There are two basic approaches to trying to implement new proficiencies as the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements. In one way, the modern language teachers look at the statements and evaluate their present curriculum and textbook against the statements. They become aware of what parts of the curriculum and textbook cover the statements, which statements are missing from the curriculum and textbook, and how they have to change their approach. In the second way,the modern language teachers take their present curriculum and textbook and see how the new way fits into the old. When educators use the second approach, they often miss the intent of the new method and they force the new way into the old with expressions such as “That sounds somewhat like what we do in Chapter 5 so we have met that part.”
I have used the first way of implementing the Can-Do Statements. As I try to have my students meet the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements for Interpersonal Communication, I find that my textbook does not contain in one chapter the vocabulary and grammar that my students need. Often a textbook only has a list of words without any actions. Even if we are required to cover certain chapters in our textbook, we might want to consider combining parts of various chapters to create a logical way of approaching the Can-Do Statements. For example, we might take the parts of any chapter that deal with directions or everyday situations in a city and have the students do these together so that our students can do Novice High – “give directions” and “Interact with others”. Although this requires more work in rearranging the textbook content, the unit has more of natural flow to it. Students can express ideas that logically fit together. I do not have to say “Wait until two more Chapters and we’ll learn that.”
I have begun to modify my past online activities and my future ones to include the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements for Interpersonal Communication. For example,
I have
1) Spanish Friend Family Member Detailed Description – Partner Speak ACTFL Novice Mid “communicate basic information” and Novice High “exchange personal information” Can Do
2) a Spanish Speaking Mat Can Do for NCSSFL-ACTFL Novice-Mid “I can communicate some basic information about my everyday life-places”; Novice-High “I can ask for and give simple directions”, “I can make plans with others”, and “I can interact with others in everyday situations”.
I have developed 5 Visual activities/games for any modern language (no words) and have developed 28 Spanish activities for students to begin to express themselves in the modern language and to move toward spontaneous speaking. I am developing activities based on the Can-Do Statements. Teacherspayteachers: http://bit.ly/tpthtuttle
My ebook, 90 Mobile Learning Modern Language Activities, is available at http://bit.ly/90mlact.You can instantly use these many communication activities in your classroom with even beginning students when only half the class has mobile devices. It can be downloaded as a pdf.
My three formative assessment books, Improving Foreign Language Speaking Through Formative Assessment, Formative Assessment: Responding to Your Students and Successful Student Writing Through Formative Assessment, are available at http://bit.ly/tuttlebks
Improving Modern Language Learning 