advanced writing

[Irene Thompson]

For that matter, many native speakers do not achieve Superior-level writing
skills unless they are EDUCATED Native speakers.
Irene Thompson
At 11:58 AM 1/5/2000 -0600, you wrote:
>In response to Betty Lou Leaver's comment about advanced level writing:
>
>Most students in undergraduate Russian programs do not come near superior
>level writing (level 3 in the ILR scale) in a mere 4 years of language
>training.  This excludes from consideration those students who are heritage
>learners; their background varies considerably.
>
>For more information about realistic expectations of the achievement of
>learners of Russian in the United States, see the following works:
>
>Brecht, R., Davidson, D., and Ginsberg, R.  1993.  Predictors of Foreign
>Language Gain During Study Abroad.  Washington, DC:  National Foreign
>Language Center.
>
>Carroll, J. B.  1967.  "Foreign Language Proficiency Levels Attained by
>Language Majors Near Graduation from College."  Foreign Language Annals 1:
>131-151. [NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED!]
>
>Thompson, I.  1996.  "Assessing Foreign Language Skills: Data from Russian."
>Modern Language Journal 80:  47-65.
>
>In this context, **most** 3rd or 4th year Russian language classes in the US
>should probably be focused on addressing the learning goals of students
>whose speaking and writing proficiency is in the intermediate range (aiming
>for production at the advanced level according to the ACTFL Proficiency
>Guidelines.)  Again, this excludes the case of heritage learners and
>learners with atypical learning backgrounds, e.g. returning missionaries.
>
>Ben Rifkin
>
>
>
>
>
>At 01:36 PM 1/4/00 EST, Betty Lou Leaver wrote:
>>This is in response to Melissa Frazier's question about teaching writing to
>>advanced students.
>>
>>3. Depending on how you are defining "advanced" (Level 2 proficiency, as per
>>ACTFL), or truly advanced (Level 3 and higher), a textbook, no matter how
>>good, may not be the answer.
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>Benjamin Rifkin, Assoc. Prof., Slavic Dept., UW-Madison
>1432 Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Dr., Madison, WI  53706 USA
>voice:  (608) 262-1623; fax:  (608) 265-2814
>
>Director of the Russian School, Middlebury College
>Freeman International Center, Middlebury, VT  05753 USA
>voice:  (802) 443-5533
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
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