Colorado Academic World Languages Standards-4 C's

1. Communication: Communication in Languages Other Than English

1.1 Interpersonal mode: Engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions 1.2 Interpretive mode: Understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics 1.3 Presentational mode: Present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics

2. Cultures: Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures

2.1 Cultural practices and perspectives:

Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the cultures studied
2.2 Cultural products and perspectives: Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the cultures studied

3. Connections: Connections with Other Disciplines and Information Acquisition

3.1 Connections to other disciplines: Reinforce and further knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language 3.2 Acquiring new information: Acquire information and recognize the distinct viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures.

4. Comparisons: Comparisons to Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture
4.1 Language comparisons: Demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own 4.2 Cultural comparisons: Demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own

Prepared Graduate Competencies (PGC)

Communication in Languages Other Than English 1. Engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions. (Interpersonal mode) 2. Understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics. (Interpretive mode) 3. Present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics. (Presentational mode) Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the cultures studied. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the cultures studied. Connections with Other Disciplines and Information Acquisition 1. Reinforce and further knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language. 2. Acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures. Comparisons to Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture 1. Demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own. 2. Demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.

Ranges-PreK-13 Ranges: What students are able to know, understand and be able to do?(Resources: ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines/ACTFL Performance Guidelines) Intermediate-Mid Intermediate-Low Novice-High Novice-Mid Novice-Low Language learners can be expected to move through levels of proficiency at different rates. In addition, language learners may demonstrate differing proficiencies depending upon the communicative mode in which they are functioning (interpersonal, interpretive, or presentational). Unlike other Colorado Academic Content Standards areas, proficiency levels, rather than grade levels benchmark the world languages standards. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines for K12 Learners informed the development of these proficiency levels
Range Level Expectations: The levels are summarily reflected in the following proficiency statements:

Novice-Low Range: Students communicate using isolated words and some high-frequency phrases with very limited communicative ability. Novice-Mid Range: Students communicate using memorized words and phrases to talk about familiar topics related to school, home, and the community. Students are able to speak and write using short sentences that contain learned words and phrases. They are able to understand the target language when it is spoken in short, simple phrases and sentences and contain many cognates and memorized phrases and words.. They are able to read very brief texts with comprehension based on basic common themes such as family, school, activities, etc. . Comprehension is further enhanced when the spoken language and written text are supported by visual cues and gestures. Novice-High Range: Students communicate using words, lists, and simple sentences to ask and answer questions, to handle simple transactions related to everyday life, and to talk about subject matter studied in other classes. Students are able to speak and write using short sentences that contain learned words and phrases. They are able to understand the target language when it is spoken in short, simple phrases and sentences. They are able to read brief texts with comprehension. Comprehension is further enhanced when the spoken language and written text are supported by visual cues and gestures. Intermediate-Low Range: Students communicate using simple sentences to ask and answer questions, to handle simple transactions related to everyday life, and to talk about subject matter studied in other classes. Students are able to participate in simple conversational situations using sentences and groups of sentences. They can create with the target language by combining and recombining learned phrases and words. They can write simple messages, read authentic texts dealing with familiar topics, and understand the main ideas when listening to conversations dealing with familiar topics or themes. At this range is when students begin to autonomously create with the target language for the first time. Intermediate-Mid Range: Students communicate using strings of sentences to ask and answer questions, to handle simple transactions related to everyday life, and to talk about subject matter studied in other classes. Students can initiate and sustain conversations by making statements, asking questions, and giving appropriate responses. They can communicate using appropriate time frames on everyday topics both orally and in writing. Students are able to compose cohesive paragraphs related to familiar topics and personal experiences. They are able to understand the main ideas and significant details in extended discussions and presentations, both live and recorded. They are able to acquire new knowledge and information from authentic texts including short literary texts and media.

Range level expectations at a glance Intermediate-mid

Communication in languages other than English 1. Initiate, sustain, and conclude conversations, (written or oral) in a variety of situations based on familiar and unfamiliar vocabulary and learned grammatical structures. (interpersonal mode) 2. Comprehend spoken or written language in a variety of situations based on familiar and unfamiliar vocabulary and learned grammatical structures. (interpretive mode) 3. Present (written or oral) in a variety of situations based on familiar and unfamiliar vocabulary and learned grammatical structures. (presentational mode) Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures 1. Analyze how the viewpoints of people who speak the target language are reflected in their practices 2. Analyze how the cultural products reflect practices and perspectives in the cultures studies

Connections with Other Disciplines and Information Acquisition

1. Analyze the connections between information gathered from target language resources and other disciplines 2. Classify and organize information acquired from authentic resources

