Bringing intercultural leaming through innovative techniques (bilit) at o'fallon township high school district 203 (oths) will develop students' fluency in a second language, create an immersive…

The O'Fallon Township High School District 203 (OTHS) was awarded a $750,000 Block Grant from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) under the Competitive Grants: Promoting K-12 Student Achievement at Military-Connected Schools program. The grant will fund the Bringing Intercultural Learning Through Innovative Techniques (BILIT) project at OTHS from September 30, 2022 through May 31, 2027.

Under the BILIT project, OTHS will expand its world language staff and course offerings, including the addition of Mandarin Chinese courses, to better serve the needs of its military-connected student population planning to attend college. The project will immerse students in authentic world cultures using virtual "classrooms from around the world" and international travel opportunities for peer instruction. OTHS teachers will also participate in international training at host universities. Upon completion, students will demonstrate fluency in a second language by earning the nationally recognized Seal of Biliteracy credential. The successes of the BILIT project will be sustained after the conclusion of grant funding through continued student, parent, and community support and school board policy.

Bringing intercultural leaming through innovative techniques (bilit) at o'fallon township high school district 203 (oths) will develop students' fluency in a second language, create an immersive cultural experience, and encourage both military-connected students and afjrotc cadets to enroll in world languages. Oths needs to expand its current world language staff and course offerings to meet the needs of military-connected students planning to attend college. Through creative uses of technology, project bilit will incorporate mandarin chinese courses, immerse students in authentic culture utilizing "classrooms from around the world" peer instruction and international travel, and build capacity through teacher trainings at international universities. Through project bilit, oths students will demonstrate fluency in a second language by earning the "seal of biliteracy", a nationally recognized standard, earned by achieving proficiency in speaking, writing, listening, and reading in the target language. The successes demonstrated during project bilit will be sustained after the conclusion of the grant through student, parent, and community support and school board policy.