World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages Communication Communicate effectively in more than one language in order to function in a variety of situations and for multiple purposes.

Cultures Interact with cultural competence and understanding.

Connections Connect with other disciplines and acquire information and diverse perspectives in order to use the language to function in academic and careerrelated situations.

Comparisons Develop insight into the nature of language and culture in order to interact with cultural competence.

Communities Communicate and interact with cultural competence in order to participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world.

Years of Language Learning

End of Level Proficiency Target

1st Year Language Learning

Novice-Mid

2nd Year Language Learning

Novice-High

RRISD Secondary LOTE/World Language Program

Students who achieve Novice level proficiency can respond to simple questions, convey meaning by using lists of words, memorized phrases, and some personalized combinations of words or phrases.

3rd Year Language Learning

Novice High-Intermediate Low

4th Year Language Learning 5th Year Language Learning 6th Year Language Learning

Intermediate Low-Intermediate Mid Intermediate Mid-Intermediate High Intermediate High-Advance Low

Students who achieve in Intermediate level of proficiency can participate in simple direct conversations, asks and answer questions, handle basic communication needed in daily life and use discrete sentences and sentence connectors. Advanced level of proficiency means students acquire the skills to participate in the target language actively in a variety of conversations, both formally and informally, including dealing effectively with unanticipated complications.

RRISD Languages Offered American Sign Language French German Latin Mandarin Chinese Spanish Adapted from Howard County Public School System

Department of World Languages Marie Douglass, Curriculum Specialist

Department Vision The RRISD LOTE/World Language Department seeks to provide students with the necessary skills to use another language and acquire knowledge and appreciation of other languages, cultural understandings, and cultural competencies. We hope to inspire students to continue their study of world languages to become proficient speakers, listeners, readers, and writers and to effectively participate and communicate in the global community.

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Our Guiding Principles Students will engage in challenging and worthwhile learning experiences. Language is best learned in an immersion setting. Language function takes precedence over language form. Language learning is essential to developing 21st century skills, global competence and to college and career readiness.

Language proficiency refers to what students can do with the language in terms of speaking, listening, reading, and writing in a real-world context, and to what degree. Levels of proficiency are described along a continuum beginning with novice and progressing through intermediate, advanced, superior and distinguished as described by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

How Long Does It Take?

Why Learn Another Language? Learning another language takes time and dedication, but there are many benefits which include:  Language learning correlates with improved cognitive abilities including higher academic achievement and analyzing and problem solving skills.  People who are multilingual are better equipped to function in our globalized world.  Knowledge of another language increases job opportunities and multilingual employees are highly valued by employers. Studies show that knowledge of a foreign language brings economic benefits. Even a 2% annual “salary premium” will result, in some cases, in 6digits returns upon retirement.  Language learning leads to deeper knowledge and appreciation of other people, cultures, and places.  Learning another language helps people better understand their own language and culture.  Studying another language is essential to providing students with a world class education.  Learning another language is required for

What is Proficiency?

World Language Department Goal “World language teachers will help our students become competitive global citizens, able to communicate in more than one language.”

Our Curriculum The LOTE/world language curriculum is a proficiency-based curriculum based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. Our proficiency based curriculum focuses on building skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the language with the goal of using the language in real life situations. World language teachers strive to conduct the classes in the target language 90-100% of the time, use authentic cultural texts, and design communicative activities to encourage students towards achieving higher proficiency levels.

Developing language proficiency takes time and dedication, but it is definitely worth the effort. In the early stages of language learning, students develop a strong foundation for using the language by acquiring memorized words, phrases, and sentences and being challenged to produce language spontaneously. As students’ proficiency increases they engage in more elaborate and expanded dialogue, analysis, and interaction with the language. This is all done through the use of authentic texts and materials while exploring the products, practices, and perspectives of the target language culture.

Round Rock Independent School District is an equal opportunity employer and provides educational programs and services which do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, gender, ethnic or national origin, or against any other legally protected group. RRISD prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with a disability.