Walking on Water and Other Characteristics of Effective Elementary School Teachers

Abstract

ABSTRACT A growing number of foreign language programs are serving children in grades K‐6 nationwide. Because good teachers are the key to the continued growth and success of elementary school foreign language programs, there is concern about the number of teacher candidates, the number of programs that prepare them to teach, and what these future teachers should learn. There is a configuration of skills and knowledge that all teachers preparing to teach in elementary school foreign language programs should acquire. Although certain program models may require greater emphasis in some skill/knowledge areas than others, the core areas remain constant across program models. Immersion teachers, who in most states must also be certified as elementary teachers, share in this core of knowledge and skills. This paper discusses the skills needed by teachers and the programs that might address those needs.