- Iowa City Community School District
- World Languages Curriculum
Mission Statement
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The mission of the world language program is to develop students' ability to understand, communicate in and appreciate other languages and cultures as life-long learners. This is accomplished by engaging students in a variety of meaningful linguistic and cultural experiences.
The World Language Program provides a sequence of study for students to:
- acquire listening, speaking, reading, writing and thinking skills in French and Spanish
- gain an appreciation of the countries, their people, literature, and fine arts
- learn to study languages independently
- feel enabled to continue advanced world language study in college and/or work in an international environment
World Language Belief Statements
We believe that:
- All children should have the opportunity to learn a world language.
- All students who study world language should have opportunities to be challenged and to be successful.
- An early and long sequence of world language instruction is important for the development of language proficiency.
- World language education will help students to participate more fully in the global community and marketplace as responsible world citizens.
- World language education helps students to develop insight into their own language and culture and others.
- The world language program should provide rich cultural experiences that encompass the five C's of world language education: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities.
- World language learning at all levels should provide meaningful experiences using the language for communication.
- Varied activities allow for students with different learning styles to progress.
- Contact with target countries for the purpose of communication and cultural experiences is valuable.
- World language education should emphasize meaningful activities using authentic materials and resources from the target cultures.
- Integration of other curricular areas into world language instruction is valuable.
- All skill areas, including reading, writing, listening, speaking, and culture, should be practiced and assessed at each level.