NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
ERIC Number: ED238301
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1983-Nov
Pages: 25
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
FLEX: A Foreign Language Experience.
Raven, Patrick T.
An exploratory course was designed to give secondary school students exposure to all languages in the foreign language curriculum, in sequence, so they may decide which, if any, to enroll in. This course was begun in 1979 to counter an elitist image of foreign language courses. Course topics encouraged students to explore the languages fully by: being activity-oriented; facilitating adaptation to new sound and grammatical systems; dealing with major cultural concepts; including intriguing sounds, expressions, and gestures of the target languages; addressing the relationship of geography to occupations, food, clothing, and so on; dealing with the language's history and contributions to American culture; attempting to elicit interest in the target countries; being addressed, when possible, in a single class period; encouraging values clarification; and promoting career awareness. The languages (French, German, Latin, and Spanish) each were responsible for 20-22 class meetings during the semester. Each of the four language teachers involved developed activities from the standard unit topics provided. The course has been well received by teachers, students, parents, and administrators. Appended materials include: lists of specific activities for each language, a 1982-83 course schedule, results of teacher and student surveys regarding the course, student grade statistics for 1981-82, and the district's total foreign language enrollments for the fall semesters of 1975 through 1982. (MSE)
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A