Call for information about language programs

Catherine Ingold (MELLON5) MELLON5 at mail.jhuwash.jhu.edu
Wed Apr 16 03:16:39 UTC 1997


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apologize to those readers who         are receiving multiple copies of this
request
______________________________________________________________________________
N F L C

CALL FOR INFORMATION

The National Foreign Language Center (NFLC) requests information on
and descriptions of  language programs that have moved beyond the
#usual# in areas such as (but not limited to) those listed below.   This
query is made in response to requests arising from colleges and
universities participating in the Language Mission Project (a
Luce-funded project that we are undertaking jointly with the Association
of American Colleges and Universities).  Obviously, the programs most
helpful to the field are those that have been #successful;# however, we
recognize that meaningful outcomes assessment represents a
tremendous challenge in itself and is consequently  quite rare # so we
rely on you to tell us on what basis you view a particular program as
worthwhile.

Responses to this query can be as brief as a few lines on an e-mail or
fax, giving us a contact person and a means of getting in touch.

Our hope is to create (a) a database to help us know whom to contact
about specific types of programming; (b) a document describing such
programs and (c) a list of  practitioners who can describe from
experience how such programs are conceived and implemented,
including particular strategies or conditions that contribute to # or inhibit
# the effort.  Such information is of great value to language departments
around the country that are seeking effective strategies to respond to
the mission(s) of languages on their respective campuses.

Some types of initiatives that we would especially like to know about:

#       integration of multimedia, Internet, and other technological tools
into language curricula (as distinct from using these resources as
#add-ons#)
#       articulation of language learning between/among high schools,
community colleges, and universities
#       programs that are explicitly addressing the needs of heritage
students (who speak/hear the target language at home)
#       consortial arrangements for sharing students, faculty, materials,
courses, etc. between/among institutions
#       use of distance learning opportunities in foreign languages
#       infusion of clearly-defined cross-cultural skills/knowledge into
language courses
#       alliances with other departments or programs, whether closely
related (English lit, ESL, linguistics) or other (e.g., languages across the
curriculum)
#       programs/courses that address languages for specific purposes
(e.g. Spanish for health professions)
#       programs to prepare K-12 FL teachers (especially collaborations
with Ed. departments and area schools)
#       use of intensivity, immersion, or quasi-immersion to enhance
proficiency gains #     foreign study programs designed specifically to
address proficiency or other well-defined goals
#       placement assessment or outcomes assessment in any skill
area(s), at any level
#       programs that prepare students to manage their own language
learning
#       use of  extra-classroom learning opportunities of any and all
types
#       development of departmental/institutional consensus around
language goals and programming
#       faculty development (e.g., in technology, FL pedagogy, applied
linguistics, language and culture, etc.)
#       modification of  the campus reward system to recognize needed
(but traditionally undervalued) faculty endeavors
#       programs that encourage entering students to undertake more
advanced language courses in a language studied in high school (rather
than re-enrolling in introductory courses or switching to a new language)
#       programs that encourage student persistence in language
programs and/or attainment of higher proficiency
#       other programs/strategies that you think we should know about

Please take a few moments to fill out the following information and reply
to: cwingold at mail.jhuwash.jhu.edu.   Please do not reply directly to the
listserv.


Program Name:
________________________________________________

Brief Program Description:
_______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Institution:
____________________________________________________

Department:
___________________________________________________

Contact Name: ____________________________Title:
________________

Address:
______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Phone:  ____________________    Fax:
_____________________________

Many Thanks!

Catherine Ingold, Deputy Director, National Foreign Language Center  at
the Johns Hopkins University, Suite 400, 1619 Massachusetts Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 667-8100 ext. 18 fax:(202) 667-6907 e-mail:
cwingold at mail.jhuwash.jhu.edu



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