{"id":425,"date":"2010-11-06T22:40:20","date_gmt":"2010-11-07T03:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.helleniclink.org\/?p=425"},"modified":"2010-11-24T16:44:39","modified_gmt":"2010-11-24T21:44:39","slug":"greek-language-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/?p=425","title":{"rendered":"1. Aligning Greek Language"},"content":{"rendered":"

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“Aligning Greek Language Teaching with US National Standards” 1<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n

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Vasiliki Tsigas-Fotinis, Ph.D. (Caldwell College, Caldwell, NJ)<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/span>In order to prepare America for the 21st century, the US Department of Education along with subject – specific professional associations has developed National Standards for subjects taught in public educational institutions. National Standards are voluntarily being employed for each major subject being taught in the USA. These content and curriculum standards are guidelines or goals of what is expected to be taught and learned in their respective field. State and local subject standards generally align with the National Standards for each subject. Standards are a prerequisite for establishing criteria needed for teacher training and certification and for the development of assessments.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWith the help of a three-year grant from the US Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities, an eleven-member task force, representing a variety of languages, levels of instruction, program models, and geographic regions, undertook the task of defining content standards<\/em> —<\/span><\/span> what students should know and be able to do — in foreign language education. The final document, Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Preparing for the 21st Century, first published<\/span> in 1996, represents an unprecedented consensus among educators, business leaders, government, and the community on the definition and role of foreign language instruction in American education. This visionary document has been used by teachers, administrators, and curriculum developers at both state and local levels to begin to improve foreign language education in our nation’s schools.” <\/span><\/p>\n


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In 2009, the NEW revised 3rd Edition Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century, includes targeted standards for Arabic, Chinese, Classical Languages, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. <\/span> My question today is, “Should there be national standards for the Greek Language? In addition, should there be national standards for Greek Language teacher training and certification?” “If so, what implications do these questions bring to light?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Along with the many other notable subjects, NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR\u3000FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION have been developed by the US Department of Education as a Collaborative Project of ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages),<\/span> AATF (American Association of Teachers of French), AATG (American Association of Teachers of German), AATI (American Association of Teachers of Italian), AATSP (American Association of Teachers of Spanish & Portuguese), ACL (American Classical League), ACTR, CLASS and NCJLT-ATJ. [See http:\/\/www.actfl.org\/i4a\/pages\/index.cfm?pageid=3392<\/span> for actual standards]. The Philosophy Statement of this document sums up its purpose, stating:Language and communication are at the heart of the human experience. The United States must educate students who are linguistically and culturally equipped to communicate successfully in a pluralistic American 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. Children who come to school from non-English backgrounds should also have opportunities to develop further proficiencies in their first language.<\/p>\n

I wish the last sentence of this Philosophy Statement was in place when I entered public school only knowing Greek from my immigrant parents. Could you imagine the effect of my school giving me the opportunity to further develop my Greek language proficiencies? What a difference that would have made on me as well as on my English speaking classmates.<\/p>\n

As is stated in the above Philosophy Statement, Classical and Modern languages are to be developed and taught.<\/span> Their usefulness is clear. Greek and Latin languages help students improve their understanding of scientific, medical, legal and mathematical terms and their etymology. Knowledge of these Classical languages will help them do better on Standardized tests because they can figure out words and their meanings. Moreover, the more structured and complex a language is, just like music, more synaptic activity occurs in the brain. Advantages of developing such standards for Hellenic Education effort in North America include the enlargement of the possibility of having the Greek language offered in more public and private schools. When I googled “Why Learn Greek”, I found 13,400,000 results entries, a large majority of these web sites like the one that follows make mention of the importance of understanding the New Testament and other classical works in their original language. In http:\/\/www.gsbaptistchurch.com\/greek\/<\/span> under The Greek Language <\/strong>it states:<\/p>\n

From 13th Century BC “Linear B” Greek, through the “Classical Greek” of Homer, 8th century, and Plato, 4th century, to the Greek of the Bible, called “Koine Greek” or the common man’s Greek, the language is a marvelous form of language, capable of exact expression and subtle nuances. \u3000Christ came when the fullness of time was here (Gal 4:4), and the universal language used to capture and record and preach his arrival and the New Testament he came to offer, was Koine Greek. \u3000Every Christian can benefit from the study of this language.<\/p>\n

