The Host Nation program provides DoDDS 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 Dependent Schools (DoDDS) 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.

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 need in the 21st century.

The goals of the Host Nation Program are:

• Students will achieve personal, social, vocational competency and environmental adaptability in the host nation country.
• Students will achieve functional proficiency in the second language.
• Students will have an opportunity to implement locally social studies selected themes.
• Classroom and host nation teachers will develop intercultural collegiality.
• Parents will have an opportunity to grow interculturally with their youngsters.

Host Nation Programs are found in the following countries:

• Belgium
• Cuba
• Germany
• Italy
• Japan
• Bahrain
• Korea
• Spain
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• Portugal
• Netherlands
  

Host Nation Program classroom activities

• Culture is learned through experiences with cultural materials and study trips.
• Planning is organized around a thematic center and establishes a balance among the basic goals of culture, subject content, and language acquisition.
• Activities are geared to the learner's interests, developmental level, and learning style.
• Target language discussion is consistently conducted in the target language.
• Teachers recognize learners as active constructors of meaning rather than passive receivers of vocabulary and information.
• Language acquisition occurs in meaningful communicative contexts that carry significance for the student.
• Comprehension is emphasized rather than speaking at beginning stages of the program, following the process of first language acquisition.
• Comprehension is emphasized rather than speaking at beginning stages of the program, following the process of first language acquisition.
• Assessment of learning is frequent and is consistent with program goals and teaching strategies.

Contact Information:

DoDEA Host Nation Studies Coordinator
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350-1400