West Virginia

Strategic Plan and State Policy- In January 2008, the West Virginia State Board of Education approved the 21st Century World Languages Strategic Plan that outlines specific strategies and objectives designed to enhance world language education throughout the state. Specific areas for focus include targeting younger learners; exploring technology for delivery of instruction; and documenting proficiency through appropriate assessment. The state has expanded its world language program offerings to focus on younger learners (Pre-K - Middle School) while adding critical language offerings in Chinese and Japanese. Below is a listing of some of the recent accomplishments in world language education that are supported by West Virginia’s plan:

• Through collaboration with the College Board/Hanban/National Council of State Supervisors for Languages (NCSSFL) Chinese Guest Teacher Program, WVDE has endeavored to increase the number of critical need Chinese language programs within the state. WVDE supports these programs directly through program site visits, ongoing technical assistance to districts, annual orientation meetings, and professional development opportunities for the program teachers.

• STARTALK Summer Camp Program –Through funding provided by the National Security Agency, WVDE has partnered with Monongalia County Schools to present the WVDE Language Leaper Immersion Summer Camp Program for elementary students. During the summer of 2011 Monongalia County School elementary students in grades K-5 will have the opportunity to participate in a two-week thematic and content-based summer camp experience in Morgantown, West Virginia. Students will engage with Chinese instructors and the newly developed media-enhanced West Virginia Elementary Language Leaper curriculum.

• Language Leaper - In August of 2009 WVDE was granted a SEA Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) Grant to develop an elementary content-related and media-enhanced program for grades K-5. The program is being developed in Chinese and Japanese (with plans for adding French and Spanish) and has been piloted in grades K and 1 during the 2010 -2011 school year. When completed, the Language Leaper program will provide an articulated elementary language program for West Virginia.

• Language Trekkers - Introduces languages to Pre-K students by engaging students in familiar songs and stories presented in the languages of Chinese, French, Japanese and Spanish. The program is supported by enriching extension activities that are aligned with the West Virginia Early Learning Standards Framework and is currently being piloted in multiple parts of the state. • Virtual Schools- WVDE has looked to emerging technology as a means to deliver quality instruction across the state. In 2002 through an Advanced Placement (AP) Incentive Grant from the United States Department of Education, WVDE developed a virtual Spanish 1A/1B course which ensures that all seventh and eighth grade students in West Virginia have access to a quality foreign language program that meets national and state foreign language standards in addition to Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) technology quality standards.

• Teacher Professional Development –WVDE continues to support world language and ESL teachers with ongoing professional development through concentrated summer institutes. For 2011 participants will work with the LinguaFolio instrument and will begin to explore the concept of the autonomous learner and assessment for learning in order to support language learners.

• Go Global!- Through collaboration with the West Virginia Center for Professional Development, eight schools from across the state have been designated as Go Global schools. During a dedicated two-year process, the Go Global initiative fosters the creation of school professional learning communities specifically focused on international content and the development of international learning opportunities for teachers and students. A list of additional support items and a calendar of activities connected to the Go Global initiative can be found at: http://www.wvcpd.org/cmswiki.aspx?name=goglobaldetail

Contact information: Robert Crawford rcrawford@access.k12.wv.us

Updated September 2011