|
Let's talk about language courses, specifically foreign language courses. I want you to be well informed before you choose one for yourself or your child. Or maybe you have some influence on public policy and could do something to improve the state of language programs in the public schools. A foreign language course should teach students to use the foreign language. At all ages, this means learning to communicate with it by speaking it. This should be kept as the final measure of success. In my experience, I have seen many students pass through multiple semesters of a foreign language program and still be unable to converse with any confidence. If you are assessing a language course, ask the graduates how confident they feel in conversations in the foreign language. You may ask if this goal is possible given the infrequency of classes and the long holiday and summer breaks. The answer is yes. Time and again, though not routinely, I have seen superior language teachers go beyond the curriculum and produce conversant students. So why not just upgrade the curriculum? That's only part of the problem. Web Design - Small business custom website from EverestWebDesign.com. Rich Christiansen: - Management metaphors at RichChristiansen.com. |
Language Courses
