EDCI 380/636  
FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION: CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

Department of Foreign Languages
Ashland University    Ashland, Ohio


Course creator:
Dr.  Barbara Schmidt-Rinehart         
214 Bixler Hall       (419) 289-5131   
e-mail: <bschmidt@ashland.edu>
homepage: http://www.ashland.edu/~bschmidt

 
Catalog description:   A course designed to examine the theoretical and practical issues relating to the teaching of foreign languages K-12.  Instructional practices pertaining to the following are explored through lectures, reading of current literature, class discussion, guest speakers, etc.:  the role of context in comprehension and learning, listening, reading, oral proficiency, writing, testing, culture, and curriculum.  Required for French & Spanish multi-age license.

 

 
Catalog description
 Course objectives
  Required Texts and Materials
 Evaluation Criteria
Short Papers
Important Dates
Professional Listservs
Selected Websites
Tentative Schedule

 
 

Course objectivesThe teacher education student will . . .
  

 
KNOWLEDGE
1. Acquire a basic understanding of the teaching/learning process in foreign language education.
 2. Become a purposeful decision maker in the foreign language classroom.
 3. Become familiar with current research in second language acquisition/learning.
 4. Become familiar with different types of curricular designs.
 5. Demonstrate an understanding of goal areas and standards of the national and state academic standards.
 6.  Identify characteristics of effective foreign language teachers.
 7.  Be cognizant of the trends in methodology - from an historical perspective as well as current practices.
 8.  Recognize the potential for the use of technology in the foreign language classroom.
 9.  Become familiar with professional literature, professional organizations, and professional development opportunities
SKILLS
1.  Learn effective techniques for teaching foreign language in context (in all four skill areas:  reading, writing, listening, speaking).
 2. Identify the purpose of theoretical underpinnings of teaching strategies and anticipate learning outcomes.
 3.  Articulate the value and importance of foreign language learning by developing a rationale for the inclusion of foreign languages in the school curriculum.
 4.  Explore multiple procedures of assessment and evaluation for testing foreign language development and competence.
 5.  Engage in a reflective process regarding professional preparation and develop a professional development plan.
DISPOSITIONS
1.  Demonstrate an attitude that will convey to students the value of foreign language learning and cross-cultural understanding.
 2.  Demonstrate an attitude that will assist students to accept their own culture as valid, as well as the culture of the target language.
 3.  Demonstrate the ability to accept linguistic and cultural diversity.
 4.  Display enthusiasm for teaching/learning foreign languages.
 5.  Believe that every student can learn when the environment is facilitative.
 6.  Appreciate the role of theory and research in the teaching process and appreciate the importance of keeping current with developing theory, research, and practice.
7.  Understand the importance and benefits of belonging to a professional community.

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REQUIRED TEXTS/ON-LINE RESOURCES/LISTSERV:

Texts:

On-line:

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EVALUATION CRITERIA
  1.  10%        Class attendance, preparation & participation* 
  2.  30%        3 papers  : Professionalism
  3.  30%        Midterm   (Midterm outline
  4.  30%        Final Exam  (Final Exam Outline
 

 *Because of the importance of class lectures and discussions, attendance is required.    (-1/2 letter grade after the first absence.) Students are expected to come to class fully prepared, having read the assigned reading (per syllabus and  course home page) and completed assigned study guide/on-line questions.  

GRADING SCALE: 92-100: A; 90-91: A-; 88-89: B+; 82-87: B; 80-81: B-; 78-79: C+; 72-77: C; 70-71: C-; Below 70: F.

 

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Students with disabilities who have documentation on file with Classroom Support Services (105 Amstutz, extension 5953) are entitled to reasonable academic adjustments/ accommodations under The American’s with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Qualified students are encouraged to identify to professors early in the semester. 
Ashland University makes great effort to provide equal access to all students who have documented disabilities.  

Students are expected to be familiar with and uphold the Academic Integrity Policy. (AU. Graduate Catalog)

   

Professionalism: Three short papers (2-3 pages/each)
 All papers should be typed and double-spaced.

