Foreign language standards define what students should know and be able to do in the language they are studying. The US has five target areas: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. A task force developed a standardized guide for best teaching practice in 1993. The standards suggest activities to help students achieve learning goals and support extended sequences of study. Setting and adopting foreign language standards can benefit teachers, students, parents, and administrators.
Foreign language standards are the definition and description of content standards of foreign language instruction or of what students should know and be able to do in the foreign language they are studying. In the United States, national standards include five target areas: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. A task force of 11 representatives worked from 1993 to 1996 to develop a standardized guide for best teaching practice in the foreign language classroom that also sets benchmarks for learners. In addition to a published set of national foreign language standards, U.S. states and individual counties and cities may develop their own standards.
A coalition of national language organizations received funding to develop foreign language standards in 1993 as part of the America 2000 education initiative. Eleven representatives from a variety of languages, education levels, and geographic regions were selected to form a task force who shared his work publicly throughout the process. The Standard for Foreign Language Learning was first published in 1996. While not strictly a curriculum guide, the standards suggest activities that can help students achieve learning goals and support extended sequences of study.
There are five target areas identified by American foreign language standards: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. While some students learn a foreign language to better understand another culture, others may seek a career in government service or in another country. The five areas embody the philosophy that foreign languages offer something to every student regardless of the reason for studying. Each target area is broken down into distinct standards or benchmarks for students to achieve.
The communication standard emphasizes interpersonal communication in the form of direct written or oral interaction between individuals. Students begin by learning phrases that allow them to interact with each other right away, usually by introducing themselves. The goal is to communicate in a culturally appropriate way.
When students show an understanding between the practices, products, and perspectives of the culture being studied, they have achieved the cultural goal. This standard sets the stage for connections, an area that promotes knowledge of other disciplines through the study of foreign languages. Students begin to recognize the specific viewpoints available through the foreign language and culture.
Comparisons and communities are the last two target areas established by foreign language standards. Students compare their native language and culture with what they are studying. Additionally, students go beyond the school environment and use their language skills within the community for enrichment and enjoyment. Language learning is therefore promoted as a lifelong process.
A sample activity that encompasses many of the foreign language standards would be a television news program. Students work in teams to write and produce a newscast in the target language including sports, weather and live segments on the scene. Such activity could touch communication standards, cultures, connections and communities.
Setting and adopting foreign language standards can be beneficial to all involved in the academic process because the goal is clear and uniform. Teachers know the standards and are able to plan activities that help students achieve them. Students understand better what goals they need to achieve and their parents can track their progress. Finally, administrators can allocate resources and purchase materials as needed to meet established standards.
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