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Washington schools who receive state funding for full day kindergarten are required to provide experiences in a world language other than English.
Young children are like sponges when it comes to languages.
They soak up the sounds they hear, and their brains and mouths are more
receptive to distinguishing and pronouncing new sounds than our adult brains and
mouths are.
At the same time, we need to be thoughtful about how we
introduce new languages into a young learner’s environment because language is
so connected to culture and identity. The following resources are intended to
help guide schools and districts to plan for and implement successful early
learning experiences with world languages, making use of resources available in
your school and community.
- Kindergarten World Language Experience Journal
(Word)
This journal template can be used as a starting place to help teachers
document the world language experiences they’re already creating in their
classrooms. This will help the school plan a program that will be manageable
and meaningful.
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Expanding Horizons: Building Global Literacy in Afterschool Programs - This guide offers strategies and resources on how to integrate global literacy—international knowledge, skills, and perspectives—into afterschool and summer programs.
The Benefits of Learning a Language
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