MI Students Get a Jump on HS Language Requirements

In 2006, the Michigan State Board of Education passed a new set of high school graduation requirements which mandated that students complete two credits of a foreign language and one online learning course. The addition of the language and online requirements were part of the state's initiative to include more rigorous academic classes, along with a list of "21st Century Skills Sets."

"The change was absolutely necessary," said state Board of Education President Kathleen N. Straus at the time, "With the evolving economy and global pressures on what education and skills students will need for the jobs of today and tomorrow, we needed to act now."

Seeing an opportunity to help schools meet the new language and online requirements, Tim Brannan, professor of educational technology at Central Michigan University, applied for and received a grant to introduce online language education at two middle schools. Brannan, who had experience directing distance education programs at the college level, believed that if middle school students could study a foreign language, that experience would provide a foundation to help them better fulfill the new high school language requirement.

Providing a solid foundation is a core component of the successful powerspeaK¹² method. Unlike many foreign language programs that are recycled adult language learning products, powerspeaK¹² is designed specifically for children. The program uses pedagogically refined games, simple narratives, and regular writing and speaking challenges.

Brannan used the two-year Title 2D grant to implement powerspeaK¹² Spanish I and II at two Michigan school districts, Lansing and DeWitt. Spanish was offered to middle school students during after-school programs, and students could also access the program from a home computer. Some 100 students signed up for the Spanish program.

Furthermore, middle school students who completed both powerspeaK¹² Spanish I and II and passed a written and oral proficiency exam would receive one high school credit upon entering ninth grade and be immediately eligible for high school Spanish II — a definite advantage toward meeting the new state language requirement.

Brannan selected powerspeaK¹² because he was familiar with the program from attending technology conferences and events. He also knew that the powerspeaK¹² method was engaging and would help students master Spanish.

"With powerspeaK¹² , the kids build an avatar of themselves and learn the language through songs, storytelling and games, for example. But it's not just 'edutainment' because there are lessons, learning objectives and assessment," Brannan explains. "It's a fun way for kids to learn a language, but they still have to be motivated because the courses are stringent learning."

Although district administrators supported the program, there was some initial skepticism and concerns about the quality of content from language teachers. Brannan said the teachers were encouraged to use the program so they could judge the quality of powerspeaK¹² for themselves. After the teachers had spent time using the courses, they approved and supported the program.

There was also some resistance because a few teachers believed that an online language program would threaten job security. "Quite the opposite," Brannan recalls explaining to them. "If anything, such a middle school language program encourages students to further pursue a language in high school and take a language for four years, as well as AP® classes," he added.

Now in its second year, it is too early to measure results of the program since the students have not yet been tested or entered high school. But Brannan notes that anecdotal insights indicate that the students are engaged and having fun with the powerspeaK¹² method.

Says Brannan: "Now that foreign language is a high school requirement coupled with an online requirement, such a program can help satisfy both requirements. In addition, because kids are so busy nowadays, it's hard for them to find the time to explore a language program at their own pace. So, in that regard, the program is serving this need. And, they can earn credit."