Educator Center

World Languages

The Nebraska World Languages P-16 Initiative brought together world language educators from across the state to discuss the expectations of world language learners. The project evolved in two phases. The first phase, the Nebraska World Languages P-16 Postsecondary Symposium, was held at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska on April 21, 2003. Twenty-five postsecondary educators from Nebraska community colleges and universities met to discuss common issues and solutions in foreign language education from pre-kindergarten through college, create a communication network for foreign language postsecondary educators, and increase communication between elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educators.

For the second phase, the Nebraska P-16 Task Force met in Lincoln, Nebraska, on June 17-18, 2003 to articulate the Nebraska K-12 World Language Essential Learnings from a P-16 perspective. The Task Force objectives were to discuss world language education at elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels, articulate the Nebraska K-12 Foreign Language Frameworks from a P-16 perspective, and establish an ongoing working relationship between all foreign language educators to foster the teaching and learning of world languages in Nebraska.

The Nebraska World Languages P-16 document sets the stage for building collaboration among world language educators at all levels to improve world language learning. The articulation of the Frameworks essential learnings is intended to provide a seamless path for all students. The articulation provides a guide for Nebraska world language educators to determine what students should know and be able to do at each level of instruction. World language educators can use the articulated essential learnings as a roadmap to determine the knowledge and skills they expect their students to accomplish at each level of instruction and adapt them to fit their needs.

The third phase of the initiative includes professional development opportunities to implement the P-16 initiative, the continuation of the collaborative discussions through online electronic conferenceing, and the creation of the Nebraska World Languages Portfolio. The portfolio will document the student's world language experience, assess the student's level of proficiency, and show samples of the student's work. The portfolio also provides teachers, students and parents with the documentation of the expectations the student has mastered and the level of the student's proficiency.

Click here to view the Nebraska World Languages P-16 Initiative Frameworks Essential Learnings document.

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