RFP from NCOLCTL

[Jerry Ervin]

NOTE:  This RFP is being posted exactly as received.  Please direct
inquiries to NCOLCTL *at the address in the body of the letter*.

Thanks.

--------------- Forwarded Message ---------------


National Council of Organizations of Less Commonly Taught Languages
November 3, 1998

Dear NCOLCTL Representative:
Enclosed is the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Language Network Task
Forces.  The decision to have an RFP was made by the Council Officers at
the 1998 NCOLCTL Conference in Philadelphia after speaking with many of
you.  Please read the RFP closely, and if you have any questions, please
feel free to contact us. (See contact information below.) Please be aware
that the deadline for submission is December I1, and proposals posted after
the 1Ith may not be considered.  The Council Officers will be meeting at
the beginning of January to select the recipients for the awards and
announcements will be made on January 15.  Proposals should be mailed to
NCOLCTL headquarters at:

NCOLCTL
Attention: Lara Atella, Program Coordinator
National Foreign Language Center
1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036

We look forward to hearing from you and receiving your organization's
proposal.
Sincerely,


NCOLCTL Staff-                             NCOLCTL President & Vice
President:
Dick Brecht, Lara Atella, Victor Frank      John Schillinger, NCOLCTL
President
rbrecht at nflc.org, latella at vnflc.or&         ischillili)american.edu
vfrank at nflc.org                             Tei:(202)885-2395
Tel:(202)667-8100
Frederick Jackson, NCOLCTL Vice President jacksonfh at state.gov
Tel:    (703)302-6969




National Foreign Language Center at The Johns Hopkins University- 1619
Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036
TEL202/667-8100*FAX202/667-69O7oEMAILITLONG at MAIL.JHLJWASHJHU.EDU
BBS800/452/0862

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOLLOWS

National Council of Organizations of Less Commonly Taught
Languages

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:
Language Network Task Forces

Guidelines for Submission

The National Council of Organizations of Less Commonly Taught Languages
(NCOLCTL), under funding provided by the Ford Foundation, solicits
proposals from its member organizations for the formation of pilot national
Language Network Task Forces.  Each funded task force will have five
specific objectives: (1) the development of learner profiles to describe
the backgrounds, needs and learning objectives of students in that language
or language field- (2) the identification of customization priorities,
where existing materials and programs may not match the needs identified in
the learner profiles; (3) the development of explicit, practical selection
criteria which the language field can use to identify appropriate learning
materials and environments to meet the needs of its students; (4) apiloting
of those criteria to identifv some existing language learning materials
that meet learner profiles; and (5) aplan for the organization of these
materials according to the specific needs that they meet and for how to
make the information available on the Internet to prospective users.  The
National Council win provide all needed technology, communications and data
storage support for the funded task forces.  The CouncH support staff will
also stand ready to consult with and advise the task forces.

The Council will award two grants, each totaling between $8,000 and
$12,000.  The awarded funding will be determined by the number of languages
to be addressed in the proposed project.

These projects are intended as pilot projects, which will demonstrate the
viability of the concept to the funding agencies.  As such, task forces
should plan to survey representative samples of students, student needs,
and existing materials.  There is inmfficient time for exhaustive
sampfings.  Member organizations that intend to submit a proposal should
note that the project must be able to be accomplished by no later than
September 30, 1999.

Proposals should include the following:
--      Statement of which Language(s) will be involved
--      Composition of the Task Force(s): Explanation of how the proposed
task force is representative of the national (or international) field
--      Development of Learner Profiles: description of at least three
distinct groups of students for whom learner profiles will be developed;
statement of the rationale for selecting them- and description of the
procedure for developing the profiles
--      Development of Customization Priorities: description of how the
task force will use the Learner Profiles to identify materials and program
needs
--      Development and piloting of Selection Criteria for identification
of appropriate materials
--      Work Plan and Time table: a clear and feasible plan for completion
of the pilot project and production of the organized list within nine
months of award; must include a description of how the task force members
will work together
--      Final Product: Clear description of the final product that will be
delivered to the Council by September 30, 1999
--      Responsible Individual: Identification of the field representative
who will receive the grant funds and be responsible for communicating with
the Council and for submitting the final product
--      Budget: Clear and detailed statement of how grant funds will be
spent

Proposals are due to the Council by December 11, 1998.  Awards will be
announced on Januaiy 15, 1999.

Send proposals to:

NCOLCTL
Attn: Lara Atella
National Foreign Language Center
1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036

The attachments included with this Request for Proposals provide some
concrete examples of the development of leamer profiles and customization
priorities, based on the experiences of the Aflican Language Teachers
Association (AILTA) and the American Association of Teachers of Korean
(AATK).  NCOLTCL stands ready to provide assistance in developing proposals
and in attempting to advise on the kind of expertise required for the
formation of national Language Network task forces.


/////////////////////////////

Benjamin Rifkin
Associate Professor of Russian,
Coordinator of Russian-Language Instruction & Teacher Training
Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1432 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI  53706

e-mail:  brifkin at facstaff.wisc.edu
telephone:  608/262-1623, 608/262-3498
fax:  608/265-2814

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