Languages and Children Making the Match: New Languages For Young Learners, Grades K-8

This volume, meant to be a methods text and practical guide for teachers, administrators, and parents, presents strategies and activities to use when teaching foreign languages to children in grades K-8. The authors focus on beginning level classes and communication, and cover instruction planning, assessment, and classroom management; ways to bring culture into the classroom; using different resources; and developing a program. Although the book is aimed at foreign language acquisition, concepts are applicable to teaching English language learners and heritage languages. Reorganized and updated, this edition has new chapter features and an emphasis on early second-language literacy. It also has additional descriptions of the characteristics of young learners from the perspective of child development specialists and early language teachers, new and added examples from classroom practice, and new activities. Curtain has served as a foreign language curriculum specialist and director of foreign language and ESOL teacher preparation programs at U. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dahlberg formerly taught education at Concordia College and German to K-12 and college students. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Helena Curtain served as Foreign Language Curriculum Specialist for the Milwaukee Public Schools for many years, and in that capacity coordinated and supervised the K—12 foreign language and ESOL programs. During her time as associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she directed the Foreign Language and ESOL teacher preparation programs. Dr. Curtain is active professionally and was a founding member of the National Network for Early Language Learning, president of her state language organization, and Executive Council member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. An internationally known expert on language, teaching curriculum, and pedagogy; she has received both state and national awards for her service to the language teaching profession. She also served as a speaker, consultant, and visiting professor both nationally and internationally in 25 countries.

Carol Ann Dahlberg is Professor Emerita in Education at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she taught methods courses for secondary and elementary school teachers of foreign languages. She has also taught German to K—12 and at the college level. She has authored and coauthored numerous articles and has received national awards from ACTFL and AATG. A founding member of the National Network for Language Learning, Carol Ann served as its first president. She works nationally and internationally as a consultant, curriculum developer, and workshop leader for early language learning.