While other countries require students to begin learning another language
in childhood the U.S. is at a distinct disadvantage as most American students
have no language requirements until high school or beyond. The average US
student enters the university with only basic skills in a second language.
The goal of The Language Flagship is to educate all Americans to learn foreign
languages. We seek to not only to graduate students at a professionally
proficient level of language but also to “push the model” down
to elementary, middle, and high schools so that students will enter college
with an established and measurable skill in a second language. With these
programs in place, Flagship programs can then integrate students into a
more challenging and advanced curricula.
The Language Flagship views itself as a leader in the national effort to
address language education. As a result, The Language Flagship supports
three groundbreaking efforts designed to model a K-12 language curriculum
development and implementation process. Programs are located in the Dearborn
Public Schools in Michigan; the Portland Public Schools in Oregon; and in
public schools across the state of Ohio.
Ultimately, the goal is the development of K-12 language instruction programs
that graduate high school students with an advanced level of competency
and that allow Flagship programs to take them to the next level. Flagship
is working closely with each of its Centers and programs to improve the
flow of more highly proficient language graduates into the university.
Michigan State University and Dearborn Public Schools are collaborating
to enhance Dearborn’s Arabic world language program. Starting at the elementary
level, students study Arabic and have incorporated it into content area
instruction under the direction of the Dearborn Foreign Language Assistance
Program (DFLAP). The Arabic Language Instruction Flagship (ALIF) program
is ensuring excellence in K-12 instruction by partnering with DFLAP to strengthen
elementary and middle school instruction and to create and implement a new
curricular model of Arabic instruction for high school students.
At the high school level, the creation of innovative curriculum, assessments
and materials; coupled with teacher professional development, all contribute
to the goal of increasing student competency in Modern Standard Arabic.
The revised curriculum and newly developed materials will align
curriculum to Michigan World Languages Standards. Extracurricular
activities provide students with a richer understanding of the culture as
well as the language. This new curriculum creates a national model
for K-12 language instruction. Students will graduate with excellent communication
and intercultural skills, and will be ready to continue their Arabic studies
in higher education.
http://www.dearbornschools.org/
The University of Oregon and Portland Public Schools operate a K-16 Chinese Flagship Center. The goal of the Center is to develop a program of instruction for students that progresses from early learning through advanced proficiency levels in high school to superior levels in college. Project oversight and direction comes from the Center for Applied Second Language Studies at the University of Oregon.
Kindergarten through Fifth-Grade
Beginning in Kindergarten, students spend half of the school day learning
language and content classes in English and half the day in their core foreign
language. Students learn the language and culture as they study various
core subjects through developmentally appropriate curriculum and instruction.
Middle School (Sixth through Eighth Grade)
Students in middle school continue their language learning and cultural skill development during daily social studies theme based classes and language arts classes. In continuing to move students towards a high level of functional proficiency the three year middle school experience culminates with an opportunity to participate in a two week academic trip to the country of study where students utilize their language and cultural skills to navigate day to day aspects of living and conduct research based on student centered inquiry projects.
High School (Ninth through Twelfth Grade)
PPS offers rigorous core academic courses in Mandarin along with advanced level Mandarin language courses. Both heritage and immersion students enroll in these courses with the targeted outcome of advanced skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing at the end of high school. At the World Institute at Franklin High School, students learn their core subjects in English supplemented by their native language. Students aiming to become a university level Flagship Scholar will be strongly encouraged to participate in special preparation courses both locally and in country along with community based language-learning experiences.
http://casls.uoregon.edu/ppsflagship/index.php
The OSU K-12 Chinese Flagship Program was established with NSEP funding in October 2006 to assist in creating model programs in Ohio schools that want to make Chinese language part of their curriculum. Because of the joint efforts of schools/districts, the OSU K-12 Chinese Flagship Program and Ohio Department of Education, K-12 Chinese has witnessed a phenomenal growth – tripling the number of schools and student enrollment in Chinese language.
The OSU K-12 Chinese Flagship Program aims at building the infrastructure for Ohio schools to establish successful language programs leading to solid communication skills in Mandarin Chinese. The program is developing partnerships in Ohio and beyond to achieve objectives that include the following:
The OSU K-12 Chinese Flagship Program is interested in supporting any school in Ohio that is operating or plans to start a Chinese language program. We are building partnerships with three schools in the 2007-08 school year to create pilot programs in Ohio, and then expanding to more schools in the following years. Ultimately, we want to see more Ohio students to be proficient in Chinese language and knowledgeable about Chinese culture. This will not only broaden our students’ career possibilities and benefit Ohio’s economy, but also improve our national security and international relations.
http://k12chineseflagship.osu.edu/index.html