The American Classical League, American Philological Association, and Regional Classical Associations have developed National Standards for Classical Languages (Greek and Latin). [See <\/span>http:\/\/www.aclclassics.org\/pdf\/standards.pdf<\/span>]<\/span> <\/span>This brings an especially profound set of questions for the Greek community to address. Should we too as a united Greek community join in recognizing these National Standards for Classical Languages? Should we also develop National Standards for the Greek Language? [Modern Greek officially came to be in the 1970\u2019s] And the biggest question of all, who is “we” in the Greek community?<\/p>\n

The national standards for foreign language education center around five goals: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities (the 5 C\u2019s of foreign language education). In establishing national standards for the Greek Language, these five Cs need to be answered with research,<\/span> detail explanations and agreement.<\/p>\n

STANDARDS FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING COMMUNICATION
\n Communicate in Languages Other Than English<\/strong><\/p>\n


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  • Standard 1.1:<\/strong> <\/span>Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions [in the Greek language]<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Standard 1.2:<\/strong> <\/span>Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics<\/li>\n
  • Standard 1.3:<\/strong> <\/span>Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    CULTURES
    \n Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Culture<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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    • Standard 2.1: <\/strong>Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
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    • Standard 2.2: <\/strong>Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied<\/span><\/li>\n


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      CONNECTIONS
      \n Connect with Other Disciplines and Acquire Information<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

      <\/strong>Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language [Key for Greek language; i.e., vocabulary, medicine, math, science, theater, music\u2026]<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

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      • Standard 3.1: <\/li>\n
      • Standard 3.2:<\/strong> Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n


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        COMPARISONS
        \n Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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        • Standard 4.1:<\/strong> <\/span>Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own [Identify etymological roots of many English words from the Greek Language, and understand how the English language is entering the Greek \u2026]<\/strong> <\/span>Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own. [Culture in terms of arts, theatre, dance, music, religion, food, dress \u2026 has many parallel and distinct conceptual frames]<\/strong>\n

          COMMUNITIES
          \n Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home & Around the World<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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          • Standard 5.1:<\/strong> <\/span>Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting<\/li>\n
          • \n

            Standard 5.2:<\/strong> Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.\u00a0 [Annual celebration of Greek and American Democracy on March 25.]<\/strong><\/p>\n


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            In teaching Greek, we are not starting from scratch; the American Classical League has developed a set of syllabi for “Attic Greek” which is used as an outline for the National Exam for “Attic” Greek<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n


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            As of now there is no American Association of Teachers of Greek, however, the Federation of Hellenic Educators and Cultural Associations is an umbrella organization for a number of associations of Teachers of Greek, i.e., Greek Teachers Association “Prometheus” of New York Metro area, Greek Teachers Association “Athena” of Illinois, Greek Teachers Association “Iliada” in Philadelphia area, Hellenic Society PROMETHEAS of Washington, DC, Saint Basil\u2019s Academy Teachers College Alumnae Association (S.B.A.T.C.A.A.), Greek Teachers Association of Florida, St. Irene Chrysovalantou<\/span><\/span>Aligning Greek Language Teaching with US National Standards” 1<\/sup><\/div>\n


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            Each of the American Associations of Teachers of [German, Italian, Spanish, etc.] have their vision and mission statements,\u3000by-laws, research on who and from where their language teachers get certified<\/strong>(which are also linked on the ACTFL web site), and how much education their members have, on their websites <\/span>.\u3000 It might be worth our while to see and study what others have done and reflect how some of these ideas could help us with the Greek Language.\u3000 Again I stress, that we need to have Greek Language representatives on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and other such organizations that promote the teaching of foreign languages. In addition, Hellenic, Ancient, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies programs at the various universities can play a major role in assisting and promoting the future training and certifications of Teachers of Greek. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n


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            The Plan.<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n


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            <\/strong><\/em>National Standards have been created to begin to improve foreign language education in our nation’s schools. Do we want to improve Greek Language education in America as well?<\/span><\/p>\n


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            1 <\/strong><\/em>Paper presented at the 15th Conference\/Forum of the American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture (AFGLC), inTampa & Tarpon Springs Florida, February 19-20, 2010; a contribution from the Advisory Council on Hellenic Education of the Hellenic Link, Inc.<\/strong><\/em> <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n


