Shifting demographics within our own borders and between nations are leading to an increased need for multilingual talent. Student success and readiness in a global economy will require the ability to communicate and function in a multicultural environment without borders.
Despite increasing globalization and further interconnection of societies, many American students lack the tools to frame how world affairs—be they political, economic, scientific, etc.—affect their lives. Tomorrow’s leaders must have an understanding and respect for other cultures, be able to investigate the world beyond their backyard, and communicate and collaborate with diverse audiences. Language skills support all of these needs.
As our nation’s demographics—and student population—change and technologies continue to revolutionize how teachers teach and how students learn, innovative schools are exploring ways to transform their curriculum and prepare students with 21st Century skills.
World language acquisition is an important component of global competitiveness and competency for today’s students. The latter is necessary for students to thrive in an interconnected world in which college and career readiness increasingly demands cultural fluency and world language fluency.
Like all online learning models, implementing an online language learning program can be a large task to undertake. Without the right plan, implementation goals can get lost in translation. In this month’s Tech for Language webinar, presenter Jennifer Frazier explored different implementation models, as well as best practices for implementation. Attendees learned about current trends… read more →
Imagine a school district where personalized language-learning enables elementary students to learn Spanish and Mandarin. Envision school buildings where anyone, including teachers, paraprofessionals and cafeteria staff, can experience learning a new language; and students benefit by engaging in conversations with native adult speakers in a variety of school settings. This is the environment West Linn-Wilsonville… read more →