1. Foreign Languages in
the 21st Century
Classroom
A Series of Workshops from the
Department of International and Second
Language Studies at the
University of Arkansas at Little Rock and
the Arkansas Department of Higher
Education
September 2011-April 2012 1
13. 2011-2012 Grant Schedule
• AM & PM - 9/12 - Sessions 1 & 2 – Introduction to the Partnership for the 21st
Century Skills and the FL Skills Map
• AM - 10/10 Session 3 – LIS – Think Creatively / Work Creatively
• PM - 10/10 Session 4 – LIS – Critical Thinking / Problem Solving
• AM - 10/31 Session 5 – LIS – Communication and Collaboration
• PM - 10/31 Session 6 -- IMT – Information Literacy
• AM – 12/5 Session 7 – IMT -- Media Literacy
• PM – 12/5 Session 8 – IMT -- Technology
• AM - 1/30 Session 9 – share/evaluation/report on fall Skills Map activities by
participants
• PM - 1/30 Session 10 – LCS – Flexibility and Adaptability
• AM - 2/27 Session 11 – LCS – initiative and Self–Direction
• PM - 2/27 Session 12 – LCS – Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
• AM – 4/2 Session 13 – LCS – Productivity and Accountability
• PM – 4/2 Session 14 – LCS – Leadership and Responsibility
• AM & PM - 4/26 - Sessions 15 & 16 – share/evaluation/report on spring Skills Map
activities by participants 13
14. Today’s Schedule
8:30-9:15 - breakfast and conversation
9:15-9:45 - getting to know each other
9:45-10:30 - housekeeping and pre-
assessment
10:30-10:45 - break
10:45-noon - introduction to the Partnership
for the 2lst Century
Noon-1:00 - working lunch
1:00-3:00 – introduction to the FL Skills
Map 14
21. Interdisciplinary Themes
Global Awareness: Using 21st century skills to understand and address
global issues
Learning from and working collaboratively with individuals representing
diverse cultures, religions and lifestyles in a spirit of mutual respect and
open dialogue in personal, work and community contexts
Understanding other nations and cultures, including the use of non-English
languages
Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy: Knowing
how to make appropriate personal economic choices
Understanding the role of the economy in society
Using entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career
options
Civic Literacy: Participating effectively in civic life through knowing how to
stay informed and understanding governmental processes
Exercising the rights and obligations of citizenship at local, state, national
and global levels
Understanding the local and global implications of civic decisions
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22. Interdisciplinary Themes
Health Literacy: Obtaining, interpreting and understanding basic health information
and services and using such information and services in ways that are health
enhancing
Understanding preventive physical and mental health measures, including proper diet,
nutrition, exercise, risk avoidance and stress reduction
Using available information to make appropriate health-related decisions
Establishing and monitoring personal and family health goals
Understanding national and international public health and safety issues
Environmental Literacy: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the
environment and the circumstances and conditions affecting it, particularly as relates to
air, climate, land, food, energy, water and ecosystems
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of society’s impact on the natural world
(e.g., population growth, population development, resource consumption rate, etc.)
