Current Entry - December 2008

Dear Dora,
I'm a relatively new Specialist for LOTE in our district. I have years of experience teaching at high school but know almost nothing about the early years of language instruction. Where could I find examples of successful programs, curriculum, teacher requirements, and other pertinent facts and figures relating to teaching a second language in grades K-5? Any sources or information would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Janet

Dear Janet,
The people who can answer your questions are Nancy Rhodes and Ingrid Pufahl of our staff. One of them will send you resources to consult. I have also copied the National Capital Language Resource Center with my answer. The staff there also has accumulated a wealth of information that may be of use to you.
Best regards.
Dora Johnson

Dear Janet:
Your email about K-5 foreign language instruction was forwarded to me. Probably your first resource should be our Web site on preK-8 foreign language learning, www.cal.org/earlylang . It contains a wide range of resources, including links to program development, curricula, several teachers' Web site with excellent information, in particular Kathy Siddons' site (look under teaching resources/materials & curricula), and a link to a searchable database of programs. Your next step should probably be to sign up for Nandu, our listserv, which has over 700 members, most of whom are Spanish teachers. To look at what is being discussed, you can check out the archives (there is a link from the box on the left to http://caltalk.cal.org/read/?forum=nandu ). To sign up, send an email to: Nandu-request@caltalk.cal.org With the text: Subscribe yourlastname yourfirstname You will receive a request for confirmation, which contains a really long email (lots of numbers and letters, ending in caltalk.cal.org) Send an email to that address (no message, no subject line) and you'll be subscribed and ready to post messages. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Kind regards, Ingrid Dear Janet: Dora Johnson forwarded your message to us. NCLRC has developed a summer institute aimed at teaching learning strategies to young language learners. You can see the description of that institute and download the handout here: http://www.nclrc.org/profdev/nclrc_inst_pres/summer_inst.html#learning_strat_5cs We have also developed an Elementary Immersion Learning Strategies Guide, which is online or can be ordered in print form. You can see it here: http://www.nclrc.org/eils/index.html Hope these resources are helpful to you.
Sincerely,
Jill Robbins