LTL Workshop November 18, 2010

1. LTL WorkshopNovember 18, 2010 Manuela Wagner

2. Languages? • Why should we learn/teach languages? Please take 5 minutes with your partner to come up with as many reasons as possible.

3. Recently, attention and concern have given rise to new and increased federal policies and funding for languages and international studies. While this may not yet be the golden age of language study, it is quite evident that the United States has entered a new era with respect to the knowledge of other languages and the understanding of other cultures. It is a new era that is being determined by national security and economic competitiveness, but its most serious impact will be upon education. (Dave Edwards, Executive Director, JNCL/NCLIS)http://www.wfu.edu/education/vision2010/articles.html

4. White Paper, The National Language Conference, February 2005 http://www.nlconference.org/docs/White_Paper.pdf

5. Vision(White paper cont’d) Our vision is a world in which the United States is a stronger global leader through proficiency in foreign languages and understanding of the cultures of the world. These abilities are strengths of our public and private sectors and pillars of our educational system. The government, academic, and private sectors contribute to, and mutually benefit from, these national capabilities. http://www.nlconference.org/docs/White_Paper.pdf

7. Lobbying for Languages and Funding Opportunities • www.languagepolicy.org/ • NLRC’s

8. Languages Across the Curriculum • What do you already know about LAC? • What approach comes to mind when you think of the LTL model? • Which disciplines?

9. Advantages of LTL courses: • Take 5 minutes to come up with as many advantages of LTL courses

10. Advantages of taking LTL courses: • Practicing one’s language competence while studying the subject matter of another discipline is fun, but also means qualifying oneself for a career that involves functioning in an international/intercultural context. • Applying their language skills in combination with courses in other disciplines gives students an edge in career marketability, while serving to enhance their studies and fulfill credit requirements in their major/or elective fields of interest. • Students who participate in two or more LTL courses during the course of their UCONN studies are awarded Applied Language Certificates they can show to prospective employers.

11. LTL at UCONN • Since 1994, director: Regina Kecht (NEH Grant) • Director from 1996 to 2007: Katharina von Hammerstein • Radically expanded program and received institutional funding to sustain the program • Built the program as we know it now • Current director: Manuela Wagner

13. Example of LTL unit

14. FIRST CLASS MEETING OF THE PARENT COURSE (in history, political science, etc.): • LTL-instructors attend the parent course (all through the semester). • Please remind the parent course instructors beforehand, to give you five minutes to announce the LTL section: explain what it is (give concrete examples), usefulness (practice of the foreign language), and mention the certificate. • Give them the course number INTD-3222 sect. xx and PeopleSoft digits. • Ask for a show of hands of interested students; meet with them at the end of class. • It has proven to be very helpful, if the faculty member teaching the parent course explicitly endorses the LTL section and dedicates a few minutes of the first class meeting to presenting students with the LTL option.

15. Task • In your language group, think of a topic in history, literature, film, music, art, etc. that all of you know something about. Look for some material on the internet. Then plan a short LTL unit based on this content. Use the “How to” guide provided in your handout. You have 15 – 20 minutes. Then you will report to us what you came up with. You could show us an outline and explain what the handout would look like. Or you could concentrate on making the handout and explain to us what the class will look like based on the handout.