Investigate and analyze environmental issues, and make accurate conclusions about
effective solutions
Take individual and collective action towards addressing environmental challenges
(e.g., participating in global actions, designing solutions that inspire action on
environmental issues) 22
23. Learning and Innovation Skills
(LIS)
Creativity & Innovation:
Think Creatively
Work Creatively with Others
Implement Innovations
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving:
Reason Effectively
Use Systems Thinking
Make Judgments and Decisions
Solve Problems
Communication & Collaboration:
Communicate Clearly
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Collaborate with Others
24. Information, Media and
Technology Skills (IMT)
Information Literacy:
Access and Evaluate Information
Use and Manage Information
Media Literacy:
Analyze Media
Create Media Products
ICT (Information, Communications & Technology) Literacy:
Apply Technology Effectively
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25. Life and Career Skills (LCS)
Flexibility & Adaptability:
Adapt to Change
Be Flexible
Initiative & Self-Direction:
Manage Goals and Time
Work Independently
Be Self-directed Learners
Social & Cross-Cultural Skills:
Interact Effectively with Others
Work Effectively in Diverse Teams
Productivity & Accountability:
Manage Projects
Produce Results
Leadership & Responsibility:
Guide and Lead Others 25
Be Responsible to Others
28. Back Then…. (The 20th
Century)
• Students learn about the language
• Class is teacher-centered
• Skills are taught in isolation
• Textbook is covered
• Textbook is curriculum
• Emphasis is on teacher as
presenter
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29. Back Then…. (The 20th
Century)
• Culture is isolated factoids
• Technology is used as “cool tool”
• Content is language itself
• Instructions are same for all
students
• Situations in textbook are synthetic
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30. Back Then…. (The 20th
Century)
• Language learning is centered in
classroom
• Tests are designed to find out what
students don’t know
• Teacher alone knows criteria for
grading
• Students “turn in” work only for the
teacher
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31. To confront the 21st century
challenges to our economy and
national security, our education
system must be strengthened to
increase the foreign language skills
and cultural awareness of our
students.
Committee for Economic Development
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32. And Now….. 21st Century
• Students learn to use the
language
• Learner-centered with teacher as
facilitator/collaborator
• Focus on the three modes:
interpersonal, interpretive, and
presentational
• Backward design focusing on the
end goal
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33. And Now…..
21st Century
• Use of thematic units and
authentic resources
• Emphasis on learner as “doer”
and “creator”
• Emphasis on the perspectives,
practices, and products of the
culture
• Integrating technology into
instruction to enhance learning
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34. And Now….. 21st Century
• Using language as the vehicle to
teach academic content
• Differentiating instruction to meet
individual needs
• Personalized real world tasks
• Seeking opportunities for learners
to use language beyond the
classroom
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35. And Now….. 21st Century
• Assessing to find out what
students can do
• Students know and understand
criteria on how they will be
assessed by reviewing the task
rubric
• Learners create to “share and
publish” to audiences more than
just the teacher.
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36. What We “Know”
• Proficiency levels? N / I / A / S
Novice
OUTCOME: Students in the novice
range are able to comprehend and use
short memorized phrases and sentences.
This proficiency level reflects the beginning
stages of language learning which could
be at the elementary, middle, or high
school levels.
36
37. What We “Know”
• Proficiency levels? N / I / A / S
Intermediate
OUTCOME: Students are able to
express their own thoughts, provide
descriptions, and communicate about
familiar topics using sentences and strings
of sentences. They comprehend general
concepts and messages about familiar
and occasionally unfamiliar topics. They
can ask questions on familiar topics.
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38. What We “Know”
• Proficiency levels? N / I / A / S
Advanced
OUTCOME: Students in the advanced
range are able to narrate and describe
using connected sentences and
paragraphs in at least three time frames
when discussing topics of personal,
school, and community interest and can
comprehend main ideas and significant
details regarding a variety of topics.
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39. What We “Know”
5 Cs
Communication – 3 modes
Cultures – 3 Ps
Connections
Comparisons
Communities
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40. What We’re “Learning”
Interdisciplinary themes
Global Awareness
Financial, Economic, Business and
Entrepreneurial Literacy
Civic Literacy
Health Literacy
Environmental Literacy
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41. What We’re Learning
Learning and Innovation Skills
• Think Creatively / Work Creatively
• Critical Thinking / Problem Solving
• Communication and Collaboration
Information, Media & Technology
Skills
• Information Literacy
• Media Literacy
• Technology 41
42. What We’re “Learning”
Life and Career Skills
• Flexibility and Adaptability
• Initiative and Self–Direction
• Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
• Productivity and Accountability
• Leadership and Responsibility
42
43. 21st Century FL
Skills Map
Incorporates
– 21st century skills
– Interdisciplinary themes
– Modes of communication
– Proficiency levels
http://actfl21stcenturyskillsmap.wikispaces.com/
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