During the 2013-2014 school year, a charter school in Central Florida (which will be given the pseudonym "The Unity School") known for its practice of full inclusion launched an unconventional project. The Unity School, which serves children from preschool through grade five, began offering foreign language to all pre-kindergarten…

This article peers through the lens of one district's journey of World Languages program refinement, and identifies a blueprint for success by aligning targets. The author begins by proposing the following questions: (1) Is your program where you want it to be? (2) Is it producing desired results? and (3) Are students yielding the greatest results…

The state of Utah is leading the nation in a surge of new elementary language immersion programs. Their unprecedented growth of programs, over a four-year span, has been both intentional and systemic, taking advantage of a supportive base and promoting language learning as a way to increase economic benefits for the state. While math and science…

Explains FLEX, foreign language exploratory program, a self-contained presequence course which usually involves a multilanguage contrastive approach and which is given in the grade immediately before year in which students may enroll in first year of standard sequence of second language courses. (Author/BK)

The reasons why a child should learn a foreign language, and particularly, which foreign language study should begin in elementary school, are discussed. The kinds of programs generally available in elementary schools are described. Sources of information and assistance for parents who want to start language programs in their schools are given.…

Discusses teaching foreign language in kindergarten as a way to foster favorable attitudes for serious language study at a later date. Outlines some classroom guidelines and expectations based on experiences in two kindergarten FLES programs. (EKN)

Describes project designed to enhance the elementary core French program through presentations of history, culture, and life-style of French-speaking peoples by noncertified Francophones from the vicinity. Project has been successful and has produced a more tolerant outlook among students for other cultures. Uses foods of France and early life in…

Examines several of the key decisions to be made when designing a program model for an elementary school foreign language program and relates them to the three most common forms of elementary school programs: FLES, FLEX, and immersion, and to the resources that may be available to a local community. (SED)

Describes the approach to foreign language study adopted by the Baltimore public schools, including their foreign language requirements and a comparison of Baltimore's program with the recommendations of the National Advisory Board on International Education Programs. Includes addresses for more information on implementing foreign language…

Two articles address issues in the development of French and Spanish language programs in elementary schools: instructional materials and time and money factors. The information presented is drawn from experience in developing the Radford, Virginia FLES (Foreign Language in the Elementary School) program. The first article describes some aspects…

Describes a pilot scheme for the Early Teaching of Modern Languages (ETML). Four points are discussed: (1) the aims and organization of the Pilot Scheme; (2) the limitations of the scheme and implications for ETML in general; (3) current developments in Britain; and (4) implications for the future of ETML. (PJM)

This paper describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of the first year of a three-year pilot project to teach Japanese to all students in grades K through five at a Pittsburgh elementary school. Findings from this multiple perspectives analysis are reviewed. (41 references) (JL)

Describes the language skills gains made by elementary students who have been in Latin classes in schools through the country. (IRT)

Describes the development and testing of a multifaceted Foreign Language in the Elementary School program evaluation instrument that would efficiently provide essential data regarding such aspects as teacher qualifications, goals and objectives, pedagogy, articulation, homework and grades, parent support, workload, at-risk students, and student…

Ten 1975-80 surveys and studies of FLES programs reported: Americans approve of FLES programs; children profit from FLES programs which stress interpersonal communication skills; and children develop increased interest in academic programs. Positive correlation exists between practice and proficiency in second language acquisition. Different…