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            An important suggestion that Hellenic Link, Inc. has been a proponent of is the possible linking of Hellenic Studies programs at some universities with their Departments of Education.\u3000 For example, if we look at the website of the Modern Greek Studies Program at Rutgers, we see that this program is linked to several other university Departments (Classics, Religion and other), but not<\/span> to that of Education.\u00a0 This link is critical if we are true to our language and its further development.\u3000 We need people who know BOTH the Greek Language well and also know how to most effectively teach it to others. Currently, it is encouraging to note that at least one university, the Concordia University of Montreal, is considering actively the development of such interdisciplinary link for its Hellenic Studies Program.<\/span><\/span>This presentation will be enhanced if during a workshop these critical questions could be discussed and the new questions and responses could be documented and circulated. We could initiate a brainstorming session to start filling in and substantiating the 5 C\u2019s for Greek Language learning at this conference. [Have 5 posters where people could offer standard suggestions] A follow up committee should be created to further identify the practical implications and the scaffolding processes necessary for the Greek language to be cultivated in America. I hope the participants of this conference will approve and adopt a recommendation to establish a committee, under the auspices of AFGLC and HL, to study and promulgate a draft of relevant National Standards.<\/span><\/span>—————————————————————–<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n


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            In addition to National Standards for learning any language, the proper preparation and training of teachers to teach a language should also be defined nationally. In the US, there has rightfully so been a trend to have all teachers in public schools to have the appropriate certifications and education to teach. Dr. Adam D. Blistein, Executive Director, American Philological Association has sent me a link to a set of standards for Latin teacher training and certification.\u3000 The current draft of these standards is found at:<\/span><\/p>\n

            http:\/\/nge.aclclassics.org\/. Currently, the State of New York offers a Regents Exam in Modern Greek, and New Jersey accepts this exam as well. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Greek Education also offers a Comprehensive exam in Modern Greek, found on their web site <\/span>http:\/\/goarch.org\/archdiocese\/departments\/education\/exam. Their list of standards and check points of the Greek examination (in Greek) is found at: <\/span>http:\/\/goarch.org\/archdiocese\/departments\/education\/exam\/STANDARDS%20-%20CHECKPOINTS%20OF%20GREEK%20EXAMINATION%20-IN%20GREEK.pdf . We need to see if anything else exists as well. We need to compile a list of all existing exams, coordinate and consolidate any duplicated effort and determine any mutual and missing links. All parties that offer Greek exams should be involved with establishing national standards for the Greek language.<\/span>http:\/\/www.apaclassics.org\/education\/Standards.pdf. We need to review these and tailor them for Greek Language teacher training and certification. In addition, we need to work with both Departments of Education and <\/strong>Hellenic or Modern Greek Studies Programs in more colleges and universities in order to guarantee that the appropriate courses needed for state and national certifications of teachers of the Greek Language are offered<\/span>.
            \n There will be two major drawbacks for the Hellenic Education effort in North America if we continue to ignore the creation and implementation of National Standards for the Greek Language and for those who will teach the language. One is the sporadic, inconsistent and politically and culturally subjective, and outdated approach to language teaching and learning of the language that largely exists today. And the other drawback is the extinction or the undermining of the “truth that sets us free”. What I mean is this, many classic great thinkers thought and wrote their work in Greek. Greek is the primary source of their archetypal work. If our command and understanding of the Greek language is poor, then the deeper meanings of these great works will be lost or worse yet, left for others to interpret in their own subjective way. The Greek language is ever changing, but always the same. The language vocabulary and structure has changed throughout the years, but its semantic quality has remained substantially unaltered. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            “Aligning Greek Language Teaching with US National Standards” 1<\/sup><\/p>\n


            <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            “Aligning Greek Language Teaching with US National Standards” 1 Vasiliki Tsigas-Fotinis, Ph.D. (Caldwell College, Caldwell, NJ) In order to prepare America for the 21st century, the US Department of Education along with subject – specific professional associations has developed National Standards for subjects taught in public educational institutions. National Standards are voluntarily being employed for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-articles"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=425"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":427,"href":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425\/revisions\/427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helleniclink.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}