Home  About us  Contact
 

Language Departments (language + department)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Humanities and Social Sciences100%

Kinds of Language Departments

  • foreign language department
    		•

    Selected Abstracts

    Exploring the Uses and Usefulness of ACTFL Oral Proficiency Ratings and Standards in College Foreign Language Departments

    FOREIGN LANGUAGE ANNALS, Issue 4 2003
    John M. Norris PhD
    In particular, college foreign language departments have increasingly adopted oral proficiency ratings as a way of establishing standards for language or graduation requirements. In the study reported here, the authors explored the intended uses of proficiency-based standards in foreign language departments and reviewed the research on which specific ACTFL-level standards are based. They then examined the results of more than 100 SOPIs administered across all levels of instruction within one German foreign language department. The findings suggest that recommended proficiency standards may underestimate the potential and actual achievements of German language learners and miss other valued learning outcomes. The implications of these findings for the valid use of oral proficiency ratings in collegiate settings are discussed. [source]

    Toward an Understanding of the Role of Applied Linguists in Foreign Language Departments

    MODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2005
    STACEY KATZ
    This article presents an analysis of the results of a survey conducted with foreign language program directors and coordinators in American university foreign language departments. The goal of the survey was twofold. First, it aimed to compile a profile of these individuals: their backgrounds, research, and teaching and coordinating responsibilities. A second objective was to investigate whether the participants consider themselves to be applied linguists. Despite the fact that most participants interviewed are arguably practicing applied linguists, many of them hesitated to identify themselves as such. This ambivalence reflects recent heated discussions about the field of applied linguistics, a debate that was sparked by Firth and Wagner's provocative (1997) article. We call for more voices in this ongoing dialogue. The future of the diverse field of applied linguistics depends upon a variety of perspectives, including more input from applied linguists within foreign language departments. [source]

    Exploring the Uses and Usefulness of ACTFL Oral Proficiency Ratings and Standards in College Foreign Language Departments

    FOREIGN LANGUAGE ANNALS, Issue 4 2003
    John M. Norris PhD
    In particular, college foreign language departments have increasingly adopted oral proficiency ratings as a way of establishing standards for language or graduation requirements. In the study reported here, the authors explored the intended uses of proficiency-based standards in foreign language departments and reviewed the research on which specific ACTFL-level standards are based. They then examined the results of more than 100 SOPIs administered across all levels of instruction within one German foreign language department. The findings suggest that recommended proficiency standards may underestimate the potential and actual achievements of German language learners and miss other valued learning outcomes. The implications of these findings for the valid use of oral proficiency ratings in collegiate settings are discussed. [source]

    Linguistic Research and Language Teaching

    LINGUISTICS & LANGUAGE COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2008
    Natsuko Tsujimura
    It is not uncommon for theoretical linguists to find themselves involved in language teaching because of their expertise in a specific language, even though their primary training is not in language instruction. Apparent lack of intellectual stimulus and career development is a typical concern shared by those who are in these academic positions; and it is sometimes the case that time spent on language teaching is perceived to be detrimental to a successful tenure decision. Based on my own experience as a linguist in a language department for the past 20 years, I will discuss some of these dilemmas and suggestions that may lead to a more positive outlook of those who face a similar situation. [source]

    Exploring the Uses and Usefulness of ACTFL Oral Proficiency Ratings and Standards in College Foreign Language Departments

    FOREIGN LANGUAGE ANNALS, Issue 4 2003
    John M. Norris PhD
    In particular, college foreign language departments have increasingly adopted oral proficiency ratings as a way of establishing standards for language or graduation requirements. In the study reported here, the authors explored the intended uses of proficiency-based standards in foreign language departments and reviewed the research on which specific ACTFL-level standards are based. They then examined the results of more than 100 SOPIs administered across all levels of instruction within one German foreign language department. The findings suggest that recommended proficiency standards may underestimate the potential and actual achievements of German language learners and miss other valued learning outcomes. The implications of these findings for the valid use of oral proficiency ratings in collegiate settings are discussed. [source]

    Toward an Understanding of the Role of Applied Linguists in Foreign Language Departments

    MODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2005
    STACEY KATZ
    This article presents an analysis of the results of a survey conducted with foreign language program directors and coordinators in American university foreign language departments. The goal of the survey was twofold. First, it aimed to compile a profile of these individuals: their backgrounds, research, and teaching and coordinating responsibilities. A second objective was to investigate whether the participants consider themselves to be applied linguists. Despite the fact that most participants interviewed are arguably practicing applied linguists, many of them hesitated to identify themselves as such. This ambivalence reflects recent heated discussions about the field of applied linguistics, a debate that was sparked by Firth and Wagner's provocative (1997) article. We call for more voices in this ongoing dialogue. The future of the diverse field of applied linguistics depends upon a variety of perspectives, including more input from applied linguists within foreign language departments. [source]

    Language Ideology: The Case of Spanish in Departments of Foreign Languages

    ANTHROPOLOGY & EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2003
    Guadalupe Valdés
    In this article we investigate language ideology in a department of Spanish. We are concerned with examining the acquisition and transmission of linguistic culture in departments of foreign languages within university settings and the ways in which views about non-English languages that are part of the American cultural dialogue are maintained and nurtured by educational institutions. Using long-term participant-observation data and focused interviews, we contend that foreign language departments in U.S. colleges and universities, although involved in a nonhegemonic practice,that is, in the teaching of non-English languages,are nevertheless working in concert with deeply held American ideologies about bilingualism and monolingualism. [source]