Area of Knowledge: Foreign Languages Component

Rationale

Achieving an intermediate level of proficiency in a language other than English will provide a crucial foundation for encountering other cultures in a manner that is both sensitive and informed. As students build this foundation, they will acquire an enhanced understanding of the general structure of language and demonstrate requisite communication skills in the target language, including listening, speaking, writing, and reading. Through the study of a language other than English, students will be better prepared to respect differences among people and to appreciate the values of another culture.

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Goals

The purpose of elementary and intermediate foreign language courses is to teach student to communicate at the intermediate level (as defined by the language specific ACTFL guidelines) in a language other than English and in the process provide them with knowledge and understanding of other cultures.

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Communication Skills Component Learning Objectives

1. Students will engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, exchange opinions
2. Students will demonstrate an ability to understand and interpret the written language on a variety of topics
3. Students will demonstrate an ability to understand the spoken language on a variety of topics
4. Students will present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics. (N.B. 3 and 4 do not apply to Latin or Greek)

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Cultural Component Learning Objectives

1. Students will understand the practices and perspectives of the culture studied.
2. Students will understand the concept of culture through comparisons of the culture studied and their own.
3. Students will understand the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own
4. Students will recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures.

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Criteria (Applies to a program of up to four courses)

Courses should:

1. Require student use of the language within and when appropriate beyond the classroom
2. Prepare students to meet the standards of the ACTFL guidelines in foreign language ability
3. Include a weekly lab component
4. Include a component that introduces or enhances the learner’s knowledge and understanding of the culture or cultures associated with the target language