 |
| Dr. Debbi Burdick |
Cave Creek Unified School District Superintendent
Dr. Debbi Burdick and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jana Miller extolled the
virtues of why learning a second language is so critical. Data sharing included
the 4 Cs of: Cognitive - Brain research
supporting language learning; Careers -
Expressing the shift to global economy; Culture - Including the Socio-cultural
considerations in our society today; College – For students to be ready and
prepared. In offering language study and immersion classes, CCUSD has found
that elementary students who have studied another language develop greater
cognitive skills in:
·
Mental
flexibility
·
Creativity
·
Divergent
thinking
·
Higher
order thinking
·
Executive
functions (the area of attention)
·
Multi-tasking
·
As
students get older…
·
They
show a positive correlation between SAT/ACT scores and the number of years
spent studying another language
Today,
CCUSD schools offer programs in Spanish, French and Mandarin Chinese and they
have helped other districts launch their own language and culture programs to
success. Research supports the idea that the younger the child learns a second language, the
easier it is. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages shares
the standards for teaching foreign languages that include: Communication,
Culture, Connections, Comparisons and Community. CCUSD believes that this
choice for students to learn a second language has become an award-winning signature
program for the schools and district. It has also set students on a course to serve
them well and help them to be successful in their future careers and as a useful
skill in their lives.
For questions, or to visit the programs, contact Dr. Debbi Burdick at dburdick@ccusd93.org or visit the Cave Creek Unified School District website at www.ccusd93.org.
Nedda Shafir, M.Ed.
Shafir Consulting
Shafir Consulting
No comments:
Post a Comment