STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY

SECOND LANGUAGES :: 1999 :: PREFACE

PREFACE

Intent	The North Carolina Second Language Standard Course of Study establishes competency goals and objectives directing the teaching and learning of a second language in North Carolina. This document sets high expectations for all students, it supports extended sequence of language learning and it takes into account the national standards for foreign language learning. In addition, the Second Language Standard Course of Study gives administrators a rationale and guidelines for the study and the planning of an articulated language program. Because it describes the overarching concepts governing language education in the state, it should be used as a guide by school districts as they make decisions concerning their second language programs. The overview presented in the document will need to be expanded in local curriculum documents to reflect the beliefs, policies, and philosophy of the local school districts in ways that best meet the needs of their specific student population. The Revised Second Language Standard Course of Study replaces the document published in 1994. It is accompanied by a Teacher Document which provides support, application, explanation, and expansion of the goals and objectives presented in the Standard Course of Study. The companion document can be obtained by contacting the Publications Sales Division of the NC Department of Public Instruction.
Second Languages and English as a Second Language	This document is specifically designed to guide instruction for the teaching of second languages such as French, German, Spanish as well as the less commonly taught languages. While there are obvious similarities between the teaching of second languages and English as a Second Language, the many differences warrant a separate document for the teaching of English as a Second Language. Such a document, A Guide to the Standard Course of Study for Limited English Proficient Students, is available from the NC Department of Public Instruction.
National Standards	In 1989, state and national leaders met to reach agreement on setting national educational goals for the American public schools. Shortly thereafter Congress voted on "Goals 2000: Educate America Act" which endorsed the original goals and expanded goal 3 to incorporate foreign languages in the core curriculum. Subsequently, the National Council on Education Standards recommended the development of national standards for the disciplines included in the goals.
Foreign Language Standards	In 1993, foreign language education became the seventh and final subject area to receive federal funding to develop national standards for students kindergarten through twelfth grade. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) organized a task force to meet this challenge. Finally, in 1996, after seeking and receiving extensive input from the foreign language community the Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century were published.
Revision Process	In response to a mandate from the North Carolina General Assembly instructing the Department of Public Instruction to revise the individual Standard Courses of Study on a five-year basis, a committee was selected to address this task. The committee, comprised of K-12 teachers, university professors, central office staff, parents, community leaders, and DPI staff examined national and state initiatives, reviewed the latest research affecting language education, perused documents from other countries and/or states, and studied extensively the national Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century (SFFLL).
Input	The committee solicited input through a variety of focus groups, regional meetings, public hearings, questionnaires, district reviews, and individual conversations. In addition, a draft of this document was posted on the Second Languages web page and was mailed for review to foreign language teachers, to selected university language faculty, to teacher-training program chairs, as well as to other interested parties in the state. The final draft of the document was revised to incorporate suggested changes.

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