With the rapid implementation of early foreign language programmes in the state of North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, first for Grade 3 (ages 8-9 years) in 2003 and then from Grade 1 (ages 6-7 years) in 2008, primary school teachers had to adapt to teaching a foreign language in Grade 1 quickly. Teachers had little experience with language teaching…

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…

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…

Article presents a simple methodology for FLES teachers. (GB)

THE LACK OF UNIFORMITY IN TEACHING PRACTICES, COURSE CONTENT, MATERIALS, AND TEACHER PREPARATION HAS HAMPERED ACHIEVEMENT IN FLES PROGRAMS AND PRODUCED MANY UNSTABLE PROGRAMS. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR OBJECTIVES TO BE CLEARLY DEFINED AND CRITERIA TO BE DEVELOPED FOR JUDGING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SERIOUS FLES PROGRAMS. WITH PROPERLY SEQUENCED…

The author visited elementary school English classes in Puerto Rico and this article illustrates some of their activities. (CK)

THE FIRST DRAFT OF THIS FLES PROGRAM REVIEW GUIDE WAS INFLUENCED BY THE LONG-ESTABLISHED GUIDE FOR REVIEW OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS. SEVERAL INFLUENTIAL SOURCES FOR THE GUIDE ARE LISTED, INCLUDING (1) PROFESSIONAL LITERATURE ON FLES, (2) STATEMENTS PUBLISHED BY STATE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION AND THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF EDUCATION,…

Gives reasons for the failure of FLES programs in most schools, and proposes the home-school language switch program in which English-speaking students are given their kindergarten, first grade, and most of second, third, and fourth grade instruction in a foreign language. (Author/DR)

Provides insight into the teaching of modern languages to young learners in Hungary. Demonstrates how different the educational context is from the United States and how the Prussian educational tradition still influences today's processes. Also discussed are language teachers, resources of early language programs, young learners' attitudes and…

SUGGESTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A FLES PROGRAM (FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS) ARE GIVEN. THE GUIDE EXAMINES THE CONSIDERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN PLANNING THE PROGRAM, AND DISCUSSES OBJECTIVES, BASIC ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT LANGUAGE LEARNING, RESEARCH IN FLES, AND THE ROLE OF THE FLES TEACHER. INCLUDED ARE…

A discussion of FLES (foreign language in the elementary school, including introductory, exploratory, or immersion) looks at the challenges that need to be identified and met for successful planning and implementation. The role and importance of FLES in the 1990s is briefly reviewed, FLES program types are outlined, and FLES is examined in greater…