1.  Why Study Foreign Languages?        NCATE 6b
In the form of a letter to the editor, present a rationale for the inclusion of foreign languages in the curriculum (PK-12). Clearly articulate the cognitive, academic, and affective benefits to students and the society.   (Chapter 16 in C & D and 144-146 in ACS will be helpful.)

The paper should be submitted to “Turn It In” (http://www.turnitin.com) for an originality report.



We all know that school budgets are under attack by citizens, and particularly property tax payers in local communities, because of the difficult economic situation.  As a result, the Supt. of Schools in our district will present a proposal to the School Board at the next meeting to make cuts in the foreign language program in the four middle schools and the two high schools.  Specifically, the proposal would eliminate (1) the FLEX program in the 6th grade  (9 weeks each of French, German, Latin and Spanish), (2) the Spanish, French, and German programs in the 7th and 8th grades, which are equivalent to one year at the high school level, and (3) the fifth year levels in French and Spanish.  As a FL teacher (and possibly a parent too), you are very concerned about this proposal.  You believe that there are areas of the budget that should be reduced first before the academic program in languages is cut drastically.  Write a letter to the editor of your local paper on the value, both to the individual and to the country, of foreign language study from the elementary grades to the high school.  Give well-defined reasons supported by arguments that will convince administrators, parents, and other tax payers that cuts should not be made in the FL program.

2.  Foreign Language Journal Exploration:            NCATE 6a
Look through at least two recent issues (within the last two years) of one journal specifically for your language and one for all languages:
All:        Foreign Language Annals, The Language Educator, Modern Language Journal, TESOL Quarterly
French:    French Review, The Canadian Modern Language Review
Spanish:   Hispania
As you look through these journals, consider the following questions.  Use them as a guide to write a brief description of the publications (one page each):
a.  What kinds of articles, reviews, or other items are included? Write down some of the topics and read the abstracts.
b.  What appears to be the target audience of each journal?

c.  Do you have to join a particular organization to receive the journal?  If so, which organization?  How much does the membership cost?

d.  Does the journal carry advertising? How much? In your opinion, is it useful?  Why?

e.  Which of these journals would probably be most helpful to you at this point in your career? Why do you think so?
3.  Professional Development Plan:        NCATE 6b; 1a; 1b
First, assess your own professional progress by rating yourself on the ACTFL/NCATE Standards for Teacher Preparation (C&D, p. 468-469). For each standard, indicate one of the following: Approaching Standard, Meet Standard, or Exceed Standard.  Then, outline a professional development plan based on your immediate needs. More detailed explanation will be given Week 8 about ACTFL/NCATE Self-Evaluation Chart and IPDP for Teacher Candidates
 

Professional Development Opportunities      

(NCATE 6a) 

  Ohio Foreign Language Association (OFLA) Annual Conference, Columbus (Scholarships available)   [www.ofla-online.org]

  

OFLA LISTSERV
 
 
The OFLA listserv is hosted by Yahoo! Groups. The listserv is designed to communicate with OFLA members concerning both OFLA events and foreign language teaching in general. The listserv provides you with immediate contact with other OFLA members. 
 
 

Go to the OFLA homepage (http://www.ofla-online.com), click on the LISTSERV, and follow the directions to subscribe.


  FLTEACH: 

 
 FLTEACH is a Listserv list founded Jean LeLoup and Robert Ponterio and running on a computer at SUNY/Buffalo.  The topic of the list is foreign language teaching methods including high school/college articulation, training of student teachers, and curriculum.  Current membership includes colleagues across the country as well as around the world.  We will use the first few minutes of each class to discuss the issues from the previous week.  All students should subscribe immediately after the first class session.  In order to subscribe:

 Send a message to:                     LISTSERV@listserv.buffalo.edu 
                        In the message put only the following:          SUBSCRIBE FLTEACH firstname lastname 
                                        Example: SUBSCRIBE FLTEACH Snow White 

 Send the message just like that--no signature or anything else. You will get a welcome message by return e-mail with instructions on how to use FLTEACH.  You might want to consider other options that are available.  (For example, by subscribing to the DIGEST option, you will get messages only once a day under one heading "FLTEACH".)

