ABSTRACT
This chapter explores appropriate curriculum and instructional planning for teaching world languages to talented language students. The study of world languages has long been a valued component of a rich liberal arts education. Teacher preparation and professional development around differentiation of instruction for advanced learners is needed for an integrated second language education program to be successful. Like mathematics, second language learning provides another symbol system for providing challenge and complexity, two preferences that high-ability children demonstrate for learning new things. Like mathematics, foreign language is an easy subject to accelerate, and it is reasonably straightforward to provide appropriate instructional differentiation at key stages. With an integrated team approach between the world language teacher and the gifted education teacher, differentiated learning experiences can be developed in the curriculum. Exploration of resources in the classroom, the school, and the community is essential for maximizing opportunities for language learning.
