Indiana Sets Precedent in World Language Standards

Action by State Board makes Indiana first state to adopt East Asian standards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, June 8, 2007
Media Contacts:
Mary Jane Michalak, 317.232.6616, michalak@doe.in.gov
Adriana Melnyk, 317.232.9148, amelnyk@doe.in.gov

A long time leader in setting world class standards, the Indiana Department of Education continues to pave the way for other states with its recent passage of academic standards for East Asian Languages. Action taken by the State Board of Education this week made Indiana the first state to adopt grade-level standards specific to Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages for all grades kindergarten through twelve.

The Department’s World Language Standards Revision Task Force developed a separate, yet related, set of standards specifically geared towards East Asian languages to take into account the inherent uniqueness of these languages. The languages are some of the most complex of all modern spoken languages both in structure and pronunciation, and they require more time for students to acquire than other commonly taught languages.

“Because the time commitment required for a student to become proficient in an East Asian language is greater, it did not seem appropriate to treat the world language standards as a sort of ‘one-size-fits-all’ that would apply to all language groups,” Indiana Department of Education World Languages Coordinator Adriana Melnyk said. “We feel that these standards will more accurately shape East Asian language programs across the state, and that other states will see our new standards as a model for East Asian language instruction.”

This is the first time for any language that the Department is offering multiple points of entry at the elementary, middle and high school levels to better shape instruction for students beginning at any grade level. The move emphasizes the need for the expansion of World Language curriculum into all grades, exposing students to world languages and cultures at earlier ages when research shows it to be most effective.

The revision of the state’s standards for world languages is part of a larger effort designed to equip Indiana students with the 21st Century skills needed for success in a global economy. The importance of world language instruction in this pursuit was underscored by the recent “What Do We and Our Students Need in Indiana?” report produced by the Department and the Indiana Humanities Council with support from the Ball Brothers Foundation, available online at www.doe.in.gov/opd/worldlanguages.

To view Indiana’s academic standards for world languages and other subjects, visit www.doe.in.gov/standards.