This website hosts updates, meeting summaries, and information about the Voluntary World Language Standards project of the Washington State Coalition for International Education in conjunction with the University of Washington, OSPI, and WAFLT (Washington Association For Language Teaching).

Jump to: Background | Voluntary Standards | Resources |

Background

One of the strong messages from the World Languages Survey conducted in Washington State in spring, 2004, was the desire for voluntary World Language Standards to help guide teachers in the state in aligning their curriculum and instruction. To meet that need, the Coalition included a specific project for developing Voluntary World Language Standards in the State Innovations grant for 2005 under State Leadership in World Languages. The intention is for the Coalition is to assist OSPI and WAFLT in developing and disseminating these voluntary standards during 2005-2006.

WAFLT and the Coalition held a series of meetings during 2005 to review resources on World Language Standards and recommend an approach (see WL Stds Review) and notes from earlier meetings::

• Review 8/11/2005
• Review 8/25/2005
• Review 8/31/2005
• Meeting (WAFLT) 6/7/2005

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Voluntary Standards for World Language

At the end of December, we were informed that OSPI has endorsed the National Standards for Foreign Language Education as "Voluntary" World Language Standards for Washington state. See:

• OSPI > Voluntary Standards for World Languages

This is a major step forward for World Language study in our state. Members of the World Language Standards Group (from OSPI, WAFLT, and the Coalition) are now working on supporting materials and FAQs to help teachers and school districts make use of the standards in curriculum planning. Feel free to contact Michele if you have questions.

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Resources

Note: Many of these are already linked on this website under Resources > World Languages.

• Delaware Foreign Languages Curriculum Framework
  includes Performance Indicators at Stage I, II, and III from Elementary to Middle to High School
   
• Bringing the Standards into the Classroom (or PDF)
  National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center
   
• Language Proficiency Levels (Gov)
   
• National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) for Foreign Language
  (Project coordinated by CAL for the National Assessment Governing Board in 1999-2000; includes specs for the assessment based on the National Standards)
   
• National Standards for Foreign Language Education Executive Summary (ACTFL) (download for free)
   
• Nebraska K-12 Foreign Language Frameworks (PDF)
   
• New Jersey World Languages Curriculum Framework
   
• State Standards: Connecting a National Vision to Local Implementation (PDF) by Paul Sandrock, ACTFL
   
• Survey of State Standards: April 19, 2000
  (for John Stanford International School) - needs updating

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