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SELECTED WEBSITES  

 

Ohio Department of Education  - Foreign Languages


ODE FL Academic Content Standards and Model Assessment Project
ODE Standards-Based Education (SBE) Toolkit
OFLA

ACTFL 

FL TEACH
FL TEACH  FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Search ERIC
Language Learning & Technology (on-line journal)
Model Lessons Plans
I
Prof. S-R's homepage
FL Instructional Materials Database Online
Connecting Cultures III
Participant-created lessons - CCIII -Venezuela 01
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices- (video clips)
ED 432/637 - The Teaching of FL (Practice class)
 NNELL- National Network for Early Language Learning Guidelines for Starting an Elementary School Foreign Language Program
 Web resources for Spanish teachers Web resources for French teachers
TESOL- Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages ESL Standards for PreK-12 Students

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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

1.  Introduction to Course                                                                   
     Key Concepts
                                     Before you read (Ch. 1) - online workbook activity

     Teacher/Student Roles in Communicative Language Teaching

  ~   ~ Study Guide- Key Concepts & Methodologies ~ ~
___________________________________________________________________________
 

2.  Second Language Acquisition/ Methodology in Transition            NCATE 3a;4a
     Characteristics of Proficiency-Oriented Language Instruction
     Ohio's Academic Content Standards FL K-12;     National Standards

Reading:  Omaggio: Ch. 1 (p.1-19;34-42),  Ch. 3: 86-106;  C&D:  p. ix-xvi & Ch. 17; ACS: 10-13; 140-141

Summary of National and State Standards

What We Can Learn From Foreign Language Teaching in Other Countries
_____________________________________________________________________________
3.  CURRICULAR DESIGN             

Standard: Connections Goal          NCATE 2c; 3a

Reading
: Omaggio: Epilogue 456-467 ; (Ch. 4 164-169)
C&D: Ch. 1- SLA: p. 1-6;  Ch. 18- Program Types (419-430); Ch. 11- Content-related Instruction (248-252, 271-272); Ch. 12- Immersion (275-276, 283-289); ACS:  142-144; 147-152
Passport to the Future: Ohio's Plan for World Languages

Ohio Academic Content Standards

Ohio Department of Education (ODE)  - Foreign Languages
Ohio's Instructional Management System (IMS)  (Planning standards-based lessons)
ODE Standards-Based Education (SBE) Toolkit


Characteristics of Effective Elementary School Foreign Language Programs

Scheduling Foreign Languages on the Block. ERIC Digest.
~   ~ Study Guide- Curricular Design ~ ~

_____________________________________________________________________________
4. 

BACKWARD DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT


THE ROLE OF CONTEXT in Comprehension and Learning
      

                                                Standard: Communication & Connections Goals    NCATE 3a

     Reading: Omaggio Ch. 4 (p. 139-164) ;   C&D Ch. 2 (p. 24-29; 33-38)      ACS: 155-158
~   ~ Study Guide- Role of Context ~ ~
  ___________________________________________________________________________
5.  LISTENING AND READING     
Standard: Communication Goal~Interpretive Mode    NCATE 2a; 2b; 3a; 4b
Reading: Omaggio: Ch. 5 ;   C&D- Ch. 4 (p. 61-72);  Ch. 5 (p. 85-91)
Model lessons

MisCositas.com is a free web resource that offers teachers a variety of materials for teaching languages: Spanish, French, Italian, Thai and ESL. (videos, authentic stories, materials, thematic units)

Paper due
- Letter to the Editor

~   ~ Study Guide- The Interpretive Mode~ ~

______________________________________________________________________
6.  DEVELOPING ORAL PROFICIENCY                                                         
Standard: Communication Goal~Interpersonal & Presentational Modes    NCATE 3a; 4b

Reading: Omaggio: Ch. 6 ;   C&D: Ch. 3, Ch. 4 (p. 72-73), Ch. 6 (106-129)
Model Lesson: Una entrevista

~   ~ Study Guide- The Communication Mode~ ~

___________________________________________________________________________
7.  MIDTERM                 Midterm outline
_____________________________________________________________________________
8.  TEACHER PREPARATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT           
NCATE 6: Professionalism
ACTFL/NCATE Standards; Professional Portfolios; Professional Literature; FL Teach; OFLA listserv;  Praxis II

