class size
Krafcik, Patricia
KrafcikP at EVERGREEN.EDU
Tue Aug 31 16:18:53 UTC 2010
Melissa, Rich, and Ashot--
I just sent a message to my colleague Rob referring to this discussion--so interesting
and so relevant to a subject which is hot right now on my campus! Thus, the "holy
mackeral"! It seems difficult for other sections of the college to understand why we
need smaller classes for language study, yet this activity requires such intensive one-on-
one interaction that small is better. We usually begin with a large number, perhaps 45,
which we divide into two sections. There is always attrition, however, and each quarter
finds a diminished number.
The question we are dealing with now is how to retain Russian-language students. Should
the instructor slow up, play more language games, feed the students more Russian food?
All of these techniques have been shown to hold the students' interest. Or in the case of
Russian, is it simply that some students discover that they cannot handle such a substantially
inflected language? If anyone has any ideas, please share them. We would like to hold as many
students as possible, helping them to get through the difficult moments of Russian-language
study in order to enjoy the wonderful fruits of their work. (We are using the Nachalo text.)
Pat Krafcik
The Evergreen State College
-----Original Message-----
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list on behalf of Melissa Smith
Sent: Tue 8/31/2010 9:02 AM
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] class size
At Youngstown State University, an open-enrollment institution, we have
a cap on all Foreign language courses of 25 (4xweek), and haven't maxed
out since the late 1980s. The official YSU policy is minimum of 15.
Since ONE year of FL is the language requirement and therefore the
second term MUST be offered, we are allowed to go MUCH lower on the
second term, and often do. The drop-out rate in the first term varies
greatly.
I teach the students who go on to second-year and above. This is a
stable(?) population of 2-5 students, so the "workload hours" assigned
to the course can vary from 1-3, depending on enrollment. I have a part
-time instructor at the first-year level, because this is the only
course that can justify the hire, then my workload gets adjusted in
various ways (thank heavens for tenure!).
Rich is right about the ideal figures. Since at a commuter campus,
despite all efforts, attendance can be very erratic, I find seven
preferable to five, since it's easier to keep up the pace!
Good luck on your ventures,
Melissa Smith
On 8/31/10 8:54 AM, Richard Robin wrote:
> George Washington University:
> Section cap for regular track language (4 hrs/week) : 18
> In Russian, we usually reach or come close to this cap for all our
sections
> at the beginning of the year, but we also lose about two students per
> section before the end of the semester.
> Cap for intensive track language (8 hrs/week): 15
> Minimum amount of students required to put a new course on the books:
10
> Minimum amount of students to offer a course already on the books: 7
> (although pleading with the dean can save a course).
>
> IMHO: Ideal number of students to start in a Russian language section
in
> Intensive: 13-14. Every intensive class has three-four weak students.
If
> they drop, I'm left with an ideal class of 10 - easy enough to work
with,
> but enough to keep the dean at bay.
>
> Actually, the ideal number of students is 5 - 6 as in Russia. But
let's be
> realistic.
>
> -Rich Robin
>
> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:23 PM, Vardanyan, Ashot <
> ashot-vardanyan at uiowa.edu> wrote:
>
> > Dear colleagues,
> >
> > I am interested in information on the size of a foreign language
class
> > within a college / university format. Any piece would be valued,
such as
> > official recommendations and regulations at various colleges, your
opinion
> > on the (most) optimal number of students, your and your colleagues'
> > experience, etc.
> >
> > Thank you, Ashot Vardanyan
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> Richard M. Robin
> Director Russian Language Program
> The George Washington University
> Washington, DC 20052
> 202-994-7081
>
>
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------------------------------------
Melissa T. Smith, Professor
Department of Foreign Languages and
Literatures
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH 44555
Tel: (330)941-3462
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