Version:
5/30/11

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(5) (possibly a regular feature:) assessment (or language learning or just education) in the news! (If I can find something). Today: followup to "Ax hovers over writing assessment"

Quote of the day (perhaps a new regular feature next year?) - from 0104 Donato, safely buried in footnote 2:

"One reviewer pointed out that this assertion was disturbing and irritating. The reviewer stated that university foreign language departments offer at least one teaching methodology course and supervision during master and doctoral programs. This is precisely our point. One course in teaching methodology complemented with classroom observations cannot fully prepare instructors with the specialized professional knowledge to understand language learning research, theory, and practice, nor can it prepare them to teach the diversity of courses in the undergraduate curriculum. The classic introductory methods course is often intended to prepare untrained teaching assistants to deliver quality instruction in elementary and intermediate courses. Instructional issues for teaching advanced classes are rarely presented. Indeed, this negative and incredulous reaction to the assertion that individuals from graduate programs in literature may possibly not possess the necessary background to address issues of language acquisition is endemic to foreign language teaching in higher education. That is, the attitude tacitly grants an instructional expertise where it may not exist and wrongly equates interest in the topic with knowledge and skill."

M!!

(30) PSU first-year German combined reading / writing / WAC final exam. See reading on the "Schedule" page and in outlines for previous meetings, especially the relevant chapters of Hughes.

(30) BIMP feedback and discussion. Wry joke: When is a BIMP not a BIMP? When it doesn't happen. √About my failed application for a Faculty Enhancement Grant to investigate second-year college language coures in Oregon

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(20) Initial lengthy discussion of next (and last!) major topic: assessing courses, programs, curricula, departments, and maybe even beyond that. A look at PSU WLL chair's questions for language sections.

Look for reading suggestions on the "Schedule" page. For some initial thoughts: revisit a contentious topic – ranges in difficulty of languages; time needed to learn a language to whatever level - and can it be shortened? 0157 DLI 1973 chart; 0786 Clifford, Ray, "What Does it Mean to Learn a Language?" (TLE October 2008)

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(10) About the course's "Assessment Fair": Professor Fischer, with some help from a book about piano recitals, makes an un-Solomon decision. Upcoming meeting of WLL Assessment Committee with PSU CAE people He will invite outside observers if people send BIMP title by middle of next week. Now we'll see what comes of it.