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Glossary

The DoDDS Host Nation program provides DoDEA elementary school students with a cross-cultural and language acquisition focus to develop an appreciation and understanding of the culture and language of the country in which they are located.

Host nation education is a unique feature of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) K-6 school program and is designed to provide elementary school students with an introduction to host nation languages, taught by host nation teachers, as an essential experience of the DoDEA curriculum. In addition, with host nation teachers as guides, students participate in activities which build appreciation and understanding of the culture of the country in which they are located. The host nation program addresses Benchmarks 3.1, 3.8, 4.2, 8.1, and 10.8 as listed in the DoDEA Strategic Plan.

The purpose of this guide is to provide content standards and performance outcomes for host nation and classroom teachers, students, principals, second language liaisons, district office staff, and parents in order to implement the program effectively. The host nation and classroom teachers coordinate a progression of student activities which acquaint the students with the host nation and its language and reinforce other curricular studies.

As DoDEA endeavors to provide opportunities for students to communicate in multilingual and multicultural societies, the host nation program offers students language skills and cross-cultural understanding that they will need in the 21st century.

Specific goals of the host nation program are:

• Students will implement intercultural themes in local areas.
• Students will develop positive attitudes and perceptions about the host nation country by participating in activities which build personal and social skills.
• Classroom and host nation teachers will work together to develop the curriculum.
• Parents will have an opportunity to expand intercultural awareness with their children.

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Students will use the language of the host nation to speak and respond to simple questions and directions on familiar topics with level-appropriate fluency, identify cultural characteristics and important people, holidays and geographical areas.

Standard I: Language acquisition across the K-6 programs follows the same standard and builds upon previous knowledge in order to integrate, extend, refine and apply skills.

The student will use the host nation language in familiar situations to enhance oral communication skills and vocabulary development.

Standard II: The cultural components differ for each grade level in congruence with social studies themes and incorporate other subjects and topics at age appropriate levels.

Kindergarten: You and I
The student will explore the theme of "You and I" for self, school, and host nation friends 

First Grade: Your Family and Mine
The student will perceive distinctions of host nation families, homes and communities as well as similarities.

Second Grade: Your Neighborhood and Mine
The student will identify characteristics, resources and rules of the host nation neighborhood.

Third Grade: Your Community and Mine
The student will identify characteristics, resources, lifestyles and rules of the host nation communities.

Fourth Grade: Your Region and Mine
The student will identify characteristics, resources and rules of the host region.

Fifth Grade: Your Country and Mine
The student will compare and contrast American and host nation characteristics from geographical, historical, social and economic perspectives.

Sixth Grade: Your World and Mine
The student will identify people's interdependence in an ever-changing world.

A complete copy of the K-6 Host Nation Standards is available in Adobe Acrobat format.

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