Language Proficiency? - Just Press Play!

Churchill High School

Description of proposed project: 9th-12th grade second language students at CHS will complete a variety of in-class situational conversations, presentations, and orals as they work in small groups on increasing both their proficiency and conversational comfort in the target (or second) language. Hand-held mini-cassette tape recorders will serve an integral role by promoting and facilitating activities conducive to communicative participation in proficiency. The tape recorders also will allow for accurate post-activity assessment as well as provide verifiable recordings of student knowledge and improvement.

Why is this project important?

On both the state and national level, oral proficiency has been recognized as the most important goal of second language instruction. In addition, it is an essential component of the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, which are currently offered in all three of the second languages taught at CHS. In second language classes with a high student to teacher ratio, hand-held tape recorders have been used successfully to motivate, monitor, and assess active student participation in communicative classroom activities.

Who, and how many, will be served?

As these classroom mini-cassette tape recorders will be available for the entire second language department here at CHS, any student, grades 9-12, enrolled in a second language course will be served by this project.

How will you evaluate the success of this project?

Anecdotal evidence within the classroom as well as tape recordings produced via this project will both demonstrate the extent to which student improvement in communicative classroom activities has increased. In addition, oral proficiency assessment tools, including those recognized by national foreign language associations (such as ACTFL), will be used to demonstrate outcome-based learning gains. Finally, student performance on both the AP and IB oral exams will be another important indicator of the success of this project.

Does this proposal build upon existing programs at your school?

Yes, this program supports and enhances past and present district and building proficiency goals and best practices for the second language classroom.

How will funds be spent?

Mini cassette tape supplies and tape recorder equipment.