STANDARDS:

1. Communications in a Target Language
2. The Role of Culture in World Language Acquisition
3. World Language in the Community

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS:

1. Effective communication in a language requires a robust vocabulary and a sound grammar foundation, and a realization of how each connects and influences the other.
2. There are structural similarities as well as differences between native and non-native languages for effective communication.
3. Successful communication requires knowledge of culture and customs.
4. Proficiency in a world language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
5. Communicating in a world language can lead to the discovery of different aspects of the self and allows for a fuller interaction with the world around us.

CORE BELIEFS ABOUT INSTRUCTION:

1. Effective instruction actively engages students in a learning process that promotes higher order thinking.
2. Students learn best when objectives are clear, achievable and meaningful to their lives.
3. Effective instruction must meet the needs and interests of students through a variety of differentiated strategies.
4. Effective instruction is driven by continual assessment, teacher and student reflection and modification to improve student achievement.
5. A consistently positive, safe and respectful learning environment is integral for effective instruction.
6. Effective instruction builds shared accountability for learning.

BEST PRACTICES IN INSTRUCTION:

1. Students should regularly engage in paired conversational activities to promote language proficiency.
2. Student generated communication enables students to practice their speaking and listening skills and also provides the opportunity for students to engage in related topics of interest.
3. Authentic language learning experiences are integral to instruction and can be incorporated into instruction by using authentic materials, technology and the creation of authentic situations.
4. Organizing world language content into thematic units captures students' imaginations, accommodates a variety of learning approaches, and has the added value of increased student motivation and an improved attitude toward learning.
5. Through language exploration and learning, students should also develop an awareness of different cultures.

PHILOSOPHY:

"To cultivate an exceptional, innovative learning community that enables all students to succeed in a changing world"

The Boyertown Area School District’s philosophy is to equip students for our changing world by providing daily exposure to 21st Century skills, knowledge, and tools.