Dr. Gayle Potter, Associate Director of Curriculum, Assessment, and Research, is pleased to announce a new initiative to raise awareness of the importance of foreign language education for Arkansas students in cooperation with the “Discover Languages” campaign sponsored by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
Information about the “Discover Languages” initiative will be disseminated via a dedicated web page on the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) web site, which will be a clearinghouse of K-12 foreign language information, including resources for teaching French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish in Arkansas schools. Important information about the Arkansas Foreign Language Framework, course approvals, professional development, and current research in curriculum, pedagogy, and instructional materials will be available on the foreign language education web page. This web page will also feature essays written by foreign language students in the target languages and in English that will highlight innovative programs and practices across the state. In addition, Arkansas teachers will be invited to network through an on-line discussion forum that will be facilitated by the Foreign Language Specialist. As other activities are planned, information will be made available on this web page.
Dr. Ellen Treadway, newly appointed Foreign Language Specialist, will spearhead this initiative. As a member of the Curriculum, Assessment, and Research team, Dr. Treadway will oversee all curriculum matters related to the Arkansas Foreign Language Education Framework, the 2007 Arkansas Foreign Language Framework revision, Foreign Language course approvals, and Foreign Language educator professional development.
To learn more about the “Discover Languages” initiative and the ADE Foreign Language web page, please contact Dr. Treadway at 682-4250 or etreadway@arkedu.k12.ar.us.