1) The document discusses the importance of elementary school students learning a second language and different program models for foreign language instruction in elementary schools. 2) Data from a national survey found that the number of elementary schools offering foreign language instruction has not increased in the last decade and that many schools feel standards have had a negative effect on language programs. 3) The document recommends starting language instruction early and providing immersion experiences to help students reach high proficiency levels in a foreign language.

1. Exploring World Language Models at the Elementary School Level Putting the World Into World-Class Education July 11, 2008 Shuhan Wang, Ph.D. Asia Society Nancy Rhodes Center for Applied Linguistics Photo: Center for Democratic Studies, University of Haifa, Israel

2. How Important Is It for All Children In the U.S to Learn a Second Language? http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k_v89/k0709pol.htm

3. In Your Opinion, Should Instruction in a Second Language, Begin In Elementary School, Middle School, or in High School? http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k_v89/k0709pol.htm

4. National K-12 Foreign Language Survey National survey sample 2007-08: elementary and secondary schools, public and private Goal: collect comprehensive data on FL instruction; replicate 1987 and 1997 surveys More than 5,000 schools sampled; >60% response rate obtained Data currently being compiled; results available at ACTFL Conference 08

5. National K-12 Foreign Language Survey Preliminary observations (from “eye-balling” the data; not yet based on final results) Number of elementary schools offering FL does not appear to have increased in the last decade Of those elem. schools not offering FL, few are interested in offering FL in the next two years (while ten years ago, more than half of schools not teaching FL were interested in offering it) Many schools comment that NCLB has had a major (negative) effect on their language programs Pockets of innovation around the country

6. Elementary Schools Teaching Foreign Languages (1987, 1997, and 2008?) Percentage of Elementary Schools offering Foreign Language Year 1987 1997 2008

7. US Students Need to Develop Global Competence Wang,2008, work in Progress Disposition Experiences Perspectives Skills Knowledge Student

8. What Does it Take to Develop Speakers at High Proficiency Levels? High Proficiency Levels Time matters: for a native English speaker to reach native-like proficiency level: --Commonly Taught Languages: 720 hours --Less Commonly Taught Languages: 1320 hours (Omaggio-Hadley, 2001) (Malone, M. E.; Rifkin, B., Christian, D. & Johnson, D. E., 2005. Attaining High Levels of Proficiency: Challenges for Foreign Language Education in the United States . http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/attain.htm.

9. Recommended Pathways to Proficiency Build on the language background of heritage language speakers Start language learning early to build a strong base for second, third, and fourth language learning Provide intensive immersion experiences for students at the postsecondary level, including overseas study in a target-language culture (Malone, et al., 2005, p. 2, 10/26/05)

10. Why Is Early Language Learning Desirable? Children learn through PLAY P: Peer socialization L: Learning by concrete examples A: Activity-based inquiry Y: Yeast for future development as a total person Advantages: Phonological window open Parameters for language learning expanded Content learning reinforced Cognitive skills activated and strengthened Natural imitators and risk takers Enjoy show and tell and the fun to communicate for meaning Time to go thorough articulated sequential learning

11. Three Differences in Program Models The amount of time spent per day in the study of foreign language The language used by the teacher in class The subject matter of the class

12. Program Models Develop interest in languages; learn basic words; develop cultural awareness 1 – 5% Language Experience Become proficient in listening, speaking; some focus on reading, writing Acquire cultural understanding 5 - 30% (focus is on learning language and sometimes subject matter) FLES Become functionally proficient in L2 Master subject content Acquire cultural understanding 50 - 100% (focus is on learning subject matter in FL) Immersion Goals % of time in FL Model

13. Elementary Schools with Foreign Language Programs that Offer Various Program Types (1987 and 1997) FLES (B) 45% Intensive FLES (C) 12% FLEX (A) 41% Immersion (D) 2% FLES (B) 34% Intensive FLES (C) 13% FLEX (A) 45% 1987 1997 Immersion (D) 8% Note: Some schools have more than one program type.

14. Spanish FLES Student Language Sample

15. Spanish Immersion Language Sample

16. What resources are available? Funding Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) www.grants.ed.gov Critical Language Flagship Programs http://www.thelanguageflagship.org/funding_institutions.html STARTALK Critical Language Summer Programs for Teachers and Students http://www.startalk@umd.edu email: [email_address] . edu

17. Curricular Resources New Jersey www.state.nj.us/education/aps/cccs/wl/frameworks/wlo / . Ohio http://ims.ode.state.oh.us/ Grade 12, “Human Needs Know No Boundaries” National Council of State Supervisors for Languages http://www.ncssfl.org

18. Chinese Curricula Available for Sharing Chicago Public Schools K-3 Curriculum: Center for Applied Linguistics and National Foreign Language Resource Center (Iowa State University): http: //nflrc . iastate . edu/ PreK-AP Curriculum: Chicago Public Schools , http://www.confuciusinstitute.chicago Minnesota Department of Education: Chinese Language Programs Curriculum Development Project, Feb. 2007 http://education.state.mn.us Ohio K-4 Curriculum (FLAP) http: //ims .ode.state.oh.us/ Oregon/Portland K-16: http: //casls . uoregon . edu

19. Asia Society Chinese Language Initiatives http://askasia.org/Chinese

20. http: //internationaled .org http: //AskAsia .org/Chinese

21. Websites Center for Applied Linguistics www.cal.org CARLA Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition www.carla.umn.edu NNELL www.nnell.org

22. Contact Information Shuhan C. Wang, Ph.D. Asia Society Tel: 212-327-9301 email: shuhanw@asiasoc.org Web site: http: //Askasia .org/Chinese Nancy Rhodes Center for Applied Linguistics Tel: 202-362-0700 email: [email_address] Web site: www.cal.org

23. Thank you! 谢谢