Frequently Asked Questions
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the Secondary DLI FAQ. This edition focuses on COMMUNITY OUTREACH. I appreciate your work to communicate the expected outcomes, the K-12 alignment and the instructional supports that will be ready for 2015-16. Please feel free to contact me any time if you would like more detail or are seeking additional resources to support your community outreach initiative.
Sincere regards,
Jill Landes-Lee (jill.landes-lee@utah.edu)
Utah Secondary Dual Language Immersion Coordinator
Second Language Teaching & Research Center (L2TReC), University of Utah
Q1: What are the EXPECTED OUTCOMES of the K-12 DLI Program?
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Students are on track to exit high school with Advanced-Low proficiency level. With this extraordinarily high level of proficiency, students will have a unique opportunity to pursue university and career pathways that combine native-like language and cultural abilities with a career of their choice.
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Students who successfully complete the AP exam have the opportunity to take up to 9 credits of upper division university course work, poising them to graduate just 2 courses shy of a minor in their language of study.
Q2: What INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS will be in place for 7th and 8th grade teachers and their students?
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The following supports will be ready for teachers to kick off their 2015-16 school year:
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7th grade “Year-at-a-Glance”
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Unit maps, which include AP Theme, Essential Questions & Cultural Competencies, Writing Focus, World Language focus standards, Student Learning Goals (I Can statements), rubrics aligned to AP, and recommended authentic literature and media
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Integrated performance assessments for each unit, building towards a culminating “Demonstration of Learning” project
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Required textbook: Chinese- Huanying French- D’Accord Spanish- Descubre .
Q3: What are Grade 7-8 Course offerings?
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Districts following the Utah DLI model are required to offer the grade 7 and 8 Literacy course for 1.0 credit. New DLI course option: The “DLI Culture & Media” course was developed to augment exposure and access to the cultural-linguistic competencies of native speakers. Students utilize media and authentic texts to discuss the diverse cultural products, practices and perspectives of their language of study. Course content parallels the DLI Literacy course maps according to AP Theme, and utilizes current media through a SCOLA subscription. As a repeating elective, it may be offered either once or multiple times each year, over a two-year period, or during summer school. This course is NOT required by USOE.
Q4: What is SCOLA?
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SCOLA is a non-profit educational organization that provides authentic (native) foreign language resources in more than 175 languages. It provides access to original radio, TV news, and newspaper articles from countries around the world. All schools offering the “DLI Culture and Media” course will be required to purchase materials which support current media and culture specific to their language. SCOLA is one of these resources, but other media resources will be recommended, depending on the language.
Q5: What will happen when our students reach high school?
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Our institutions of higher education in Utah are partnering with USOE to provide high school students access to upper division (3000 level) language courses. Supported by our state legislature, the “Bridge Project” will create an educational bridge and opportunity for language study that links high school and university study. No other state in the U.S. offers high school DLI courses which extend beyond AP and which award upper division university credit. Because our DLI students are projected to exit middle or junior high with unusually high levels of language proficiency, our universities have committed to offering the Bridge Project courses across the state.
Q6: What state FUNDING will be provided for secondary DLI schools??
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Our state legislature has committed to funding $5,000 per school, for each new grade. Schools must follow all USOE Program Assurances in order to receive funding.
Q7: What supports are in place for secondary school administrators?
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March 23, 2015: State DLI Advisory Council Meeting for all new administrators at the UVU Campus Secondary principals will have a break-out session to view textbook resources and curriculum maps, including “buy guides” for textbooks. The 2015-16 teacher professional development and instructional supports plan will also be discussed in detail.