World Language Program Brings Innovation and Results

Imagine that you've saved money for that big trip to Central America and you're making plans to travel in areas you've never been and to relax on pristine, tropical beaches. Yes, most of the people do not speak English, but you figure you won't have any problems since you had four years of Spanish back in high school, and received pretty good grades, too. Then, on your first day of vacation, you're about to check out groceries from a local store, and realize that you can't understand the cashier.

She's speaking so quickly, and not using complete sentences, or at least you think she's not using complete sentences. You stand there, dumbfounded, and have to resort to pointing at items and using hand gestures to communicate. After taking four years of Spanish in high school, you find that you can barely communicate when in a "real-world" situation.

This is the reality many people, especially Americans, have faced for generations when trying to communicate in languages they've learned in school. Unless you live in certain areas, or have a specific job that requires you to speak another language often, most people never really get a chance to effectively speak and understand a foreign language, even if they've taken many years of the language in school.

At Sidney High School, Spanish teacher Brett Avila has been instrumental in bringing the World Language Program, an innovative and exciting system for effectively learning foreign languages, into the school system with immediate and impressive results. A few years ago, the Nebraska International Language Association (NILA) contacted Avila about the World Language Program, he sent his curriculum to NILA, and was approved. Avila and student Mitch Porter then attended training for the program, which focuses on "language acquisition", using techniques that use real world examples that help the learner understand the language in a "meaning based" program. Too often language instruction focuses on translation, usually word for word, but the new program uses a series of real-world exercises to ensure students are proficient in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Avila's teaching methods and dedication have earned him multiple awards including the 2017 New World Language Teacher Award, and the 2016 Best of Nebraska NILA Session Award. Most importantly, his students are earning their Bi-Literacy Certifications in about half of the time it usually takes thanks to the World Language Program.

The program focuses on understanding the language outside of a classroom, in actual situations people will find themselves. For example, students read actual articles from Spanish speaking countries about subjects as varied as agriculture, climate change, even locally produced cheese products. Then the students listen to audio recordings from actual everyday events, like the announcements a flight attendant makes on an airplane, a hurricane warning, a radio advertisement informing the listener of a carnival that's coming to town, or a cell phone message with specific instructions for the listener to comprehend.

These efforts are tested then measured, applying the results against the "Literacy Bar", which uses steps within the "Novice", "Intermediate", and "Advanced" levels to determine real-world levels of literacy and fluency in the language being learned.

Student Zach Higginson commented on the differences between learning with the new program versus the traditional Spanish instruction he had in the past.

"I just feel like the old way was about memorizing vocabulary for the test, about food or clothes or whatever, but when you actually would try to use (Spanish) it was gone because you just crammed for the test and after you passed, it was all gone. What we're doing now is real-world learning."

Brett Avila added, "I can't tell you how many times I've run into people and they find out I'm a Spanish teacher and say, "Oh, I took Spanish in high school...I remember my "Spanish Name", but that's pretty much all I remember, or maybe "Where is el baño?", and that's it.""

The effectiveness of the World Language Program is inarguable, and the students that have participated in the program offer the evidence of its' success. This is an intensive courseload, so not all students who take Spanish immediately qualify for the program. Students must take a test and receive a minimum rating of "Intermediate-Low" (level 4) to participate in the program.

The program is relatively new to the school district, so last year only four students qualified for the program, and all four were "Heritage Speakers", meaning they grew up in households where Spanish was spoken. This year, the program had 10 students enrolled. Three seniors, Mitch Porter, Kollyn Weimer, and Charlie Brockhaus, have all received the Seal of Bi-literacy by the State of Nebraska.

Most importantly, the students in the program plan on using their mastery of Spanish to build their own futures and to help their communities.

Senior Kollyn Weimer said, "I'm going to be attending Creighton, and they have a program for pre-Med students who are interested in Spanish that's a study-abroad program where you go to the Dominican Republic at one of their sister campuses and you're there for an entire semester teaching people basic medical procedures while attending classes and being immersed in the language by living with the people."

Senior Mitch Porter, who will be attending Johns Hopkins University in the Fall commented, "They have a program where they send you to a certified institution in another country where they have Johns Hopkins professors teaching Spanish while being immersed in the culture of the country you go to. I'm definitely going to study abroad."

Senior valedictorian Charlie Brockhaus said, "I don't know where yet, but I'm going to study abroad and take Spanish to keep up with it and eventually become bilingual."

Sebastian "Dallas" Trujillo commented, "If you speak more than language there's more opportunity be it traveling, or getting a job in another country, or being able to communicate with people who don't speak English."

The program has been extremely effective for the students who participate in the annual Journey Through Our Heritage program by Metropolitan State University in Denver. This year, Sidney's students earned 4 first place and 2 second place awards in areas ranging from a Quiz Bowl competition in Spanish, Group Interviews, Art, and Cultural Expressions via PowerPoint.

Sidney High School is very fortunate to offer such an effective language program for its' students. For additional information on the program you can contact NILA at http://www.nebraskalanguages.com, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) at http://www.actfl.org, or Mr. Brett Avila directly through Sidney High School.