World Languages
About MPSD World Languages
Students in the MPSD have the opportunity to communicate with the world by beginning to study either French or Spanish in 7th grade and continuing that language for an articulated 6-year sequence. This early start offers the opportunity for numerous benefits now and into the future. Students can begin to study German in 9th grade.
The World is Flat
The World is Flat, a book and notion started by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, has become a common phrase in this new millennium. World events are spotlighting America's general lack of preparedness to participate in the global society and economy in which we live today. The ability to communicate and function within multiple languages and cultures is an essential skill for all Americans right now. That need is mushrooming with the rapid growth of technology.
Children across the world leave school able to function in their native language, English and most likely several other languages. They're prepared to consider the perspectives of multiple cultures in all decision making. Language learning is an imperative for our young people if they are to be prepared to live, work and compete with their peers globally.
Language learning is a lifelong process
To gain a high level of proficiency language learning must be begun early and sustained over many years in an uninterrupted sequence. Language learners often find it easier to learn other languages. Businesses around the world ask, "What languages do you speak?"
Take advantage of the opportunity provided by MPSD to study one language over 6 years and add others during your studies in the Manitowoc Public School District as well.
Opportunities for language students in MPSD
Students in MPSD have opportunities for:
TRAVEL - Travel to Europe through partner school exchanges.
HOSTING - Host students from our partner schools abroad.
ACADEMICS - Pursue the Global Education Achievement Certificate through the Global Scholars Program. Students in Spanish can also participate in Spanish Honor Society.
MPSD World Language Teachers
MPSD World Language Teachers believe in providing students with a variety of opportunities to use the target language and experience cultural traditions. Students use the skills they develop in their world language classes and then apply them in the most authentic of ways—in real life situations. The French Live, German Live & Spanish Live exchanges are an integral part of the World Language program. MPSD World Language teachers are dedicated to the partnerships they have with schools in France, Germany and Spain. Since the first partner school relationship began more than 25 years ago, MPSD world language teachers have organized and led students on over 30 immersion trips with the majority of them being to our partner schools in France, Germany and Spain.
World Language Education & Standards
Excerpts taken directly from the Wisconsin Standards for World Languages publication (June 2019):
What is World Language Education?
More than 350 languages are spoken in homes, schools, workplaces, and community spaces across the United States (American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2017). These languages are not foreign. They represent indigenous, colonial, immigrant, migrant, and home languages of our nation and of the world. Wisconsin schools offer language programs in modern and classical languages. World languages may be spoken, written, and signed. Languages embody identities and cultures, and diverse ways of knowing and interpreting our world. Learning a new language, or reawakening and preserving indigenous languages, allows students to access more information, ideas, perspectives, and opportunities. World language learners use language for intercultural communication within our linguistically and culturally diverse communities. Through the process of learning a new language, students come to better understand their home language, cultural identity, and role in the world. World language education is critical for successful engagement within our local and global communities and economies, as well as, for the preservation of our diverse linguistic and cultural heritage.
The Wisconsin Standards for World Languages are designed to
prepare students to use the language of instruction (target language) to communicate;
engage in disciplinary content learning;
investigate and interact within and across cultures;
participate in diverse contexts and communities;
compare languages and cultures;
develop skills for local and global community engagement; and
access the benefits of multilingualism for college, careers, and personal enrichment.
The Wisconsin Standards for World Languages are strategically aligned with the national World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (The National Standards Collaborative Board, 2015). The national World-Readiness Standards target five goal areas, the “Five Cs” of Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. These goal areas are complemented by Can-Do Statements that articulate learner progress with interpretive, interpersonal, presentational, and intercultural communication.
Our state standards include proficiency benchmarks for interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication from the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements (NCSSFL-ACTFL, 2017) (National Council of State Supervisors for Languages and American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages). The NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements performance indicators are used, with minor stylistic edits focused on student performance, for Wisconsin Standards one through four. Proficiency benchmarks for intercultural investigation are original to Wisconsin, and the benchmarks for intercultural interaction are adopted from the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements.
The Wisconsin Standards for World Languages embed the national goal areas of Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities within core learner practices for each Communication standard and also within a new standard for Global Competence and Community Engagement, based on rubrics for Global Leadership (Asia Society Center for Global Education, 2013). This strategic integration of the “Five Cs” provides a focused purpose and context for language use within our state standards, and through them, within our classrooms.
These Wisconsin Standards for World Languages leverage the strengths of the national standards and aligned resources within a framework that heightens attention to helping students discover their voice, perspective, and agency within linguistically and culturally diverse local and global communities. Critical components of this development include using the language to compare languages and cultures, to learn through and about other disciplines, and to engage in respectful and successful intercultural relationships. Standards-based world language programs prepare students for lifelong learning, professional opportunities, and full participation in the interdependent and multilingual communities locally and around the world.
Communication is the core competency and focus of contemporary world language learning environments. Standards-based and proficiency-based language educators facilitate students’ learning “how, when, and why to say what to whom” (The National Standards Collaborative Board, 2015, p. 12) through performance tasks and assessments in these modes of communication. The standards for Intercultural Communication, and Global Competence and Community Engagement provide a meaningful overarching context when planning curricula, thematic units, and project-based learning experiences through which students develop and demonstrate interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication skills.
*Click on the button above to learn more about world language courses at Lincoln High School