3 Steps Parents Can Take To
Support Elementary Language Education In Their Communities
Many parents and teachers are concerned about cutbacks
in funding for foreign language programs at the elementary school
level.
Is there anything a parent can do to support early childhood
language education in their communities?
Yes! I recently attended
a presentation given by Janis Jensen, the NJ Coordinator of World
Languages and the President of the National Network for Early Language
Learning. During her talk, she made these suggestions for parents
and teachers who are being faced with potential cutbacks in their
school's foreign language programs.
1. Be an advocate. Many of the teachers at the
presentation agreed that active and vocal parents can play a very
influential role (sometimes more than teachers) in convincing school
boards to support funding for early language learning. Consider
organizing concerned parents, and presenting a compelling case
to the school board for maintaining adequate funding for early
language learning. Sending articles to the local newspaper about
the benefits of early language learning also can help generate
support for funding language programs.
2. Stay informed. To make a case to
administrators, you must clearly state the benefits of early foreign
language education. Research has shown cognitive, academic, and
social benefits to early language learning. Furthermore, the nation
as a whole benefits from developing kids who have a global understanding
and can communicate with people from other countries and cultures.
You
can learn more by visiting the website of the National Network
for Early Language Learning (www.NNELL.org).
If
you are concerned that language programs in your school are being
cut or are substandard, find out if your school is meeting state
standards. You can find out more about your state's world languages
standards by going to the Department
of Education website for your state.
3. Consider alternatives. You may
want your school to offer a great Spanish program, but keep in
mind that the specific language offered is less important than
the opportunity for the child to learn ANY foreign language.
Note
that the Bush administration recently announced a National Security
Language Initiative to increase the number of Americans who can
speak what they deem to be "critical" languages
(e.g. Chinese, Korean, Hindi, Arabic). Recognizing the need to
start teaching these languages in the Pre-K and elementary level,
the government is offering funding for schools to offer programs
in these critical languages. If funding constraints are keeping
your school from offering a quality program, suggest they develop
a program in one of these critical languages, utilizing the federal
government's new grants. One such grant is through the Department
of Education's Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) and
provides incentives for teaching critical need languages in K-12.
$24M has been earmarked for these grants. For more information
on the FLAP grants, go to the following website for funding updates
(click on Chart 1): http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html.
With
active advocacy on the part of informed parents, there are many
opportunities to support robust early language learning programs.
© Anneke
V. Forzani, Language Lizard, LLC. 2006.
Want to use this article in your e-zine or web site? Contact
Language Lizard President and Founder, Anneke Forzani, at [email protected]. |
