Optimizing Language Learning: Navigating ACTFL Standards with Innovative EdTech Tools

Written By Zoë Burge

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages are designed to prepare students for a globalized world by focusing on communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. These standards emphasize the development of language proficiency across interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes. However, integrating these standards into the curriculum has presented challenges for educators, many of whom might feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to effectively implement these guidelines.


Here are some of the challenges they may face - along with solutions and resources we’ve compiled that language teachers can use to aid in navigating through them:


I. Interpreting the Standards:

Challenge. Understanding the scope and depth of the World-Readiness Standards can be daunting. Teachers may struggle with interpreting the proficiency levels and how they translate into classroom activities, assessments, and learning outcomes.

Ways to combat this challenge include:

a. Participation in online forums and social media groups dedicated to language teaching, where educators share insights and interpretations of the standards.

  • Community Blogs & Resource Repositories:

    • Blogs like FluentU and La Libre Language Learning have excellent resources for language teachers, by language teachers. 

    • Join the ACTFL Community: Join the ACTFL Community for discussions, support, and resources from fellow language educators.

II. Lack of Resources

Challenge. While the standards provide a framework, many educators feel there’s a shortage of tailored resources or materials that align with these standards at various proficiency levels. Teachers might find it challenging to locate or develop suitable teaching aids that cater to the diverse needs of learners.

Ways to combat this challenge include:

  • OER: Explore open educational resources for free resources, materials, and more tailored to language teaching.

    • Ex. OER Commons has good tools for teachers attempting to navigate the ACTFL standards.

  • Digital Language Learning Tools: Utilize free platforms to supplement language instruction with research-backed learning methods and engaging, gamified activities.

    • ex. Popsuite by Longtail Education provides curriculum-aligned materials, spaced repetition-based lessons, fun assessment and competition-style games, and performance tracking/feedback features to lessen language educators’ load. 

III. Training and Professional Development

Challenge. Educators may feel they lack adequate training to effectively implement the standards. Professional development opportunities specifically focused on these standards might be limited, leading to uncertainties about best practices for achieving world-readiness competencies in their students.

Ways to combat this challenge include: 

  • Peer Mentoring: Seek out peer mentoring within your school or district or beyond to share knowledge and strategies related to the standards.

    • Engage in or establish peer mentoring programs through professional networks on LinkedIn or Twitter.

  • Professional Development: Explore free or low-cost online professional development courses focused on language teaching and the World-Readiness Standards.

    • Platforms like FutureLearn offer free courses on language teaching methodologies (and sometimes even on specific standards).

IV. Assessment

Challenge: Designing assessments that accurately measure student proficiency across the different standards can be complex. Teachers might find it challenging to create or adapt assessments that are both fair and comprehensive, reflecting the multifaceted nature of language learning as outlined in the standards.

  • Authentic Assessments: Develop formative assessments that incorporate real-world tasks, allowing students to demonstrate proficiency in interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication.

  • Rubric Creation Tools: Create rubrics that align with the proficiency levels described in the standards to provide clear expectations and feedback to students.

    • Tools like Rubric Maker are totally free, web- based, and shareable. They’re easy to use for creating customized rubrics that align with the proficiency levels of the standards.

V. Integration into Existing Curricula

Challenge. Incorporating the World-Readiness Standards into existing curricula requires thoughtful planning and alignment. Teachers may struggle with balancing these standards alongside other educational requirements, especially in schools where curricular flexibility is limited.

  • Interdisciplinary Learning: Identify natural connections between the World-Readiness Standards and existing curriculum goals, integrating language learning objectives with content from other subject areas.

    • Look at sites like Share My Lesson for examples of successful interdisciplinary units other teachers have used and found valuable.

  • Thematic Unit Planning: Plan thematic units that incorporate standards across multiple lessons, making the most of available time and resources.

    • Websites like TeachThought provide guidance on creating thematic units that integrate various standards and subjects.

VI. Student Engagement and Motivation

Challenge. Engaging students with the standards in a way that feels relevant and motivating can be challenging. Teachers need to connect language learning to students' lives and interests, making the case for the importance of world-readiness skills in a compelling manner.

Ways to combat this challenge include:

  • Current Events and Culture: Incorporate topics of interest to students, leveraging current events, popular culture, and student hobbies to make language learning relevant and engaging.

  • Project-Based Learning: Utilize project-based learning where students can apply language skills in meaningful, real-world contexts, enhancing motivation and engagement.

VII. Cultural Competence

Challenge. The standards emphasize not just linguistic proficiency but also cultural understanding. Teachers may find it challenging to integrate cultural competence into language instruction in a way that is deep, authentic, and avoids stereotypes.

Ways to combat this challenge include:

  • Virtual Exchange Programs: Integrate cultural learning through virtual exchanges, guest speakers, or collaboration with community members who have firsthand experience with the target culture.

  • Cultural Projects: Encourage students to conduct research projects on cultural aspects related to the target language, promoting deep, student-led exploration.

In addition to making use of the resources we’ve cited here, it's crucial for educational institutions and stakeholders to provide robust support to teachers. This can include offering professional development opportunities focused on the World-Readiness Standards and tailored to language teachers in their districts, developing and sharing resource libraries that include paid resources teachers can access freely, and creating a community of practice for educators to share strategies, successes, and challenges in their own schools and communities.

Zoë Burge
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