7-12 World Languages

The 7-12 World Languages program within the Southern Lehigh School District will seek to foster life-long intercultural competence. A learner-centered curriculum will prepare students to develop proficiency in various modes of communication, including presentational, interpretive and interpersonal. Students will learn how to interact in multilingual communities with cultural competence. A focus will be placed on creating an environment where students feel safe to take risks in order to promote active engagement and build self-confidence. Students will work collaboratively and be challenged to be flexible, open-minded language learners who reflect, learn, and grow from mistakes.

Mission Statement for 7-12 World Languages:
To foster life-long intercultural competence through developing World Language proficiency.

Guiding Principles for 7-12 World Languages:
Students will...

• be flexible, open-minded language learners.
• reflect upon, learn, and grow from mistakes.
• work collaboratively to share thoughts and ideas and to provide meaningful feedback.
• select and use appropriate tools strategically in order to investigate, deepen, and reinforce understanding of the target language and culture. 
• interact, interpret, and present effectively in a variety of contexts and purposes using the target language. 
• demonstrate self-expression and spontaneous use of the target language to function in an authentic context.
• apply strategies for requesting clarification and assistance in order to negotiate meaning in the target language. 
• increase fluency, accuracy, and complexity of target language use over time.
• investigate and reflect on cultural products, practices, and perspectives of the target language.
• utilize and transfer pre-existing knowledge, skills, and strategies to new contexts within the target language, across languages, and in cross-curricular disciplines. 
• understand and appreciate what is similar and different in other cultures.
• look for, recognize, and use structure and patterns in order to understand the nature of languages.
• find relevance for the target language in school, at home, and in the community.
• develop confidence as life-long language learners for enjoyment, enrichment, and advancement.

Best Practices for 7-12 World Languages:
Teachers will...

• use research-based strategies to make target language input comprehensible (i.e. visuals, gestures, repetition, chunking, etc.).
• work to lower students’ affective filter by encouraging participation and creating an environment where students feel safe to take risks.
• provide opportunities for self-assessment and reflection.
• offer opportunities for students to receive meaningful feedback from the teacher and peers.
• model the use of the target language, while purposefully using English for directions, clarification, and reflection.
• integrate formative assessment to inform instructional decisions.
• provide opportunities for students to demonstrate proficiency through performance.
• promote active engagement and participation through a variety of learning activities.
• integrate technology to enhance instruction and promote effective practices online.
• create learner-centered classroom environments that provide student choice with the teacher as a facilitator.
• foster a life-long appreciation of language learning through a variety of unique opportunities.