41st Annual Convention and 41st Annual Convention and ExpositionExposition

American Council on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Teaching of Foreign Languages

(ACTFL)(ACTFL)

November 15-18, 2007November 15-18, 2007

John B. Davis, Senior Lecturer in SpanishJohn B. Davis, Senior Lecturer in Spanish

What is ACTFL?What is ACTFL?

National organization dedicated to the National organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction throughout the U.S. instruction throughout the U.S.

Provides advocacy, professional Provides advocacy, professional development opportunities, resources and development opportunities, resources and opportunities for members to interact and opportunities for members to interact and share ideas and experiences. share ideas and experiences.

Some interesting facts…Some interesting facts…

Every child in Britain will start learning a Every child in Britain will start learning a modern foreign language in primary school modern foreign language in primary school from the age of seven.from the age of seven.

73% of school districts in the U.S. are in 73% of school districts in the U.S. are in need of foreign language teachers.need of foreign language teachers.

How many languages are spoken How many languages are spoken in the world today?in the world today?

Of the 7,000 languages spoken around the Of the 7,000 languages spoken around the world, one dies out every two weeks.world, one dies out every two weeks.

50% will disappear in this century.50% will disappear in this century. More than 500 languages are spoken by More than 500 languages are spoken by

fewer than 10 people.fewer than 10 people. Languages are undergoing a global Languages are undergoing a global

extinction that greatly exceeds species extinction that greatly exceeds species extinction. extinction.

““The Use of Emerging Technologies in The Use of Emerging Technologies in the World Language Classroomthe World Language Classroom””

Technology can be easily integrated into the Technology can be easily integrated into the classroom as a way to encourage student classroom as a way to encourage student involvement.involvement.

Multimedia projects and activities: blogs, Multimedia projects and activities: blogs, EVOCA, Garage Band, IMovieEVOCA, Garage Band, IMovie

““Creating Rubrics for Performance Creating Rubrics for Performance AssessmentAssessment””

Students are probably Students are probably tired of trying to read tired of trying to read our minds!our minds!

Step by step process Step by step process of creating rubrics for a of creating rubrics for a variety of activities.variety of activities.

““Student Talk versus Teacher Talk: A Student Talk versus Teacher Talk: A Reality Check with Remedies”Reality Check with Remedies”

The research… The research… How much time does a student speak in a How much time does a student speak in a

teacher-centered classroom?teacher-centered classroom? Accountability in the student centered Accountability in the student centered

classroom.classroom.

““Making Connections: Making Connections: Bridging Academic and Professional Cultures Bridging Academic and Professional Cultures

for Language Studentsfor Language Students””

Making language relevant to studentsMaking language relevant to students

Increase involvement in language beyond Increase involvement in language beyond the requirement with innovative recruitment the requirement with innovative recruitment tools.tools.

““Developing Learner’s Grammatical Developing Learner’s Grammatical

CompetenceCompetence”” Attention to grammatical form without Attention to grammatical form without

meaning does not lead to acquisitionmeaning does not lead to acquisition

Acquisition of language is error drivenAcquisition of language is error driven

Learning a subject matter through the Learning a subject matter through the second languagesecond language

““Social Interaction and Linguistic Gain Social Interaction and Linguistic Gain

During Study AbroadDuring Study Abroad”” Assessing language enhancement / Assessing language enhancement /

improvement after study abroadimprovement after study abroad How many U.S. students studied abroad in How many U.S. students studied abroad in

2003-2004?2003-2004? 191,321, and most were in short term 191,321, and most were in short term

programsprograms

Factors that contribute to language Factors that contribute to language improvement in the study abroad experience—improvement in the study abroad experience—surprising resultssurprising results

Interaction with native speakers, living with Interaction with native speakers, living with families or in dorms—no significant families or in dorms—no significant improvement in language proficiency.improvement in language proficiency.

Students who studied more language prior to Students who studied more language prior to the study abroad experience demonstrated the study abroad experience demonstrated more pronounced gains in oral proficiency.more pronounced gains in oral proficiency.

What has a negative impact on language What has a negative impact on language acquisition while studying abroad?acquisition while studying abroad?

Encouraging students to speak the target Encouraging students to speak the target language among themselves.language among themselves.

Words to live by…Words to live by…

““You don’t learn a language and use it. You You don’t learn a language and use it. You learn a language by using it.”learn a language by using it.”

¡Muchas gracias, UCET!¡Muchas gracias, UCET!