School Officials Look to Boost Foreign Language Program

In their first review of Westwood's foreign language program since 2003, Westwood school officials this week discussed ways the changing world is affecting the manner in which students should be taught various languages. 

Administrators recently conducted a review of student assessment results and conducted research on trends and best practices by visiting area schools that were identified as exemplary in foreign language education. 

"We want to make sure our foreign language program here is engaging, challenging and is relevant," Assistant Superintendent Emily Parks said at Wednesday night's meeting of the Westwood School Committee, the last of the 2011-2012 school year. 

According to a recent survey conducted by administrators, students at  chose to take French or Spanish in grades seven and eight, with about 65 percent of those students choosing Spanish. The school currently houses four foreign language teachers. 

At the high school level, the graduation requirement mandates two sequential years of study in the same language. 

As part of the review, Parks discussed various strengths and recommendations in the areas of curriculum and instruction, assessment, instructional technology, professional development and program offerings at both the high school and middle school level.

Among the recommendations were the notion to begin foreign language study in grade six. Nearly 90 percent of the respondents in a recent survey said they would support that move, Parks said. Also discussed was the possibility to broaden the spectrum of foreign language programs to include a Mandarin course.

But the ways in which languages have been taught are dramatically changing, explained Kathy Lee, Chair of the Westwood High School Foreign Language Department.

"We are accessing global society, and that is a huge change in the last 10 years," Lee said. "Preparing students to be participants in the global society, not merely 'tourist consumers.'"

Technology has played a massive role in how students retain the knowledge of learning a foreign language, she added. Vehicles like Skype and YouTube have provided students with a direct, one-on-one dialogue with individuals across various continents. 

"It's a very different world, and we're trying to prepare students to be participants in this world," Lee said. "We're talking about being able to engage businesses, to engage multiple conversations. Kids who go abroad will need a higher level of proficiency."

The days of simply teaching a language by translation are over, she added. As such, it can be more effective for a teacher to speak the language full-time, and using more visual components to help students learn and comprehend more quickly. 

"We want to be using the Skype conversations," Lee said. "We want to be using opportunities where students are traveling to other places. We are not using the old textbook, where people sat down and did grammar exercises."

The possibility of expanding or broadening the program will be of consideration during next year's budget discussions, Parks said.