Designing the Modern World Language Classroom: How to Guide Students to Proficiency

In world language teaching, there are many complementary and conflicting ideas about the "right" way to teach, and sometimes even about what our goals are for students. Students and teachers share a common goal of language proficiency, but teachers can only design the "right" work to meet that proficiency goal by focusing on the qualities that motivate and engage the students in their classrooms. Using the framework of the Schlechty Center's Design Qualities, this book guides world language teachers to craft the kinds of lessons that help student learning take flight. In addition to explaining how the philosophy of design is integral to world language teaching and learning, readers will benefit from practical examples, models, and reflection questions that they can use immediately to increase student engagement in world language learning.

Megan King is in her second decade teaching Spanish in middle Georgia public high schools. Her classroom serves students across academic, economic, linguistic, and ethnic spectra. She started her career with Foreign Language Teaching Certification and a BA in Spanish from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta and is working toward an EdD in Curriculum & Instruction at Georgia College & State University.