120 likes | 244 Views
Language and Culture Summit Alexandria, VA, January 25, 2011. The State of Language Learning in K-12 Schools in the United States Jacque Bott Van Houten JNCL-NCLIS. World Languages in National and State Education Policies. No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001
E N D
Language and Culture SummitAlexandria, VA, January 25, 2011 The State of Language Learning in K-12 Schools in the United States Jacque Bott Van Houten JNCL-NCLIS
World Languages in National and State Education Policies • No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 Accountability--adequate yearly progress Local flexibility in spending and testing • Race To The Top Innovation, Standards, Effective Teachers Turning around low performing schools • Priority areas of Math, English/Language Arts (Common Core) • National/State Initiatives: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) 21st Century Skills College and Career Readiness Early Childhood Education • State Graduation Requirements • International Comparison
US Elementary Schools Teaching Foreign Languages (Public, Private, Total) (1987, 1997, 2008) CAL Center for Applied Linguistics
US Middle and High Schools Teaching Foreign Languages(Total) (1987, 1997, 2008) CAL Center for Applied Linguistics
Foreign Languages Offered by Elementary Schools With Foreign Language Programs (1997, 2008) CAL
Foreign Languages Offered by Secondary Schools With Foreign Language Programs (1997, 2008) CAL
Program Types Offered by Elementary Schools With Language Programs (Private, Public) (2008) Private Public CAL Center for Applied Linguistics
Types of Foreign Language Classes Offered by Secondary Schools With Language Classes (1997, 2008)
Teachers • Recruitment and Certification issues • Growing Alternative Routes • State MOUs with foreign countries • The College Board & Confucius Institutes’ initiatives • Quality instruction
A Unified Profession • Organizational Support: ACTFL, NCSSFL NADSFL, NNELL, NLRCs, • Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century • ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines • ACTFL Performance Guidelines for K-12 • Assessment tools, such as the Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPI), STAMP, APPEL, AP, LinguaFolio
Changing Practice • Focus on functional language with grammar as a tool • Emphasis on proficiency versus seat time for learning outcomes and credit • Importance of formative and summative performance-based assessment; • Shift from textbooks to thematic unit design • Popularity of hybrid or blended courses • Teacher professional development = professional learning communities
Future Directions • Increase the number & effectiveness of language learning opportunities • Expand the range of languages being offered • Begin language learning at a younger age and continue learning opportunities throughout schooling • Expand access and opportunities to learn via traditional and innovative delivery systems • Establish clear proficiency expectations for students’ language learning outcomes