World LanguagesAcademic Excellence :

Study in world languages offers students the opportunity to communicate with people of other cultures and backgrounds. Language learning challenges students and introduces them to a larger world view. Most colleges require 2-3 years of study in a foreign language.

*  Click here for current professional development opportunities for World Language teachers.

CLEP Exam Timeline. Minnesota high school students have until June 30, 2008, to take up to six free College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP®) exams as part of the “Get Ready, Get Credit” initiative. The testing window for the 2008-09 school year is October 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. This program allows students to earn college credit while still in high school by earning qualifying scores on exams, saving families significant money on college tuition. Read the CLEP: Quick Start for World Languages Students below for more information.

Standards in world languages. There are no state standards in world languages. Districts are responsible for setting world language standards locally. To assist districts, the World Languages Quality Teaching Network developed Minnesota World Languages: A Model for Use in Setting Local Standards based on national standards. The document is available at the bottom of this page.

The Mandarin Chinese Initiative provides school districts with a common curriculum, materials and assessments for Mandarin Chinese classrooms. It requires the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to make recommendations about teacher preparation programs, teacher supply, expedited licensure and program development. See related links at left.

Lifeline for World Languages teachers. The Proficiency-Oriented Language and Assessment Handbook, originally created by members of the Minnesota Articulation Project and edited by Diane Tedick, provides teachers with the resources to rethink their curriculum, instruction and assessment as they work to enhance students' language proficiency. Click Lifeline at left.

Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) at the University of Minnesota is one of 15 nationally funded Language Resource Centers. CARLA offers a wealth of information on a wide range of language education issues. Select CARLA at left to access their research, programs, professional development and resources.

For More Information
For assistance with world languages standards, training, or classroom assessment, see the documents available below or contact: Janice Holter Kittok, World Languages Specialist - 651-582-8313.

*  Links to third-party sites are provided as a service to Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Website visitors. See our disclaimer regarding these sites in our copyright information linked at the bottom of this page. Links will open in a new browser window.