ACTFL STANDARDS SUMMARY by Teresa Medal

Visual Link Spanish™: Spanish Level I

ACTFL STANDARDS SUMMARY

1893 E Skyline Drive Suite 105, South Ogden, UT 84403 Phone Number: (801) 475-4441 --- 1-866-977-2647 Fax Number: (801) 475-4446 www.learnspanishtoday.com www.spanishprograms.com Director: David S. Clark Created 8/20/08

ACTFL Standards for Foreign Language Learning Definition and Course Description “Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes “He who does not know a foreign language does not know anything about his own.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What are the National Standards referred to in the Syllabus? The national standards are published in the document Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century (referred to as Standards). Standards is essentially a content framework that defines what students should know and be able to do following foreign language instruction in a K–12 sequence. It is not enough to know about language; rather, students must learn to use language. The standards are organized around five main goals: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. Eleven standards in total, distributed among these goal categories, are the content standards that give foreign language students "the powerful key to successful communication: knowing how, when, and why to say what to whom" (Standards, 1996, p. 11). The statement of philosophy from which Standards was generated embodies the goals and beliefs of the foreign language profession: Language and communication are at the heart of the human experience. The United States must educate students who are equipped linguistically and culturally to communicate successfully in a pluralistic American society and abroad. This imperative envisions a future in which ALL students will develop and maintain proficiency in English and at least one other language. (Standards, 1996, p. 7)

Who developed Standards? Standards is published by The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) as part of a national grant and mandate to develop a uniform national framework. ACTFL is the only national organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction. ACTFL is an individual membership organization of more than 9,000 foreign language educators and administrators from elementary through graduate education, as well as government and industry.

Why is Standards important to me and my students? Standards focuses a teacher’s selection of what will be taught rather than just covering page after page and hoping that students are getting what they need. Standards provides both a clear direction in the classroom and the evidence that students are learning what is expected by design rather than by accident. By aligning instruction with Standards we will empower our language students to be lifelong learners and users.

How does Standards relate to my State/District Framework or CORE Curriculum? The role of state standards is to provide a higher level of specificity, the detail necessary to put the national standards into practice in local classrooms. Each element of the national standards becomes a guide to the development of a comparable element of state/local standards and curriculum. Most states and districts have closely modeled their frameworks/curriculum after the national standards, using similar terminology and numbering. For schools in these areas, the national standards referred to in this course will match up closely with your local standards.

How does the Visual Link Spanish™ Course meet each of the requirements of the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning (ACTFL)? Communication Communicate in Languages Other Than English Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions. The central focus of the course is to teach students how to communicate effectively in Spanish. Students are encouraged to begin conversing in Spanish from day one. The core of the course is dedicated to 13 Conversation Sections that teach students to express their feelings, emotions, and opinions on a wide variety of the most useful subject areas. Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics. Through daily practice sessions, students continually practice and help each other improve their listening comprehension abilities. Weekly pronunciation lessons, as well as an entire section of the course dedicated to comprehension helps students learn techniques to better understand native speakers. Weekly audio comprehension lessons gives students the opportunity to hone their skills while listening to dialogues in Spanish. Reviews and exams of each section help students to assess their progress and assure competency in their ability to interpret written language. Standard 1.3: Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics. Students very quickly become confident presenters through daily practice. During practice sessions, students give brief demonstrations of the learned concepts in front of the class. Presentation skills are assessed through periodic verbal exams to give students direction for further improvement also. Students also have the opportunity to give more prepared, in-depth presentations through a culture report and group skit.

Cultures Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied. Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied. The Visual Link™ Spanish course puts a heavy emphasis on the study of culture through weekly culture lessons which discuss a specific practice or product of Spanish-speaking cultures from a first-hand perspective. Much of the vocabulary is taught contextually so that students know when and why it is used from a cultural point of view. Students learn from each other some features of specific cultures through weekly culture presentations.

Connections Connect with Other Disciplines and Acquire Information. Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language. Teachers are encouraged to follow inter-disciplinary approach to instruction through enrichment activities and Culture Presentations that might incorporate elements of Government, Business, Social Studies, Health, English, and Communications. Through the computer-based aspects of the course, students become more familiar with the use of technology. Through frequent reviews and exams, students refine their writing, speaking, and test-taking abilities. - Page 3 – © Copyright 2008, DMC Language Labs, LLC

Standard 3.2: Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures. During the weekly culture lessons and discussions, students acquire information and viewpoints that are unique to Spanish-speaking cultures. Students are made aware of opportunities and vocations that become available to them through the study of Spanish.

Comparisons Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture Standard 4.1: Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own. The comparative approach encouraged throughout the course helps students improve their grasp of English grammar and language arts. One of the benefits of learning Spanish with the Visual Link™ course is that students simultaneously gain a greater understanding of English. For example, much of the pronunciation section is taught by comparing the differences between English and Spanish; many of the grammar lessons reference sentence structure and other concepts useful in English. Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own. After each weekly culture lesson, students are encouraged to participate in a group discussion comparing the specific concept discussed with similar concepts within their own culture. Also, students prepare and present a report that contrasts an aspect of a Spanish-speaking country with their own personal country/culture.

Communities Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home & Around the World Standard 5.1: Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting. Students are encouraged to put the language to use both inside and outside of the classroom. From the very first day students are taught the most common classroom expressions and required to use them rather than their English counterparts. Students are encouraged to find opportunities to practice what they’ve learned outside of class and to share it with their friends and families. The conversational approach of the course teaches students vocabulary that is constantly utilized in real life situations. Standard 5.2: Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment. Through regular enrichment activities, students are given the chance to use Spanish while participating in group activities. Through the course software and internet site, students can access simple computer games that reinforce the concepts taught in the course. Teachers are encouraged to introduce students to Spanish popular media such as movies, music, literature, and art.