Comparisons to Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture

1. Analyze the significance of the similarities and differences between the target language and the students own language 2. Analyze the significance of the similarities and differences between the target culture(s) and the students own culture

Range level expectations at a glance Intermediate-low

Communication in languages other than English 1. Initiate, sustain, and conclude conversations, (written or oral) in a variety of situations based on familiar and unfamiliar vocabulary and learned grammatical structures. (interpersonal mode) 2. Comprehend spoken or written language in a variety of situations based on familiar and unfamiliar vocabulary and learned grammatical structures. (interpretive mode) 3. Present (written or oral) on a variety of familiar topics, using familiar vocabulary and learned grammatical structures. (presentational mode) Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures 1. Draw conclusions using ones understanding of the perspectives and practices of the cultures studied 2. Examine how the viewpoints of people who speak the target language are reflected in their products 1. Assess the usefulness of information gathered from target language resources for application in other disciplines 2. Examine viewpoints presented in authentic sources Comparisons to Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture 1. Recognize how the significance of the similarities and differences between the target language and the students own language provides insight into the structures in their own language 2. Compare the similarities and differences between the target culture(s) and the students own culture

Connections with Other Disciplines and Information Acquisition

Range level expectations at a glance Novice-High

Communication in languages other than English 1. Participate in guided conversations (written or oral) on a variety of familiar and predictable topics, using both memorized and occasionally spontaneous language (Interpersonal mode) 2. Comprehend oral or written exchanges on a variety of familiar topics using both high frequency vocabulary and unfamiliar vocabulary and learned grammatical structures (interpretive mode) 3. Present (written or oral) on a variety of familiar topics using both high frequency vocabulary and unfamiliar vocabulary and learned grammatical structures (Presentational mode) Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures 1. Examine common practices and viewpoints within the cultures studied 2. Examine familiar products of the cultures studied 1. Examine the connections between information gathered from target language resources and other disciplines 2. Examine own experiences and compare with those of speakers of the target language using authentic resources Comparisons to Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture 1. Describe similarities and differences between structural patterns of the target language through comparisons of the students own language and the language studied 2. Describe the nature of culture through comparisons of the target culture(s) and the students own culture and how the two cultures interact

Connections with Other Disciplines and Information Acquisition

Range level expectations at a glance Novice-Mid

Communication in languages other than English 1. Participate in basic conversations (written or oral) on a variety of familiar and predictable topics, using isolated words and learned phrases (Interpersonal mode) 2. Comprehend short learned exchanges (written or oral) on learned topics that use learned vocabulary and grammatical structures (Interpretive mode) 3. Present using learned and simple phrases/ expressions (written or oral) on very familiar topics, (Presentational mode) Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures 1. Summarize common practices within the cultures studied and viewpoints

2. Describe familiar products of the cultures studied 1. Summarize the connections between information gathered from target language resources and other disciplines 2. Classify and organize information acquired from authentic resources, including via technology

Connections with Other Disciplines and Information Acquisition

Comparisons to Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture

1. Expand knowledge of similarities and differences of basic structural patterns of language through comparisons of the students own language and the language studied 2. Investigate the nature of culture through comparisons of the target culture(s) and the students own culture and how the two cultures interact

Range level expectations at a glance Novice-low

Communication in languages other than English 1. Communicate about very familiar topics using isolated words and memorized oral and written phrases (Interpersonal mode) 2. Comprehend isolated learned words and memorized oral and written phrases (written or oral) about very familiar topics (Interpretive mode) 3. Present on very familiar topics using isolated words and memorized oral and written phrases (written or oral) on very familiar topics (Presentational mode) Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures 1. Identify common cultures studied practices within the target

2. Identify common products of the target cultures studied 1. Identify the connections between information gathered from target language resources and other disciplines 2. Locate and use basic information from target language resources.

Connections with Other Disciplines and Information Acquisition

Comparisons to Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture

1. Identify similarities and differences of the most basic vocabulary through comparisons of the students own language and the language studied 2. Identify and recognize the nature of culture through comparisons of the target culture(s) and the students own culture

The Role of Grammar in the World Languages Class While knowledge of the grammar of a language (e.g., rules for syntax, tense, and other elements of usage) is not an explicit goal of the World Languages standards, grammar plays a supporting role in allowing students to achieve the stated linguistic proficiency goals of the proficiency ranges. Grammar is one tool that supports the attainment of the stated linguistic goals; others tools include knowledge of vocabulary, sociolinguistic knowledge, understanding of cultural appropriateness, and grasp of communication strategies. Students who are provided with ample opportunities to create meaning and use critical thinking skills in a language of study achieve linguistic proficiency. Research has established that all grammar learning must take place within a meaningful context, with the focus on producing structures to support communication. .