World Language Nights

January14th & February 11th, 2013

Agenda:

  • Presentation will start at 5:15
  • 1. Why take a foreign language?
  • 2. New graduation requirements
  • 3. Options at Carman-Ainsworth
  • 4. Overview and explanation of courses
  • 5. Questions/Comments/Suggestions

Why take a foreign language?

  • Your academics:
  • Improves student performance in other subject areas, like reading, math, and social studies, as well as on standardized tests.
  • Graduating high school seniors with two or more years of foreign language showed significant superiority in performance on achievement tests.
  • Gain a better understanding of native language.
  • Your mind:
  • Improved cognitive abilities, like memorization, problem-solving skills, and creative, divergent, and higher level thinking.
  • Develop more positive perspective of other cultures. We give them a great opportunity to grow and shape a more cross cultural mind.
  • Reduces your chances of brain diseases later in life.
  • Your future:
  • Each year more than 190,000 Americans lose out on jobs with business because they do not know another language.
  • According to ncssfl.org (2010), four out of five new jobs in the United States are created as a result of foreign trade.
  • You can make up to 30% more in certain fields if you know a foreign language.

New Graduation Requirements:

  • Beginning with the graduating class of 2016, students must complete 2 credits of world language prior to graduation.

Options at Carman:

  • Students can complete one credit in 8th grade at CAMS and the second credit at CAHS during grades 9-12.
  • Or students can complete both credits at CAHS during grades 9-12.
  • Courses offered at CAMS & CAHS:
  • Spanish 1 8th grade for high school credit
  • French 1 8th grade for high school credit
  • CAHS (High School) Courses:
  • Spanish 1 / French 1
  • Spanish 2 / French 2
  • Spanish 3 / French 3
  • Spanish 4 or A.P. / French 4 or A.P.

Earning High School credit in 8th grade:

  • Parent signed waiver
  • Grade will affect High School G.P.A. and go on transcript
  • Year long course
  • Successful completion of midterm and final exam
  • If you take 8th grade Spanish/French it has to count for High School credit

Overview of 8th grade class:

  • Use of high school textbook/curriculum
  • Homework 3 days a week / Accelerated pace
  • Midterm exam and Final exam
  • Online textbook resources
  • Skits / Fun projects
  • Pen Pal letters
  • Field Trip to restaurant
  • Tutoring available

Benefits of earning 1 World Language credit in 8th grade:

  • Start off in Spanish/French 2 at CAHS.
  • Option to pursue college credit for Spanish/French by fourth year in CAHS.
  • Opens the door to take other courses.
  • Better acclimates you for high school courses.
  • Help you improve ACT/SAT scores, critical thinking, and other skills before high school.
  • The younger you start the easier it is to learn a language.

Future goals:

  • Majority of 8th graders will leave middle school with at least 2 high school credits.
  • 1 in World Language
  • 1 in Math/ Computers / Band
  • Move toward a modified immersion language program.
  • Establish a Spanish club.

Questions/Comments/Suggestions:

  • Call Ms. Robinson at 810-591-6260 or email me at