The challenge

From climate change to international trade to migrancy to human rights and more, we live in a complex and interrelated world. Global problems require global leadership. Our ability to communicate with one another has never been more important. Yet, in the United States, only 20% of K-12 students and 7.5% of college students study a foreign language. It is important, then, that we ensure a high quality experience for those engaged in language learning, as well as to provide other students a compelling vision and opportunity to make language learning appealing. 

Among the various school disciplines, world languages present schools with a unique set of challenges that often lead to suboptimal utilization of teachers, uneven student experiences and outcomes, and program continuity concerns. 

 

The initiative

(Targeting Fall 2024)

Using our network of 90+ Catholic high school partners across North America, we intend to gather a team of leaders, language teachers and experts to create a model for high school language learning that leaves no willing student behind in the singular quest for fluency.

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The teachers and leaders we engage in the process will be the very best in our network, highly effective in attaining positive student outcomes and oriented toward growth and improvement. Beyond important conversations regarding program infrastructure, frameworks, timing, sequencing, technologies, design, and teacher professional development,  the team will explore more nuanced issues of accountability, assessment, school reporting, student-teacher social contracts, harnessing student motivation,  and specific targeted student skill building.
 

Why Focus on Fluency?

Guaranteeing fluency to program participants elevates expectations and attracts excellence. Fluency is a desirable, concrete, and measurable standard of quality. It serves as the “bullseye” for the program design team, flu⋅N⋅C program teachers, and participating schools, students, parents, and other stakeholders. Fluency provides for a skills-based approach where regular assessment produces actionable data to continually improve student performance and program design.

The Value of flu⋅N⋅C

Schools win. The flu⋅N⋅C initiative elevates schools’ world language programs by providing a unique, reliable, high quality learning option. Schools could use flu⋅N⋅C to complement current programs, add new language options, or offboard a struggling language to focus internal resources on high impact programs. 

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Students win. For those up to the challenge, flu⋅N⋅C will provide a pathway to documented second language proficiency. Students will meet, learn, and share with other students possessing the same language interest, and they will gain important learning and life skills. In short, they will receive the lifetime gift of bilingualism.