July 2008 Edition of the NCLRC Language Resource Newsletter

Thu Jul 17 14:16:56 UTC 2008

Via ILR-INFO...

The NCLRC Language Resource 	
VOL. 12, NO. 5	 Comparisons	 June/July 2008 	
Visit our website at: http://www.nclrc.org <http://www.nclrc.org/> 	
Summer institutes are over, but we're still smiling from meeting so many of our readers! Here is a happy team of teachers who learned to play on Daisy Rock Girl Guitars, in pink and purple. See our Staff notes <http://nclrc.org/newsletter.html#staff>  for details. In this issue we focus on the national standard of Communities. Our feature stories look at the ways that teachers link their classes to communities of target language speakers <http://nclrc.org/newsletter.html#feature> , and how volunteering abroad can teach students about culture as well as language. <http://nclrc.org/newsletter.html#feature2>  Going on a job interview this summer? Sheila Cockey advises teachers on how to prepare for that interview in Classroom Solutions <http://nclrc.org/newsletter.html#yana> . The community comes into the school in For Your Classroom, which visits an elementary school's Culture Fair <http://nclrc.org/newsletter.html#classroom> . Dora gives advice on introducing Spanish to primary students <http://nclrc.org/newsletter.html#dora>  and Meg Malone points out resources for testing in Testing Tips <http://nclrc.org/newsletter.html#testing> . Be sure to check Critical Languages <http://nclrc.org/newsletter.html#critical>  and the Teachers' Calendar <http://nclrc.org/newsletter.html#profdev>  for many professional opportunities. Who says Washington shuts down in the summer?
Pink Guitars	
redstar_white_bg Announcements:

*	ACTFL's 2008 Conference will be in Orlando, Florida, November 21-23, 2008. http://actfl.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=4730 

*	The East Coast Organization of Language Testers announces ECOLT 2008: Bridging the Divide: Language testing theory in practice; November 7 - 8, 2008 2008 http://www.cal.org/ecolt/index.html <http://www.cal.org/ecolt/index.html>  

*	Spaces are still available for students and teachers in the Summer 2008 Startalk Programs for Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Persian, and Urdu. See the listing at http://startalk.umd.edu/program-info/2008/ 

*	Immersion Education: Pathways to Bilingualism and Beyond - Third international conference on bilingual education for language educators: October 16-18, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota. http://carla.umn.edu/conferences/immersion2008/index.html 

*	U.S. Department of Education has announced the recipients of the International Research and Studies (IRS) grants which include a number of exciting foreign language programs. See Word document <http://nclrc.org/newsletter/FY08%20IRS%20Summary%20and%20Abstracts.doc>  

*	Teachers who would like to conduct research in the humanities next summer can apply for summer stipends (2009) from the National Endowment for the Humanties (NEH). Deadline October 1, 2008. http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/stipends.html#program 

*	College and university teachers who would like to to develop new courses in the humanities can apply to the National Endowment for the Humanities Teaching Development Fellowships. Deadline October 1, 2008. http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/TD_Fellowships.html#program 
*	.. 

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redstar_white_bg Presentation <http://nclrc.org/about_teaching/inst_highlights.html#communities_connections>  	
Communities & Connections: Hardest Standards to Meet? Or Greatest Opportunities? by Sheila Cockey
cineconclase Our June/July focus is on COMMUNITIES. At first glance for many of us, this is a difficult standard to include in our daily plans. Upon further reflection, with a bit of creative thinking, Communities can be one of the more exciting standards to work with, and it incorporates many of the other standards along the way. There are two ways to approach communities: either by bringing the community into your classroom, or by taking your students out into the community. Read more... <http://www.nclrc.org/about_teaching/inst_highlights.html> 
redstar_white_bg Volunteers Abroad <http://nclrc.org/about_teaching/topics/feature.html#new> 	
By Karelia Pallan Most students want to travel or study abroad at some point during their study of a foreign language not only to practice speaking but also to learn firsthand all the different aspects of a culture. But have you ever thought your students could manage to do all this'Äîand still help out the local community? Volunteering abroad exposes students to the same daily interactions and also allows them to give back to the community they are visiting. Organizations offer anything from weeklong projects, like Alternative Spring Break trips, to extended stays that last three or more months. . Read more... <http://nclrc.org/about_teaching/topics/feature.html#2> 
redstar_white_bg Readers' Corner 	
Here's where you, our dear readers, can TALK BACK! This month we ask about connecting to the community in language teaching. 

