View Content #20612

On November 22, 2015, ACTFL released the following position statement:

The educator is the catalyst for developing learners’ language proficiency and global competence so that learners are prepared to interact and communicate successfully in the global community. Student growth and educator effectiveness are intrinsically connected. The purpose of demonstrating student growth is to show learners’ progress toward higher levels of proficiency while using language in a culturally appropriate manner. In addition, measures of student growth show the educator’s impact on student language learning, taking into consideration each learner’s engagement and motivation for learning. Such evidence will also demonstrate for multiple constituencies the value of successful language learning and teaching. Educator effectiveness and individual student growth are best measured based on frequent and multiple measures of language performance over time, demonstrated by each learner, connected with evidence specific to language learning rather than from other subject areas, and indicating growth in language performance through:

•   balanced evidence of learners’ performance across the three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational)
•   performance assessments, aligned to NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements or progress indicators set by state standards
•   informal and formal assessments of language learning
•   web-based and comprehensive portfolios

Here is a link to the statement on ACTFL’s website: http://www.actfl.org/news/position-statements/demonstrating-educator-effectiveness-and-documenting-student-growth-position-statement