A Tale of Two Schools
Developing Sustainable Early Foreign Language Programs
G Richard Tucker author Richard Donato author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Channel View Publications Ltd
Published:16th Sep '10
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£24.95(9781847693099)
This volume documents a sixteen-year longitudinal study of two elementary schools in which Spanish and Japanese foreign language programs were implemented and evaluated. Evaluation of the programs involved documenting children’s language development, assessing the attitudes of various constituents, and examining critical issues related to the introduction and successful operation of a well articulated sequential foreign language program in schools. The volume concludes with a discussion of possible reasons why over time certain sequential foreign language programs flourish and grow while other programs are reduced or eliminated from the school’s curriculum. Parallels with the theory and practice of environmental sustainable development are used as a framework for this analysis.
This book will be invaluable to educators and parents needing practical and accessible research-based advice on developing, implementing and evaluating foreign language learning programs in elementary and middle schools.
-- Merrill Swain, University of Toronto, CanadaUsing the contrastive stories of two early foreign language programs, the authors provide longitudinal research-based evidence of program practices and outcomes that focus attention on the critical questions of students’ ability to achieve language competence and cultural understanding and on program sustainability. The authors provide implications for future research and invaluable recommendations for enhancing the sustainability of both new and on-going early foreign language programs.
-- Marcia Rosenbusch, Iowa State University, USAThe longitudinal study of these two early foreign language programs broadly provides fascinating insights into language learning and teaching in general...Most importantly, this volume makes a signifi cant contribution to the fi eld of language education by illuminating the ways in which internal and external factors impact the implementation processes.
-- Sachiko Y. Horii, University of Minnesota * Studies in Second Language Acquisition / Volume 34 / Issue 03 / September 2012, pp 520 5ISBN: 9781847693105
Dimensions: 210mm x 148mm x 16mm
Weight: 365g
192 pages