World Language Programs
World Language Programs
Embedded Files
Learning other languages and understanding the culture associated with them is not only a 21st century skill, it is also becoming more and more important to success in the global environment in which our students will function.
the Committee for Economic Development (CED) stated “to confront the twenty-first century challenges to our economy and national security, our education system must be strengthened to increase the foreign language skills and cultural awareness of our students. America’s continued global leadership will depend on our students’ abilities to interact with the world community both inside and outside our borders.”
For college and career readiness, our students need to be proficient in other languages, regardless of whether they choose to transition directly to the workforce or to post-secondary education. The language teaching community has reached strong consensus regarding the goals of a language program: to develop students’ language proficiency* around modes of communicative competence reflecting real life communication.*
*Source: Partnership for 21st century skills, Lynn Fulton-Archer, J. Smith, Thomas Sauer, Helen Small, Marty Abbott, publication date 01/2011
Second Language Acquisition in Holliston
Second Language Acquisition in Holliston
As you are all aware, we are living in strange and unprecedented times with little control over many aspects of our normal routines. Despite the uncertainty that surrounds us, we want to assure you that the Holliston World Language Program is dedicated to making your child’s language experience in Holliston an excellent one. As a matter of fact, second language acquisition, in our town, is in the middle of an innovative and exciting shift that we would like to tell you more about.
Holliston Public Schools decided, at the end of 2018, to embrace the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) World Readiness Standards which focus on proficiency-oriented and performance-based teaching and learning. These standards provide a broad framework that will assist world language teachers in Holliston transform their instruction. They will help guide learners to demonstrate their ability to function in the target language as they go from one proficiency level to the next. The emphasis is on active student participation in real-life situations using authentic tasks, materials, and audiences.
In order to make steady progress along the proficiency continuum, students need to receive timely, effective, and meaningful feedback from their teachers and peers. This kind of feedback invites students to become active and engaged participants in their learning and growth. Students will be measured by using student-friendly Can-Do Statements contained in proficiency-oriented rubrics. These rubrics will help grow students’ ability to self-assess and own their learning process.
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