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Kindergarten through 3rd Grade - World Languages Guidelines

The World Languages content area of the Colorado Academic Standards contains four standards:
  1. Communication in Languages Other Than English
  2. Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures
  3. Connections with Other Disciplines and Information Acquisition
  4. Comparisons to Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture
An important aspect of the World Languages standards, which are shared with the Colorado English Language Proficiency standards, is that they define knowledge levels for different levels of language learning. The ranges in the World Languages standards go from Novice-Low to Intermediate-Mid.  Learning a foreign language is not specifically talked about in the Guidelines for children younger than kindergarten, so there is not a direct connection between an area in the Guidelines for children ages 3–5 years and the World Languages standards.  However, many of the skills that elementary school children develop when learning a foreign language are similar to skills developed by younger children who are learning English, either as a first or second language. These connections are described in the sections below.
Communication in Languages Other Than English
  • The first standard focuses on communicating well in more than one language in a variety of situations and for multiple reasons. This standard relates to children’s ability to communicate in a foreign language in real-world situations, including interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational ways, described below:
    • Interpersonal communication requires culturally appropriate listening, viewing, speaking, and writing. 
    • Interpretive communication requires children to listen, view, and read using their knowledge of cultural products, practices, and perspectives. 
    • Presentational communication, which is used in formal situations, requires children to use the language to present spoken or written information in culturally appropriate ways.
  • These skills mirror many of the skills that are important when children are learning English as a second language, so similar information may be found for children ages 3–5 years in the English Language Development domain of the Guidelines. 
    • The subdomain for Receptive English Language Skills relates to reading and listening skills in the World Languages standards. 
    • The subdomain for Expressive English Language relates to writing and speaking skills in the World Languages standards. 
    • Similarly, the skills in the World Languages standard are the same as many of the skills that are important when children learn a first language, so similar information may be found for children ages 3–5 years in the Language Development domain of the Guidelines. 
Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures
  • The second standard is about children’s understanding of the language’s culture and how language and culture interact in society. This includes understanding the relationship among cultural products like art, food, music, sports; cultural practices like traditions and manners; and the thoughts and beliefs that connect to these products and practices. 
  • This same type of understanding is also a goal when children are learning English as a second language, so similar material may be found for children ages 3–5 years in the English Language Development domain of the Guidelines. 
    • This World Languages standard is found within the preschool subdomain Engagement in English Literacy Activities. The preschool information describes how children interact with books, storytelling, and songs in the language they are learning (English). These types of activities are similar to those that help with cultural understanding for older children who are learning a second language. 
Connections with Other Disciplines and Information Acquisition
  • The third standard focuses on connecting with other disciplines, and learning information and different points of view in order to use the language in school and job-related situations
  • Connections may be made in a number of ways, including learning information from other countries. 
  • This World Languages standard is similar to the Receptive English Language skills in both the English Language Development domain and the Language Development domain of the Guidelines for children ages 3–5 years. Receptive language skills include reading and listening. To understand either of those, children of all ages must connect with the words. 
Comparisons to Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture
  • The final standard in the World Languages area is built upon the idea that studying a second language gives the child a better understanding of not only the new language and culture being studied but also of their own language and culture
  • Although there is not a direct connection to anything in the Guidelines for children ages 3–5 years, children learning a second language at any age benefit by looking there and making comparisons. Such comparisons are part of the preschool English Language Development domain when students do English reading and writing activities and as children make connections between English words or phrases and their home language.
ELDG
The Colorado Early Learning and Development Guidelines
Are you interested in learning about the expectations for your child's development based on their age? The Colorado Early Learning and Development Guidelines describe the path of children’s learning and development from birth to 8 years old. Broken down by age and major milestones, the guidelines are a sort of map, helping parents and caregivers navigate their child's early years. Experts from across Colorado developed these guidelines to create a shared understanding and a coordinated approach to learning and development.

Curious about what your little one is thinking at this age? Wondering what you can do to help them thrive and reach their developmental milestones? Check out the guidelines using the link below.
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Raising Colorado Kids Guide is brought to you by the Colorado Office of Early Childhood.

For general help, call 1-800-799-5876 or email  cdhs_oec_communications@state.co.us

Contact Us

Raising Colorado Kids is brought to you by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.

For general help, call 1-800-799-5876 or email  cdec_communications@state.co.us

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