ASEEES 2012 Roundtable on Inclusive Foreign Language Pedagogy

[Kevin Moss]

Is anyone interested in a roundtable on inclusive foreign language pedagogy?

Here's what I mean:
Given the extremely heterogeneous composition of today's student population at institutions of higher education in the U.S. and a corresponding increased heterogeneity in the populations of the target cultures, foreign language instruction has to take into consideration issues of diversity that reach beyond the traditional cultural and linguistic differences in the classroom. It has to utilize a more reflective notion of diversity that addresses at least issues of race and ethnicity, gender and sexual identity, religion, socio-economic standing, disabilities and notions of normalcy.

Yet the field of foreign language teaching and pedagogy has to date been little influenced by scholarship on topics of diversity. To date it is safe to say that at the vast majority of US college campuses, a student’s educational experience in a foreign language classroom remains startlingly and overwhelmingly monolithic. Textbooks and multi-media teaching materials often fail to reflect the diversity of the countries and cultures they represent. Classroom activities often neglect to take into account the diversity of language learners. Course syllabi often fail to outline policies with regard to disability or differing learning needs. Moreover, institutions often neglect to explicitly prepare students for study abroad experiences that may differ in kind or in degree from their experiences around diversity in the US.

Can we start a discussion, including best practices? (Middlebury might eventually sponsor a repository for such materials)

I'd be happy to organize a roundtable if there's enough interest!

Kevin Moss
Jean Thompson Fulton Prof. of Modern Languages & Literatures
Middlebury College
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------