since 1996 Hundreds of students have been honored and have performed service for others
Honors Societies visits to 6th grades • Since 2008, French German, Latin and Spanish Honor Society students from North and South have given 1-hour presentations to all 6th graders relating to their preferred language • Original concept created by student Erica Boetefuer, 2007 • All presentations have been student-created and delivered • Addresses the PA , SAS and ACTFL Standard of COMMUNITY- Stage 4
Student Extra-Curricular Language Clubs • French, German, Spanish and Latin at both high schools • Monthly meetings – • more in-depth study of culture, i.e. cuisine, dance, holidays • Further discussion of history and political philosophy • Guest speakers • Informal Language clubs at Middle Schools
7th Grade Presentations • Overview of languages offered to all students since 2005 • One class period- Presentation by District Coordinator before course selections • High School language students offered as aides-
North and South Yearly excursions for travel/study offered to Spain, France, Central America, Germany, Italy TRAVEL
Spring Break-Costa Rica (North) GAPP exchange (Germany) Spring/Summer (North and South) French exchange North- Fall/Summer Possible French exchange-South-Summer/Fall Possible Spanish and Latin trips-South/North – Spain and Italy 2011-2012
Other Student Accomplishments • AT NORTH: Student-created International Food Tasting before 4-language induction -yearly since 2008 Bi-annual class-day Talent Show for all WL students- began 2010, 2012
More student achievements: • AT SOUTH: “CULTURE SHOCK” • Student-created multi-language journal published up to 4 times a year since 2005
Areas for Improvement • Brain research indicates earlier study is most advantageous for higher second-language proficiency • Research Findings from National Defense Institute on Proficiency
Languages Your Key to Unlock New Worlds