Overview
The Paulding County School District World Languages Program, part of the Teaching and Learning Department, is committed to preparing students to become global citizens who can communicate effectively across cultures. Learning another language opens doors to new perspectives, deeper cultural understanding, and expanded career opportunities in an increasingly interconnected world.
World language instruction in Paulding County is guided by the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) for Modern Languages, which are based on the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Performance Guidelines for K–12 Learners.
Standards and Framework
The Georgia Performance Standards for Modern Languages integrate both national standards and the three modes of communication, providing a comprehensive foundation for developing language proficiency and cultural understanding.
Students engage in language learning through:
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Interpersonal Communication (IP): Direct interaction and conversation with others.
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Interpretive Communication (INT): Understanding and interpreting spoken, written, or visual texts.
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Presentational Communication (P): Creating spoken or written messages for an audience.
Instruction also includes:
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Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products (CU): Exploring how culture shapes daily life and expression.
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Connections, Comparisons, and Communities (CCC): Building connections between language learning, other disciplines, and real-world communities.
The standards also provide assessment recommendations and a list of suggested skills and topics for each level of language study, ensuring consistency and rigor across all grade levels.
Program Goals
The Paulding County World Languages program is designed to:
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Equip students with practical, lifelong communication skills that allow them to function competently in another language and compete effectively in the global community and marketplace.
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Instill awareness and appreciation of their own culture and the cultures of others, promoting empathy and global understanding.
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Enrich students’ lives by deepening their appreciation for the power of language, culture, and human connection.
Curriculum and Instruction
The modern language curriculum emphasizes the development of the following skill areas:
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Listening – Understanding spoken language in real-world contexts.
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Speaking – Communicating clearly and effectively in a new language.
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Reading – Interpreting and analyzing authentic texts.
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Writing – Expressing ideas coherently and appropriately for different audiences.
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Cultural Competence – Exploring and appreciating cultural similarities and differences.
In addition, students learn to view, absorb, and evaluate materials from a variety of sources, including digital and multimedia formats, preparing them to navigate communication in the 21st century.
Diploma Seal Opportunities
Students who demonstrate high levels of proficiency in world language study may qualify for the Georgia Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes graduates who have attained a high level of achievement in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.