A Tale of Two Schools

Book excerpt: This volume documents a sixteen-year longitudinal study of two elementary schools in which Spanish and Japanese foreign language programs were implemented and evaluated. Evaluation of the programs involved documenting children's language development, assessing the attitudes of various constituents, and examining critical issues related to the introduction and successful operation of a well-articulated sequential foreign language program in schools. The volume concludes with a discussion of possible reasons why over time certain sequential foreign language programs flourish and grow while other programs are reduced or eliminated from the school's curriculum. Parallels with the theory and practice of environmental sustainable development are used as a framework for this analysis. "This book will be invaluable to educators and parents needing practical and accessible research-based advice on developing, implementing, and evaluating foreign language learning programs in elementary and middle schools." Merrill Swain, University of Toronto, Canada "Using the contrastive stories of two early foreign language programs, the authors provide longitudinal research-based evidence of program practices and outcomes that focus attention on the critical questions of students' ability to achieve language competence and cultural understanding and on program sustainability. The authors provide implications for future research and invaluable recommendations for enhancing the sustainability of both new and on-going early foreign language programs." Marcia Rosenbusch, Iowa State University, USA