Reading:   C&D: Ch. 20; p. 468-469 - Rate yourself for each ACTFL/NCATE Standard;

"A Venezuelan Experience: Professional Development for Teachers, Meaningful Activities for Students" (LeLoup & Schmidt-Rinehart, Hispania 86,3, 2003)
"Connecting Cultures/Connecting Teachers: Professional Development at its Best" (Schmidt-Rinehart & LeLoup, Language Educator, January 2008)
Connecting Cultures III- A  model professional development workshop in Venezuela

The Praxis Series
Tests at a Glance    

National Board of Professional Teaching Standards

~   ~ Study Guide- Teacher Preparation ~ ~

____________________________________________________________________________
9.  WRITING &  ERROR CORRECTION                                                       

Standard: Communication Goals & Comparisons (4.1)        NCATE 4b
Reading: Omaggio: Ch. 7 & Appendix C;   C&D: Ch. 4 (p. 73-83) & Ch. 5 (p. 91-97)
Rubrics (Fairfax County Public Schools - PALS: Performance Assessment for Language Students)
Rubrics for the Ohio Model Assessment Project (ODE)

CAAP Common Core (Writing)

~   ~ Study Guide- Writing ~ ~


____________________________________________________________________________
10.  CULTURE         Standard: Cultures & Comparisons (4.2) Goals     NCATE 2a; 3a

Reading: Omaggio: Ch. 8 ;  C&D: Ch. 10
What's Up With Culture?  - An On-Line Cultural Training Resource For Study Abroad -U. of the Pacific

Culture Shock

Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 Workshop 5 (Annenberg):  "Rooted in Culture"

Model Lessons


~   ~ Study Guide- Culture ~ ~

Journal Exploration Papers due_________________________________________________________________________

11.  USING TECHNOLOGY      Standard: the 5 C's                   NCATE 2a; 3a
 
Reading: Omaggio: Appendix B  "Taxonomy of Features for Evaluating Foreign Language Multimedia Software";  C&D: Ch. 15;  ACS: 172-176.        Online reading:

1.  Read through Bob Ponterio's (FLTeach/SUNY Cortland) Integrating Technology in the FL Classroom syllabus. (Browse a bit!)  Integrate/incorporate with the knowledge/skills you gained in your A.U. technology course  (EDCI 232/504).

2.  Read one article of interest in Language Learning & Technology (on-line journal)

3.  A few things to check out:
    
         Web resources for French teachers       Web resources for Spanish teachers    Taller hispano
    

         If Abraham Lincoln had had Powerpoint at Gettysburg ....

          4.  Access several of the WebQuests available online from one of the Web pages listed in the "Further Reading" section of Curtain & Dahlberg, Ch. 15.

          5.  ISTE's Educational Standards for Teachers (2008)

        


~ ~ Study Guide - Technology ~ ~

In-Class Discussion

______________________________________________________________________________
12.  ASSESSMENT      NCATE 5a                            

Reading
: Omaggio: Ch. 9, Ch. 1 (p. 27- ) ;  C&D: Ch. 8; ACS 177-185
ODE FL Academic Content Standards and     Model Assessment Project
Rubrics for the Ohio Model Assessment Project            (ODE)

Portfolio Assessment Guide                   (National Language Resource Center)
Linguafolio  (National Council of State Supervisors for Languages)

Virtual Assessment Center (CARLA)

Language Testing International (LTI - ACTFL)        The ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview
Six Steps for Improving Proficiency - Fairfax Co. Public Schools - PALS
~ ~ Study Guide - Assessment~ ~

 ______________________________________________________________________________

13.  ASSESSMENT (cont'd)

(Professional Development Plan due)  

    _______________________________________________________________________________ 

14.  In Conclusion        Omaggio  p. 465-466      

TRANSLATING THEORY TO PRACTICE ~ Ohio Academic Content Standards: Foreign Languages K-12


_______________________________________________________________
15.  FINAL EXAM **   Final Exam Outline
______________________________________________________________________________


FINAL EXAM TIME DURING FINALS WEEK:  Final exam discussion, course evaluation, evaluation of completion of course objectives, discussion of Individual Professional Development Plans                   


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