What cultural comparisons do you make in your language instruction? Click here to answer our Poll <http:///nclrc.org/month_poll.html> 

What activity works best for encouraging students to compare their own culture and the target culture? Click here to answer the Question <http://nclrc.org/month_question.html> 

redstar_white_bg For your Classroom <http://nclrc.org/teaching_materials/materials_by_language/universal.html#new>  

Culture Fair: Bringing parents and community together in elementary school 
The National Standards for Language Learning suggest that foreign language teachers incorporate members of the target language community to support their students' learning about culture in addition to language. Laytonsville Elementary School in Maryland regularly hosts an International Night at which over 30 countries (food and culture) are represented at the school. Read more... <http://nclrc.org/teaching_materials/materials_by_language/universal.html#culture_fair> 
redstar_white_bgCritical Languages <http://nclrc.org/about_teaching/critical_languages.html> 	
Certificate Program in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages 
Co-sponsored by (1) the TESOL and Applied Linguistics Programs at Teachers College, Columbia University, (2) the Chinese Language Program in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Columbia University, and (3) Asia for Educators at Columbia University, provides training in Chinese pedagogy. Read more... <http://nclrc.org/about_teaching/critical_languages.html> 

redstar_white_bgNCLRC Staff <http://nclrc.org/about/staff.html> 	
guitarsWe have been busy with this year's exciting round of summer institutes. As we watch the dust settle, we realize how valuable it has been to meet with all the participants and learn about new practices and challenges in their classrooms. We especially want to thank the amazingly generous sponsors of our guitar workshops, Guitars in the Classroom <http://www.guitarsintheclassroom.com/> , Godin Guitars <http://www.godinguitars.com/> , Daisy Rock Girl Guitar <http://www.daisyrock.com/> , Dunlop Manufacturing <http://www.jimdunlop.com/> , and The John and Joan D'Addario Foundation <http://www.daddariofoundation.org/> . NCLRC thanks them for their outstanding contribution to promoting the arts as an integral part of foreign language study. Participants who took part in these institutes were able to take a guitar to be used in the classroom. 
Candice <http://www.nclrc.org/about/images/staff/candice.jpg> Additional thanks go out to our tireless team of interns and summer institute staffers, led by Candice Michalowicz <http://www.nclrc.org/about/staff.html> , whom we wish a very Happy Birthday this month! Candice made all of the detailed planning, organization, and implementation of the institutes seem easy, maintaining a calm, cheerful attitude throughout even the toughest week, when we had nine institutes. Where'd she get that "Easy Button?"

redstar_white_bg Culture Club <http://nclrc.org/cultureclub/index.html> 	
Edited by Christine Meloni

Check out the renovated rooms for June/July: A new Mystery Photo Contest <http://nclrc.org/cultureclub/gallery.html>  has been launched. The Internet Media Room has become the Bloggers Den <http://nclrc.org/cultureclub/computer_lab.html> . Don't miss the Banquet Hall <http://nclrc.org/cultureclub/banquet_hall.html> issue: "Everything about Italian Gelato"
redstar_white_bg Classroom Solutions: YANA <http://nclrc.org/teachers_corner/classroom_solutions_yana/current_entry.html#new> 	
SheilaEdited by Sheila Cockey. YANA stands for 'You are Not Alone." Your questions on challenges in your classrooms are answered by an expert on languages and culture teaching.
This month's question: 

