Research has shown that it typically takes 720 hours of intensive study at the Foreign Service Institute for an adult with high aptitude to become proficient in a foreign language (Omaggio-Hadley, 1993).
According to Brown (1997), it takes thousands of contact hours in Spanish for a person to achieve the ability to function beyond the tourist level in a foreign language. If students only study for two years of high school, they will have about 200-300 contact hours provided the instruction and practice is ALL in Spanish. Academic Articles
Kentucky Educational Television (Video - importance of world language study in the global society; performance-based assessments and real-world experiences)
NCLR Careers (National Capital Language Resource Centers - series of interviews to help students see the value of world language study; transcripts of written interviews for such jobs as linguist, police lieutenant, public health worker and arms inspector can be downloaded)
What Is Wrong with U.S. Educational System? ("Deficiency in Foreign Language Competency: What is Wrong with the U.S. Educational System?" The Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov 2010)
Research has shown that connections are easily made in the brain regarding second language acquisition at an early age – the window of opportunity forearly language learning is between birth and 10 years of age (Chuganí,1996). A person can learn another language at any age, but it is easier todo so as a child. Elementary Programs/Early Language Learning
ACTFL research (Research on FLES and immersion programs as well as a mini-bibliography on elementary school foreign language program descriptions)
Early Language Learning Advocacy (Ñandutí-information on the many ways in which learning a foreign language early can benefit a child's development)
Raising Children Bilingually - (CAL - Series of articles that answer parental concerns about learning two languages at once. It includes a guide for starting an elementary foreign language program, advice on tapping heritage languages, and addresses fallacies about bilingual education. The page also contains a bibliography of reference works on the topic)
Foreign Language Instruction: The Great Equalizer (Discussion about how foreign language study enhances students' language skills and reading abilities in English and performance across the curriculum)
Benefits of Being Bilingual (Ñanduti - This site provides a series of links to articles that detail the benefits of early language acquisition and bilingualism - July, 2008)
Be an Advocate (Chart outlining facts that support the development of early language programs-1998)
Raising Children Bilingually (CAL site; offers a series of articles that answer parental concerns about learning two languages at once; includes a guide for starting an elementary foreign language program, advice on tapping heritage languages, and addresses fallacies about bilingual education; bibliography of references)
What Is Wrong with U.S. Educational System? ("Deficiency in Foreign Language Competency: What is Wrong with the U.S. Educational System?" The Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov 2010)
Kentucky World Language Advocacy (2011 - 56:51 min - Host Bill Goodman and guests explore the importance of world language study in the global society, where fluency in other languages and familiarity with other cultures are prerequisites for success. In the face of this reality, Kentucky high schools and colleges are turning to performance-based assessments and real-world experiences to help students acquire life-long foreign language skills.
Research has shown that it typically takes 720 hours of intensive study at the Foreign Service Institute for an adult with high aptitude to become proficient in a foreign language (Omaggio-Hadley, 1993).
According to Brown (1997), it takes thousands of contact hours in Spanish for a person to achieve the ability to function beyond the tourist level in a foreign language. If students only study for two years of high school, they will have about 200-300 contact hours provided the instruction and practice is ALL in Spanish.
Academic Articles
National
Careers
Dual Immersion Programs
General
News Articles
State Roadmaps for 21st Century Language Learning
Research has shown that connections are easily made in the brain regarding second language acquisition at an early age – the window of opportunity for early language learning is between birth and 10 years of age (Chuganí,1996). A person can learn another language at any age, but it is easier to do so as a child.
Elementary Programs/Early Language Learning
“A child’s understanding of his native language is enhanced by learning a foreign one." (Lev Vygotsky)
Higher Education
World Language Week/Celebrations
Spanish
Videos
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