Once the data has been collected, the teachers created a Professional Learning Community (PLC) team to analyze and reflect on the data to make a data-driven decision and take action. During data collection, the teachers noticed situations that needed attention and intervention. The researcher agrees with Frey and Fisher (2006) who argue that understanding the root causes of problems makes it easy for the educators to develop goals and objectives to eliminate them. After each observation, teachers were asked to meet as a PLC and dis- cuss and address an observed problem. They were basically asked to discuss what they want their students to know and how to collect evidence of student learning (Frey & Fisher, 2006).
Based on the findings of this study the teachers identified non-availability of a standardized curriculum as the main factor that affected student learning outcomes negatively. Teachers decided to talk about a curricu- lum that pertains to the specific needs of their students. They decided to develop a curriculum that supports each individual session and prepares students for the next session(s). They also decided to involve students in the process by offering them a list of topics to choose from as major themes and sub-themes for the duration of the course. The teachers also decided to share the draft of curricula with their students for feedback. In addition, the teachers decided to match materials’ appropriateness to students’ level based on ACTFL proficiency guidelines (ACTFL, 2012) and include the following components in it:
• Conversation and practice
• Teaching grammar explicitly to students through homework assignments in order to save instructional time.
• Increasing use of Dari and Pashto language in class.
• Providing opportunities for students to get exposed to the language outside of the classroom.
The Current Curriculum
The current curriculum has been designed and developed based on the principals of Backward Design (Eddy, 2012), California five-step lesson plan (CWLP, 2013), and ACTFL oral proficiency guidelines (ACTFL, 2012). The Lesson Plan Generator (LPG), a software developed by LRC, has been used to develop these lessons (LARC, 2014). Intensive elementary Pashto (eight weeks) now has 280 lesson plans and activities and Intensive elementary Dari (six weeks) has 218 lesson plans and activities. The lessons are thematic and begin with intro- duction of vocabulary in the form of a conversation, which enhances students ability to acquire the language in a short time and be able to create with the language. As the data in graph 1 and 2 demonstrate, the students’ OPI scores improved tremendously after the implementation of the new curricula. The scores have been assigned by external testers of ACTFL.
Graph 1. Elementary Pashto course - OPI Scores officially assigned by ACTFL
January – September 2013
Graph 2. Elementary Dari course - OPI scores officially assigned by ACTFL
January 2013 – May 2014
For monitoring and assessing the effects of the action plan, the team of instructors decided to establish a system of promoting the culture of PLC and reflection on instruction among teachers. This would entail audio- taping and critiquing instruction, continued classroom observations and providing feedback for improvement from more experienced peers. The teachers also decided to monitor student progress reports on a weekly bases using a rubric (Appendix 5).
Conclusion
Action research projects serve the needs of teachers because teachers themselves get involved in system- atically collecting information on issues and then taking action using their data. In this research action project, the teachers identified areas that hold students back from developing competency and fluency in speaking Dari and Pashto in intensive classes. The teachers decided to develop more coherent curriculum and assess and moni- tor its implementation by videotaping classes, observing each other’s instruction and providing feedback, and reflecting on their instruction and student learning outcomes regularly using the PLC format.
References
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Appendix 1
Pre-course Survey - Students
Please select a four-digit number that can be used as an identification code for post survey :____________ 1. How old are you? ________________
2. What is your gender? Male / Female
3. How do you define your ethnicity? ____________________
4. What is the highest level of your education? ____________________ 5. What is your native language? __________________
6. How many other languages do you speak? 0 1 2 3 4/ more
7. Do you have any experience living in a foreign country? Yes / No If yes, where and how long? __________________________________ 8. Do you have any experience living in Afghanistan? Yes / No
If yes, how long? _________________________________________
9. How do you visualize Afghans and Afghanistan? /what are your perceptions? Please be as detailed as possible:________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 10. Do you have any prior exposure to Dari/Pashto? Yes / No:
If yes, where and how long? __________________________________________ 11. Do you have any outside classroom exposure to Dari/Pashto? Yes / No:
If yes, how and for how long?__________________________________ 12. Please define best practices in learning a foreign language:
________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 13. Please define best practices in teaching a foreign language:
________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 14. How important is it to learn grammar explicitly?
Very Important Important Less important Not important
15. How do you see the role of homework in learning the contents of the lesson?
Very Important Important Less important Not important
16. How do you see the role of feedback in learning the contents of the lesson?
Very Important Important Less important Not important
17. Please provide any other comments that you may have:
Appendix 2
Interview Questions - Students
1. Tell me about your background as a language learner. 2. Tell me about your experience in this course
Appendix 3
Interview Questions - Teachers
1. Tell me about your experience as a teacher of Dari/Pashto in this program 2. What challenges have you faced? And how did you deal with them?
Appendix 4
Class Observation Rubric
Strongly
agree Agree Disagree No opportunityto assess/ Not observed (1) The observed class matches the written descriptions of the curriculum
(2) The teacher had lesson plans that clearly communicate the learning goals and activities for each day.
(3) Students clearly understand the goals of the lesson. (4) The environment is conducive to language learning.
(5) The teacher to student ratio is appropriate to ensure the success of the program
(6) The target language is used at least 90% of the time for communication and instruction. English is used only when necessary.
(7) The input is comprehensible. Students demonstrate comprehension of the target language.
(8) The teacher checks frequently for student understanding. (9) Instruction is designed to facilitate learner-centered learning. (10) Instruction allows for meaningful interaction in the target language. (11) Instruction integrates language and culture.
(12) Students use technology when available to meet the goals. (13) Authentic resources are used effectively to support the class.
(14) Learning experiences address the interpretive mode of communication. (15) Learning experiences address the interpersonal mode of communica- tion.
(16) Learning experiences address the presentational mode of communica- tion.
(17) Instructional experiences build toward opportunities in each lesson for meaningful, unrehearsed communication. A balance exists between mean- ingful guided and independent practice.
Appendix 5
Weekly Progress Report
Teacher’s Name: _____________________ Date:______________________
Week #__________________
(Student Name) (Student Name) (Student Name) (Student Name) (Student Name) (Student Name) Homework M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F Attentiveness M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F Class Participation M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F Classroom be- havior M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F M T W T F Homework Participation Classroom behavior
General Remarks: Student will be evaluated based on the following scales:
Scales Attentiveness Class Participation Classroom behavior
1 – 3 Does not listen Does not participates Poor behavior (busy with other stuff during the class times or disrespecting the teachers)
4 – 6 Sometimes listens Sometimes participates Good behavior 7 - 10 Always listens Always participates Always well behaved