February has been a busy month! I say that every month but it is so true! There is so much to learn and so little time. The 30 minutes I spend with every class flies by and I always wish there was time to teach more. I feel that way especially after attending the Southern Conference on Language Teaching on February 19th and 20th. The conference was full of educators that are passionate about the importance of learning a second language. The teachers I met are striving towards reaching their students and engaging them fully. These teachers are dedicated to improving their teaching so that their students' language learning will be a meaningful experience.
My take away from the conference was not a new technique or new strategies(although I got plenty of those). What really stuck with me was the need to make learning a world language relevant and meaningful. I hope to never again hear the words "I had four years of high school (Spanish, French, German, etc.) and I can't remember a word". Every day I go into the classroom trying to make the lesson as fun and inviting as possible. I want my students excited so they will continue their language learning into middle school, high school, and beyond.
It is the "beyond" that most concerns me. Our world is shrinking and we put our children's future at risk when we do not provide them with support they need to learn another language. Madison City Schools strive to put our students' needs first to ensure their future success. Our elementary Spanish program is an example of our district's commitment to students' future. Brain research shows that the younger a child is the easier it is for them to learn a language. As children grow older language learning becomes more difficult. By beginning our students' language learning at an early age with the Pre-K and Kindergarten and continuing on through the elementary grades Madison City is doing what research has shown is best for kids. I am so proud to work for this district. The commitment to excellence is inspiring and I'm thankful I get to work with all of the dedicated teachers and administrators who make it happen.
My take away from the conference was not a new technique or new strategies(although I got plenty of those). What really stuck with me was the need to make learning a world language relevant and meaningful. I hope to never again hear the words "I had four years of high school (Spanish, French, German, etc.) and I can't remember a word". Every day I go into the classroom trying to make the lesson as fun and inviting as possible. I want my students excited so they will continue their language learning into middle school, high school, and beyond.
It is the "beyond" that most concerns me. Our world is shrinking and we put our children's future at risk when we do not provide them with support they need to learn another language. Madison City Schools strive to put our students' needs first to ensure their future success. Our elementary Spanish program is an example of our district's commitment to students' future. Brain research shows that the younger a child is the easier it is for them to learn a language. As children grow older language learning becomes more difficult. By beginning our students' language learning at an early age with the Pre-K and Kindergarten and continuing on through the elementary grades Madison City is doing what research has shown is best for kids. I am so proud to work for this district. The commitment to excellence is inspiring and I'm thankful I get to work with all of the dedicated teachers and administrators who make it happen.