Peoria Unified World Languages and Immersion Programs

1. Peoria Unified World Languages and Immersion Programs Dr. Heather Cruz March 25, 2014

2. Today we will cover: • Class • Clubs • Immersion Programming

3. Current High School Offerings • Spanish: I-V • Spanish Adv Language and Literature • IB Spanish V Honors • French: I-V • French Adv Language and Literature • IB French V Honors • German: I-IV • American Sign Language: 1-IV

4. Class Syllabi • Spanish I • Introduction to the language and culture of the target language countries. This class consists of the four basic skill areas of writing, speaking, reading, and listening comprehension. • Spanish II • A continuation of the study of the language and culture of target language countries. The speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension skills are reviewed and reinforced. These skills and the culture element continue to be addressed through the use of basic conversational and grammatical structures.

5. Class Syllabi • Spanish V AP/Honors • This course is an extended study of the target language. Students are expected to perform at a higher level of proficiency than in previous courses. Writing, reading, speaking, and listening take on a more challenging aspect in Foreign Language V/AP (Honors). These skills and the culture element are addressed through advanced grammatical structures and readings. Students may take the Advanced Placement language exam and receive college credits depending upon their examination results and college standards

6. Class Syllabi • Spanish Advanced Language and Literature • This course is an in-depth literary survey that will serve as the basis for the advancement of oral language and composition. Students will be required to read and analyze a collection of literary works representative of the target culture. Subsequent discussion and composition will be in the target language.

7. High School World Language Clubs • CeHS: Spanish, ASL, French • IHS: Spanish Honor Society, French, French Honor Society • LHS: Spanish, German, ASL, ASL Honor Society • PHS: ASL • RSK: Spanish, ASL • SMHS: Spanish

8. Current Elementary Program • Santa Fe: Spanish Immersion Program • Collaboration with Peoria High School • Correct placement upon entry to high school • Language integration with PHS teacher • World Language Club • Parkridge • Vistancia • Use Rosetta Stone software

9. Arizona and University Guidelines • Arizona K-12 Standards Available, but no requirement to offer Foreign Language • State Universities: Recommended prerequisite of 2 full credits of a World Language • College Preparation Pathway students take at least two years of world language

10. Research • American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages • Three Major Areas Identified • How does language learning support academic achievement? • How does language learning provide cognitive benefits to students? • How does language learning affect attitudes and beliefs about language learning and other cultures?

11. How does language learning support academic achievement? • Correlates to: • Higher scores on standardized tests • Increased linguistic awareness • A students’ ability to hypothesize in science • Development of print awareness in young children • Higher SAT and ACT scores • Higher academic performance in college • Benefits: • Both native English speakers as well as English Language Learners • Aids in the development of students' reading abilities

12. Best Practices for Language Instruction • Start early • A well articulated framework for instruction • Modern Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. A Common European Framework of Reference (Council of Europe, 1996), • Teacher training • Use of technology • Culture • Hearing the language • Interaction with those that speak the language • Blogging • Social Media

13. Best Practices for Language Instruction • Language integrated with content instruction • Santa Fe Immersion Program • Use of communication strategies to build context between current and new language • Build upon the primary language • Use of new language as the sole communication method in the classroom • Some countries also identify language courses as “core”

14. Best Practices for Language Instruction • Assessment • Graduation requirement • Support language instruction for indigenous languages that are not the primary language of the area/country

15. Discussion

16. Santa Fe: Spanish Immersion Program • English speaking students learn their second language (Spanish) through content • Math and Science • Teacher speaks only in Spanish • Collaboration with Peoria High School • Collaboration with Curriculum and Instruction to modify HS curriculum for these students.

17. Sante Fe Immersion Numbers • History of Program: • 2008-2009: 90 Students in Kindergarten and 1st Grade • 2013-2014: 433 Students in Kindergarten through 7th Grade • Current Numbers: • Kindergarten – 2 teachers, 50 students • 1st grade – 2 teachers, 55 students • 2nd grade – 2 teachers, 58 students • 3rd grade – 2 teachers, 54 students • 4th grade – 2 teachers, 56 students • 5th grade – 2 teachers, 40 students • 6th grade – 2 teachers, 40 students • 7th/8th grade – 1 teacher, 40 students • 7th/8th grade – 1 teacher, 40 students

18. Future Replication • Expand immersion program to 1 or 2 more schools • Considerations and Concerns • Enrollment characteristics • Principal/Staff passion and commitment • Community/Site Council involvement • Location of school

19. Stage One • Informal Discussion regarding program/ideas • General enthusiasm regarding ideas but little form or proposal developed • Ideas are long-term goals and do not have immediacy for implementation

20. Stage 2 • Ideas in place to start exploration and research • Action plan designed and presented • Extended meetings held • Committee formed (leadership teams, site council, etc.) • Start up costs and evaluated • Resources needed • Training • Staffing

21. Discussion • How many programs? • General location in the District? • Which World Language(s)?