*	I am getting ready for an interview for a position in a high school. What can I expect in the way of questions? What materials should I bring with me? What questions should I be ready to ask? Thanks for your help! Read YANA's answer... <http://nclrc.org/teachers_corner/classroom_solutions_yana/current_entry.html>  

redstar_white_bg Tech for Teachers <http://nclrc.org/teachers_corner/tech_for_teachers/feature.html> 	
ACTFL announces "Not just a language class" Podcast Winners By Benjamin Redmond 
MS Runners upAs part of the national public awareness campaign Discover Languages... Discover the World ACTFL, in association with CLEAR and MERLOT, sponsored a video podcast contest for K-16 language students earlier this year. The contest theme Not just a language class" encouraged students to share "personal motivations for studying a language and to demonstrate the importance of language learning beyond the classroom. See the winning podcasts and more details... <http://nclrc.org/teachers_corner/tech_for_teachers/feature.html> 
redstar_white_bg Professional Development, Conferences and Funding Opportunities <http://nclrc.org/profdev/teachers_calendar.html> 	
We've compiled the conference announcements in one easy-to-access place, the Teachers' Calendar <http://nclrc.org/profdev/teachers_calendar.html>  where you can find out what conferences are coming your way this fall. <http://nclrc.org/profdev/teachers_calendar.html> 

redstar_white_bg Ask Dora <http://nclrc.org/teachers_corner/languages_dora/current_entry.html> 	
Dora Johnson is a Program Associate at Center for Applied Linguistics, and answers readers questions related to languages. 
This month question:

*	I need advice for introducing Spanish to primary students Read Dora's answer... <http://nclrc.org/teachers_corner/languages_dora/current_entry.html#new>  

redstar_white_bg Testing Tips <http://nclrc.org/teaching_materials/assessment/testing_tips.html> 	
By Margaret E. (Meg) Malone, Ph.D. - Center for Applied Linguistics Welcome to the latest issue of Testing Tips! In addition to other projects at CAL, I have spent much of the past couple of months conducting face-to-face and online workshops on assessments for language instructors. On issue that often emerges is what test (or tests) to use and whether one test can be used for every need you have. The more language teachers I meet, the more amazed I am by how much teachers accomplish every day, and how scarce the assessment resources are to help these teachers. Find out about more assessment resources... <http://nclrc.org/teaching_materials/assessment/testing_tips.html> 
The Language Resource is a monthly publication of the National Capital Language Resource Center http://www.nclrc.org <http://www.nclrc.org/> ¬?to provide practical teaching strategies, share insights from research, and announce professional development opportunities for all foreign language educators. 

Funded by the US Department of Education through Title VI, we are a consortium of Georgetown University , The George Washington University, and the Center for Applied Linguistics. 

________________________________

Also available on our website 	
Culture Club <http://nclrc.org/cultureclub/index.html> 	Elementary Immersion Learning Strategies Resource Guide <http://www.nclrc.org/eils/> 	
Arabic K-12 Teachers' newsletter <http://nclrc.org/newsletter/arabic_k12.html> 	 The Essentials of Language Teaching <http://www.nclrc.org/essentials/> 	
Sailing the 5 Cs with Learning Strategies <http://www.nclrc.org/sailing/index.html> :
A Resource Guide for Secondary Foreign Language Educators	 Developing Autonomy in Language Learners <http://www.nclrc.org/guides/HED/index.html> : Learning Strategies Instruction in Higher Education 
<http://www.nclrc.org/guides/HED/index.html> 	
Portfolio Assessment in the Foreign Language Classroom <http://www.nclrc.org/portfolio/> 	 Russian for Russians <http://www.gwu.edu/~slavic/rdr/> 	
backtotop <http://nclrc.org/newsletter/english_newsletter.html>    website <http://nclrc.org/> 	 Unsubscribe to this newsletter <http://nclrc.org/emailform.html> 

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