Learning other languages can create exciting career and life opportunities, but many school districts face constraints that prevent them from offering a wide variety of options. The Virtual High School(VHS Inc.),a non-profit organization empowering schools with the industry’s most extensive variety of online and blended learning programs, is beginning the 2018-2019 school year with two new courses for acquiring and honing foreign language skills, American Sign Language 1 and Spanish 4. Registration for the fall 2018 semester will open May 10, and interested parties can sign up at http://go.thevhs.org/register.
Spanish 4builds on the skills students have developed in the Spanish 1, 2and 3courses. Students will participate in discussions related to cultural topics and other course materials, discover meaningful elements of the Spanish and Hispanic cultures and analyze the works of important Spanish and Hispanic literary figures. They will also listen to authentic Spanish audio and video files, complete written and speaking activities, practice reading authentic and relevant materials and engage in collaborative projects. This course will effectively prepare students to take literature-based AP Spanish Language and Culture.
American Sign Language (ASL)1is an introductory course that uses selected readings, visual recordings and interactive online activities to help students understand and respond to simple questions and statements in ASL. To demonstrate ability in signing skills, students will be asked to record videos of themselves signing to submit to their instructors. Students will also build their knowledge and understanding about Deaf culture and history. This course adheres to both the National Standards for Learning American Sign Language and the World Readiness Standards for Language Learning, ensuring that students develop competence to communicate effectively and interact with cultural understanding of the Deaf community.
“Experts say that communication skills are essential in the modern workplace, and that includes bilingualism or multilingualism,” said Carol Ribeiro, President & CEO of VHS. “Understanding both the language and the culture of different countries and communities provides students with a solid foundation for success in the global job market.”
About The Virtual High School
The Virtual High School (VHS Inc.) is an online learning pioneer. Since 1996, the organization has set the standard for quality online education. VHS provides courses taught in global online classrooms for secondary school students and online professional development for educators. The organization also meets the unique educational needs of schools through custom course development and individualized course offerings. VHS design and delivery standards are the model used by the National Education Association in their recommended standards for online learning. The organization has won numerous awards, including the Stockholm Challenge Award for Global Excellence in Information Technology, and is a three-time winner of the United States Distance Learning Association’s (USDLA) award for Excellence in Programming and Excellence in Best Practices. For more information, visit www.vhslearning.org or call (978) 897-1900.
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