Language and communication are at the heart of the human experience. The United States must educate students who are equipped linguistically and culturally to communicate successfully in a pluralistic American society and abroad. This imperative envisions a future in which ALL students will develop and maintain proficiency in English and at least one other language, modern or classical. (Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century, 1996, p. 7)


Tenets:

  • Languages are acquired, not taught
  • Language acquisition takes place through a process linking language to meaning
  • In order for languages to be acquired, students must be exposed to comprehensible input
  • A child who functions in one language is already a candidate to function in others
  • A child will not exceed in his second language, the ability he or she has in his first language
  • Linguistic accuracy is a destination, not a point of departure
  • Proficiency in a language is attainable; mastery of a language is not
  • Authentic assessment involves a cadre of performance standards and requires the child to use language purposefully to meet a need or solve a problem.

The mission of Languages other than English in the Plano Independent School District is to enable students to communicate effectively in another language and to develop life-long appreciation for various languages and cultures.

The study of the foreign language is a progressive acquisition of communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities. The Plano ISD language program reflects this philosophy and incorporates the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the National Standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language and the objectives of the College Board.