Can you imagine?

1. Can you imagine? What would it take for us to prepare our students for the world they will soon be running?

2. International Education • Prepares students for today’s world—the need for it already exists. • Prepares students for the world of tomorrow. • Requires deep understanding of other cultures, perspective-taking, and the ability to interact effectively with people of other cultures.

3. A Vision of International Education -Students study literary genres which includes reading texts in a foreign language -In a US history course, students read about events using authentic sources in other languages -Students fulfill community service requirements in ethnic language communities locally or abroad -Students are actively use their foreign language in internships in business or government agencies -A course in comparative political and economic systems requires readings from authentic documents. Students who have studied several different languages ‘jigsaw’ to report their findings.

4. A Vision of International Education Allows students to gain cultural understanding and perspective taking through direct access to the culture: • Authentic documents • Interactions with native speakers/culture bearers FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IS CRITICAL TO THIS VISION

5. Exemplary International Education Programs: The Language Component • International education is incomplete without a strong foreign language component. • A world class education means providing our students with an education comparable to the best in the rest of the world. That requires foreign languages as part of the core curriculum.

6. Exemplary Foreign Language Programs • Are aligned with National Standards • Ensure that language learning is inseparable from cross-cultural understanding • Address the key elements that research has shown make a difference in language learning

7. Variables That Matter in Language Learning • Time • Intensity and Engagement • Authentic tasks involving meaning and purpose • Interaction • Cross-cultural experiences

8. Some Approaches to Exemplary Programs Time: Programs need to start early, and meet frequently enough for long enough to provide sufficient contact hours to result in useable proficiency • Immersion • Intensive FLES • Content-based FLES • FLES programs that increase contact time and intensity over the years

9. Contact Hours and Language Learning DLI Spanish= 240 hours (8 weeks) Chinese= 480 hours (16 weeks) High School Carnegie Unit 150 contact hours (180 days X 50 minutes) 150 days X 50 minutes= 125 hours Elementary school total immersion; dual language 180 days (?) X 5hours= 900 hours FLES 60 mins. per week X40 weeks= 40 hours 150 mins. per week X 40 weeks = 100 hours

10. Variables That Matter in Language Learning • Time • Intensity and Engagement • Authentic tasks involving meaning and purpose • Interaction • Cross-cultural experiences

11. A Few Old Adages We have done so much with so little for so long, that we are qualified to do anything and everything with nothing. You get what you pay for. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.

12. What does it take to build an exemplary program? • Pay attention to the critical variables that make a difference. • Provide sufficient resources: • Time • Excellent teachers or alternative instructional delivery systems • Instructional materials Sometimes, these resources require $$$$$$$

13. Doing More With Less 1.Consider program models that increase contact time and intensity over the years. 2. Integrate language with content instruction. 3. Consider highly intensive (and low cost!!) models for those who might opt for them 4. Consider dual language programs for meeting the needs of English language learners while providing foreign language learning for English speakers

14. Exemplary Programs Recognize One Size Won’t Fit All • Addressing the preferences of diverse stakeholders • Addressing the needs of diverse learners • Addressing national, state, and local needs • Providing cognitive and academic benefits to all

15. Pipelines Are selective: selectedbyparents and/or students Are real-life examples of what can be accomplished Serve as hothouses for innovation Offer diverse languages and serve diverse populations Are carefully articulated to lead to advanced level proficiency Provide significant incentives for all participants at every level Include opportunities for selected learners to enter the pipeline at specified points May include or prepare students for cross-training in additional languages Pipelines: Exemplary Programs That Can Maximize Your Investment

16. Creating An Exemplary State Education: a state responsibility Exemplary education: a state responsibility

17. Steps Toward An Exemplary StateThe New Jersey Story Moving toward excellence : • Foreign language mandate • Interest in international education • Extensive opportunities for high quality professional development

18. Where To From Here? • Ensure resources are aligned with goals • Develop accountability measures

19. Ten Things To Do Tomorrow • Declare foreign language learning a priority for schools in your state. • Require that international education programs include a foreign language component. • Include quality foreign language programs as a criterion for school report cards. • Base merit or scholar diplomas on demonstrated proficiency (or, at least 6 years of foreign language study). • Encourage charter or magnet schools with a foreign language focus.

20. Ten Things To Do Tomorrow(continued) • Make foreign language proficiency an entrance and exit requirement from state-supported postsecondary institutions. • Establish a Governor’s Academy (academic year or summer). • Facilitate certification and hiring processes to expand the teacher pool. • Require that teacher preparation institutions include language proficiency for elementary certification. • Get the state PTA, school leaders and school boards to work toward a national policy that promotes language learning in our schools.

21. The Educator’s 11th Commandment THOU SHALT DO IT WELL