{"id":8505,"date":"2018-11-15T15:41:47","date_gmt":"2018-11-15T20:41:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nearpod.com\/blog\/?p=8505"},"modified":"2023-06-26T16:19:47","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T20:19:47","slug":"nearpod-breaking-the-barrier-world-languages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nearpod.com\/blog\/nearpod-breaking-the-barrier-world-languages\/","title":{"rendered":"Nearpod Partners with Breaking the Barrier to Bring the World into World Languages"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearpod will be showcasing the full suite of lesson plans at the 2018 ACTFL Conference at booth #1243<\/em>
\nVisit Nearpod\u2019s partner, Breaking the Barrier, at booth #901.<\/em><\/p>\n

MIAMI (Nov. 15, 2018)<\/strong> – Nearpod<\/a>, the award-winning K-12 instructional solution that increases student understanding and engagement, today announced its partnership with Breaking the Barrier<\/a> to transform foreign language instruction. Together, the companies are creating Nearpod World Languages en espa\u00f1ol, a grade 6-12 supplemental Spanish curriculum that combines foundational skills and exposure to Spanish-speaking cultures. Both Nearpod and Breaking the Barrier will be attending ACTFL<\/a> this year. Attendees of the 2018 ACTFL Annual Conference can stop by booth #1243 for in-person demos. More information on the curriculum is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cEducators know that engagement is the key to learning, and research strongly supports that. Nowhere is student engagement more critical than when learning a world language,\u201d points out Guido Kovalskys, co-founder and bilingual CEO of Nearpod. \u201cBreaking the Barrier\u2019s blending of cultural insights with language fundamentals naturally lends itself to Nearpod\u2019s highly-engaging content and provides teachers with a powerful teaching tool to bridge meaningful connections between cultural and linguistic knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n

As we prepare students for a global workforce, there is an increased need for language learning, as well as cultural competency. Additionally, the study of a world language<\/a> is required by America\u2019s most competitive colleges, which makes it critical to preparing students for higher education. However, approaches to learning languages through rote memorization are hardly a student favorite and can hinder learning by focusing on effort rather than practical mastery, according to research from MIT<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nearpod\u2019s World Languages en espa\u00f1ol shifts the focus away from dry memorization to the vibrant connections between language and culture. Standards-aligned lessons cover Spanish 1 through 3 and focus on Countries and Communities, Oral Language Production, Grammar and Vocabulary, and Reading and Writing. Built around AP Themes, and the ACTFL\u2019s 5 Cs<\/a>, World Languages en espa\u00f1ol lowers the affective filter and increases oral language production through dynamic, authentic multimedia and Virtual Reality experiences. Lessons also offer real-world contexts, giving students a compelling opportunity to speak and converse.<\/p>\n

The culturally rich lessons will include:<\/p>\n