Developing strategic plans

Only when the whole school community strongly supports language learning can all the potential benefits of a languages programme be realised. This section provides an overview of the issues that schools might consider when developing a strategic plan for language learning.

To establish a sustainable and effective languages programme, schools need to develop a clear and comprehensive school strategic plan to support language learning. A good strategic plan will:

• represent the shared views of the school community;
• inform the community about the purposes and nature of the programme;
• give clear direction to those involved in teaching the programme;
• help to ensure that the needs of students who are learning languages are addressed;
• provide a key statement that schools can use to review and evaluate the steps that have been taken.

Summary

• Schools need to develop effective policies for their language-learning programmes.



• Policy development involves consultation with the community and other schools.



• Each school's strategic plan will be based on its unique situation and the needs of its students.



• The strategic plan answers key questions about language learning in the school:
• Why teach languages?
• Which languages?
• What resources?
• Who will teach?
• What types of programmes?
• When will they take place?

next: Process for strategic plannning | Back to top