Heritage Language Programs - Tongan
Tongan for Native Speakers Class
West High School
Salt Lake City School District
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Address: 440 E. 100 S. Salt Lake City, Utah
Contact: Uinise Lange
Instructor
Email: uinise.langi@slc.k12.ut.us / Uinise.Lange@umbc.edu
Telephone: (801) 578-8599
Languages: Tongan
Grades:
- 6/7-8
- 9-12
Program Description
Purposes and goals of the program: To interest Tongan students in the class so that they stay in school and successfully complete their other classes and graduate.
Type of program
- Immersion
- Foreign language program
Program mission statement: To keep Tongan students in high school and encourage them to graduate.
Program origins:The program will begin its first classes in the fall of 2006
Program funding: The program received special funding.
Parents' expectations for the program: To improve students’ comprehension of and writing in of the Tongan language. Additionally, the program aims to teach other cultural and historical aspects of Tongan. For example, topics might include the differences between Tongan and US culture.
Staff's expectations for the program: The course is being offered part time now in hopes that the course will be offered full time in the future.
Students
Second generation immigrants: 100%
Countries of origin: Tongan/American
Total student enrollment: As many as 40 in the first year
Identification of a heritage speaker:
- Pretesting
- Background questionnaire
- Oral interview assessing general proficiency in the language
Instructor
Languages in which the staff members are proficient: Tongan and English
Level of proficiency: A minimum of Intermediate High on the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages Oral Proficiency Interview (ACTFL OPI) is required by the state.
Credentials
Teacher certification: Alternative certification and endorsement process
Professional development opportunities teachers have: ACTFL OPI
Professional development opportunities teachers need: Licensing and endorsement
Instruction
Hours per week students receive instruction: 5
Student Grouping: Students are grouped in one high school level class.
Heritage Skills
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
Skills and levels of language proficiency students will reach by the end of the program: A basic proficiency to advance to Tongan for Native Speakers II
Culture
- History
- Festivals
- Customs
- Traditions/beliefs
- Religion
- Folktales
- Dances
- Songs
- Rhymes
- Social and cultural norms
- Cultural appropriateness
Kind of student identity the program will foster: Respect for their native culture
Methodologies
Methodologies and instructional strategies used in the program:This program is primarily orally oriented, because this enables the instructors to provide comparisons of Tongan culture and language with US culture and language.
Materials
Textbook: No texts are available.
Other materials: Collection of miscellaneous publications
Technology: CDs only. Most families do not have access to technology at home.
Assessment
- Weekly quizzes
- Mid-term tests
- Final exams
- Teacher's observations
Articulation
Local/National connections: The program receives students from Utah Electronic High School – (online courses).
Home-school connections: Some exercises are expected to be conducted with the involvement of the parents at home.
Opportunities students have for using the language and developing cultural knowledge outside the program: At home
What the program has in place
Financial support
- Parents
- Local community organization
- The program should get standard funding after the first year.
- Community support
Assistance or collaboration your program would you like to receive from other entities: Sharing information with others who have set up a similar program
System for graduating students and granting credit for study in the program: Students will receive credit for language beginning the second year.
Research on or evaluation of the program: We expect to do research on the program. However, this can be difficult, because the program is still forming its foundations.
Special Challenges and Comments
- Funding is not common for first-time offerings of a new course. Treatment as a "remedial" course for initial funding may be one approach.
- Tongan literature is hard to find.
- As with any new program, getting course approval, a state license, and endorsement can be challenging.
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