WebQuests

Description: Children acquire a second language in ways that differ from adults. The benefits of children learning another language are numerous. You just received an e-mail from your sister in North Carolina. She is devastated that they are talking about dropping the Spanish program at her daughter’s school. She knows you have been doing some research in the field of second language acquisition and has asked you to help her write a letter to the School Board expressing her views.

Task: You will read some letters written to School Boards on a variety of issues and decide which ones seem most effective. Using examples of theory of second language acquisition in children you will then compose a letter to the School Board which explains why it is so important to keep the program.

Process: Read the letters to School Boards (see Resources for links).
Make a list from the letters you read of the most effective ways of getting the opinion of the writer across.
List the points about second language acquisition in children that you want to incorporate in the letter.
Compose the letter.

Resources:
School board letters:

http://www.gcnews.com/05_11_01/letters.htm
letter to school board

http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/20000405edlets6.asp
scroll down to Ellen Kay’s letter “About Language Education”

http://coe.sdsu.edu/people/jmora/SBOELetters227.htm
letters in response to California Proposition 227 , an English-only initiative

SLA in children:
http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/ncbepubs/classics/focus/02aage.htm
Collier, V.(1987) The effect on age on acquisition of a second language for school.

http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/features/snow10012002.html
Looking closely at second language learning.(2002) An interview with Catherine Snow, Harvard School of Education.

http://www.cal.org/ericcll/digest/ncrcds04.html
Fostering Second Language Development in young children.

http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/ncbepubs/classics/focus/02bage.htm
Twyford, C. (1987)Age-related factors in second language acquisition

Conclusion: Your sister got your e-mail and is thrilled with your input. She is going to add some personal information about how much her daughter loves Spanish and will send it off to the School Board President.

Evaluation: Check that you have included all of the following in your letter.

+	outstanding (3 points)
	adequate (2 points)
-	minimal (1 point)
0	missing

	Outstanding	Adequate	Minimal	Comments
Tone of letter is effective
SLA in children information	Five reasons mentioned	Three reasons mentioned	Less than three reasons mentioned
Sources cited	All sources cited	Three or less sources cited	Less than three sources cited

Score yourself!
7-9 Great job! Hopefully the School Board will reconsider their decision to eliminate the FLES program.

5-6 Perhaps you should add more details.
Less than 5 You should consider starting over and sending a more complete letter.

ACTFL Program Standards For The Preparation Of Foreign Language Teachers

Standard 3.a. Understanding Language Acquisition and Creating a Supportive Classroom. Candidates demonstrate an understanding of language acquisition at various developmental levels and use this knowledge to create a supportive classroom learning environment that includes target language input and opportunities for negotiation of meaning and meaningful interaction.

Standard 6.b. Knowing the Value of Foreign Language Learning. Candidates know the value of foreign language learning to the overall success of all students and understand that they will need to become advocates with students, colleagues, and members of the community to promote the field.