World Language

NEWS from the World Language Department

FLES (Foreign Language in the Elementary School) Comes to Stratford
              

        With great enthusiasm, careful planning, and highest expectations, the Stratford Public School District introduced world language instruction at the elementary level this year. During this first year of implementation, students in grades K, 1, and 2 receive a 25 minute lesson in Spanish each week. Next year, as the program expands, 3rd and 4th graders will receive two lessons per week, and in 2009-10, students in 5th and 6th grades will be offered three lessons per week in preparation for their transition to the five day per week schedule at the middle school level.  FLES programs seek to capture and capitalize on children’s ability to learn a second language at an early age and research abounds with evidence supporting the very positive impact that foreign language study exerts on all aspects of student learning. Examples include enhanced cognitive development, higher academic achievement, greater mental flexibility, creativity, and higher order thinking. Learning a second language strength-ens first language proficiency, raises standardized test scores, in fact, the more years of study, the higher the scores, and enhances college admission qualifications. Second language learners develop positive attitudes toward cultural diversity and expand their career opportunities in today's competitive, increasingly global society and market. The 5 C's of world language study - Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities- guide the curriculum as students experience the fun, excitement, fascination, and discovery that language and cultural study and exploration reveal.
      Stratford is fortunate to have hired two excellent teachers with impressive credentials, each cer-tified in both Spanish and Elementary Education, to pioneer this significant program. During this first year, Gail Derrig and Emily Jacober will each teach at four elementary schools and present learning experiences, which focus upon building basic listening, speaking and reading skills in a thematic and culturally supported approach. Typical unit topics will include: Greetings - Los saludos, My Family - Mi familia, Feelings - Los sentimientos, My Class - Mi clase, Numbers - Los números, Calendar - El calendario, Colors - Los colores, Clothing - La ropa, Food - La comida, Animals - Los animales etc. Gail and Emily will conduct their classes primarily in Spanish to attune their students’ ears to the new sounds and rhythmic patterns and accustom them to hearing the spoken language, but will be careful to reinforce in English as necessary to keep the affective filter low, reduce anxiety, and ensure compre-hension. The teachers have examined and purchased a selection of booklets and workbooks, which fea-ture a wide variety of lessons, pictures, posters, activities, worksheets, flash cards, puzzles, games, CDs, songs, poems, maps, realia etc. to supplement their lessons. By 2010, Stratford will boast a com-prehensive, sequential K-12 world language program with opportunities for higher level study in one or more languages.