The Dearborn Public Schools, with 18,300 students, is located in the Detroit urban area with the largest concentration of Arabic-speaking people in the United States. In order to prepare the students for the 21st century skills and global awareness and in response to parents' requests, the author in collaboration with the school principal and…

Current literature in the field of foreign language describes the benefits and challenges of elementary foreign language programs that meet several days a week over the course of a year, however little is known about elementary school foreign language programs that provide daily instruction within limited time frames of several weeks during the…

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)

When the author was teaching in an elementary foreign language exposure (FLEX) program several years ago, she completed a research project that documented student learning gained from student dialogue journals. The action research initiative taught her the value of being reflective about her teaching practices. Her thesis research requirements…

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 the use of authentic materials for elementary foreign language instruction, and includes several examples of Spanish poems, songs, and games. (CB)

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WELL-ARTICULATED LANGUAGE PROGRAM IS DEPENDENT UPON DEALING WITH SUCH PROBLEMS AS ESTABLISHING AND FINANCING FLES PROGRAMS, COURSE OBJECTIVES, METHODOLOGY, TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS, AND STUDENT PLACEMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, CONSIDERATION MUST BE GIVEN TO THE OPINIONS OF TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTES, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF…

Presents an overview of 14 immersion education programs in the United States. Discusses (1) program origin, (2) program format, (3) program articulation, (4) student background, (5) program funding, (6) factors contributing to program focus, and (7) research results. (EKN)

This packet contains the FLES (Foreign Language in the Elementary School) Program Evaluation Inventory (FPEI), which provides teachers and administrators with diagnostic information concerning their elementary school foreign language program. The inventory consists of five different forms: the FPEI for FLES Teachers, the FPEI for Classroom…

States the reasons for introducing the study of foreign languages as early as possible in the scholastic curriculum. (CFM)

Describes a successful program that introduced Japanese language and culture to children in Kansas. End of program survey results revealed that students, parents, and facilitators were overwhelmingly positive about the program. (Author/VWL)

Globalization has led to unprecedented interest in expanding foreign language instruction in U.S. schools, particularly at grade levels where traditionally it has not been an option. Languages that previously have been rarely taught, such as Chinese, are frequently the choice of new programs at every level in the K-12 range. As No Child Left…

Describes in detail a complete Latin lesson for a heterogeneously grouped 5th and 6th grade class in an inner city public school in Philadelphia. (PM)