The Teaching Of Foreign Languages In The Elementary School

The most distant peoples are now our neighbors. With this awareness has come the realization that we need foreign languages in the building of international understanding. Once this need was recognized, our educators acted without delay. Latest estimates indicate that by the end of the school year 1952-1953 about one hundred communities in some thirty states were conducting foreign language programs in one or more public elementary schools. This little book is a study of this rapidly developing trend. - Foreword.

There is a growing interest in teaching languages to young children. This publication brings together papers from 18 countries. It gives a cross section of major achievements and problem areas as well as an insight into research issues.

Ten essays address aspects of second language instruction at the elementary school level: "Elementary School Foreign Languages: Perspectives, Practices, and Promises" (Carol Ann Pesola, Helena Anderson Curtain); "The Integrated Curriculum: Rethinking the Elementary School Foreign Language Program for the '90s" (Virginia Garibaldi Allen); "The Ages and Learning Stages of Children and Their Implications for Foreign Language Learning" (Myriam Chapman, Elizabeth Grob, Mari Haas); "Learning Language through Content: Learning Content through Language" (Myriam Met); "Creating Effective Foreign Language Learning Environments in Elementary Classrooms" (Eileen B. Lorenz, Sarah Rice); "School-District Perspectives on Elementary-School Language Programs" (R. Stephen Tegarden, Christine L. Brown); "Testing and Elementary School Foreign Language Programs" (John W. Oller, Jr.); "Mother Tongue and Father Grammar, or, Why Should Children Learn a Second Language?" (Donald G. Marshall); "Two Languages for All Children: Expanding to Low Achievers and the Handicapped" (Carolyn Andrade, Richard R. Kretschmer, Jr., Laura W. Kretschmer); and "Policy and Curricular Implications of Expanding Language Education in Elementary Schools" (Kurt E. Muller). (MSE)

A 1996-97 national survey of elementary and secondary schools investigated current patterns and shifts in foreign language enrollment, languages and programs offered, teaching methodologies, teacher qualifications and training, and reactions to national reform issues. An introductory section of the survey report offers background information on this and several previous surveys. The second section outlines key questions to be addressed by the present study. A third section is devoted to explanation of the research methodology used and a demographic profile of the sample surveyed. The bulk of the report is devoted to a summary of results, including numerical data, concerning: number of schools teaching foreign languages; interest in offering language instruction; language enrollment; languages taught; program types; grade levels and minutes per week (elementary schools); levels offered and hours per week (secondary schools); class scheduling during the school day; funding sources (elementary schools); schools having curriculum frameworks or guidelines; sources of language curricula; instructional materials; sequencing/articulation; number of language teachers; teacher qualifications; staff development/inservice training; foreign language use in the classroom (secondary schools); schools' characterizations of their programs; assessment; and standards for language learning. A concluding section contains a discussion of findings. The questionnaires are appended. Contains 9 references. (MSE)

Foreign language teaching in the elementary schools can now be seen as a genuine revolution in American education. This development, commonly referred to as "FLES," has made dramatic advances in recent years. The selections brought together in this volume are intended to provide a comprehensive overview of foreign language programs in grades kindergarten through eight. - Preface.