|
VISION 2010: A Plan for Model Foreign Language Programs In the North Carolina Public Schools
The Importance of Foreign Language
The State of North Carolina has set a goal to make its public schools the best in the United States by the year 2010. Being the best means giving students the opportunity to learn a foreign language. Language learning is important for the students of North Carolina, communities, and businesses. Those students who learn a foreign language will be better educated, have an advantage in the work place, and be more tolerant of other cultures. Local communities need residents who can communicate with its burgeoning immigrant population. Businesses need employees who can function in another language both overseas and locally. Language learning is important for the state as a whole; however, few North Carolina students currently graduate from high school with any meaningful level of proficiency in foreign language.
North Carolina’s Current Foreign Language Program
Most foreign language programs are not adequately structured to enable students to become proficient in a language by the time they graduate. In order to learn to speak a language, students should begin study in the elementary school and continue through high school. Studies show that younger students learn the language with greater facility than older students, and they are also better able to develop a near native pronunciation. Yet starting young is not enough. Just like in mathematics or in band, students must continue to study foreign language ever year with one skill building upon another.
Most North Carolina students (who study a foreign language at all) complete only two to three levels in high school and never rise beyond the beginning level of proficiency. The elementary and middle school programs that exist are largely ineffective at developing language learners for various reasons, including little time spent teaching the language, programs that are often largely exploratory in nature, and one year often does not build upon the previous year. Students will make progress, but it rarely leads to communicative ability.
Proposed Program
The Alliance for Language Learning proposes that each school district in the State of North Carolina offer at least one sequential program for students who want to learn a foreign language. The program should be based on the following criteria:
- The program will conform to national standards.
- The program will begin by at least third grade and continue through high school.
- The programs will have specific goals and accountability.
- The programs will be continuous, well sequenced (articulated) and of high quality.
- The program will not serve every student but will be available to all and designed to benefit all who want to participate regardless of background and ability level.
The goal of the program is to eventually graduate 5,000 students per year throughout the state with an intermediate high or advanced level of proficiency in another language. Although most of these students will not be bilingual, they will be able to use the language in the work place and in their communities, as well as overseas. In addition, they will have a strong base upon which to develop communication skills through further study.
The program will be delivered in each district through Foreign Language Model Schools. Each district will designate a feeder pattern of one or two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school as Model Schools. The Model elementary schools will offer either the Content-Enriched FLES Model (daily instruction of at least 30 minutes per day), dual/two-way immersion (½ day in foreign language and ½ day in English for native speakers of both languages), or the total immersion model (instruction in the foreign language of ½ day to a full day). Students who are successful at the elementary level will continue on to programs at the middle and high school levels.
The cost for implementing the program throughout the state will be relatively modest. When fully implemented, each district would need to add four to five language teachers, depending on existing programs. In addition to the staffing costs, there will be some costs related to teacher training and materials.
The Alliance is pleased that Johnston County Schools is continuing its VISION 2010 pilot program for the year 2004-2005 at East Clayton Elementary School. Funding will be sought from the Legislature and from other sources to seek gradually to expand the program throughout the state. It is hoped that the State will eventually provide funding for at least one model language program in each school district.
or information about VISION 2010 contact:
Dr. Mary Lynn Redmond, Project Director
Associate Professor, Department of Education
Wake Forest University
Phone: 336/758-5347
FAX: 336/758-4591
redmond@wfu.edu
|