National Standards
The National Standards for Foreign Language Education were first published in 1996 as a response to the US Department of Education's mandate that all core subjects in American education have a set of standards. The collaborative product of 10 foreign language associations, the national standards' basic philosophical tenet is the following: "Language and communication are at the heart of human experience. The United States must educate students who are equipped linguistically and culturally to communicate successfully in a pluralistic society and abroad. This imperative envisions a future in which ALL students will develop and maintain proficiency in English and at least one other language, modern or classical" (Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century, 2006, p. 7).
The 11 different national standards of this document are grouped into five categories (i.e., Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities) that are collectively referred to as the "5 Cs" amongst foreign language educators.
Read about the "5 C's" defined in the National Standards:
National Standards for Foreign Language Teaching
According to Scott (2010), the National Standards have already had a significant impact on foreign language teaching at the elementary and secondary levels but relatively little impact on the college level. Why do you think this is so?
Summarize the major differences between the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and the National Standards. Do you agree with Dr. Garza that they are complementary? If so, how?