LRC Activities 1999-2002
During the third cycle of funding, 1999-2002, the LRC at CARLA continued to build on the solid foundation it developed during the first six years of its existence, and launched in new directions to strengthen the center’s ability to serve as a resouce to language teachers across the nation. The following initiatives comprised the focus of LRC from 1999-2002:
Enhancing Students' Ability to Meet National and State Standards with Content-Based Language Teaching with Technology (CoBaLTT)
At the heart of CARLA’s third LRC funding cycle was an initiative to establish a professional development program and a web-based resource center for language teachers, which together would provide instruction and practical tools on incorporating content-based language instruction into the classroom using technology. The CoBaLTT website includes interactive instructional modules on using technology in the language classroom, content-based language instruction, principles of proficiency, and performance-based assessment and meeting standards. A resource section includes classroom-based resources created for and by K-16 teachers. In addition, this project established a national consortium of language teacher educators that will engage in a sustained dialogue about transforming language education in the country.
Visit the CoBaLTT page to learn
more.
Second Language Assessment:
Development of a Virtual Assessment Center for Teachers
In an effort to meet a national need for teacher development in the area of second language assessment, and a related demand for an accessible array of assessment resources that will meet the day-to-day assessment needs of language teachers, CARLA developed a Virtual Assessment Center for teachers. Using new and emerging computer and information technologies, this site provides:
- guidance to teachers in the construction of formative and summative assessment instruments,
- usable and flexible templates for quizzes, performance-based measures, and proficiency-oriented instruments,
- interactive professional development activities that cover fundamental aspects of language assessment, and
- means for teachers to do automated scoring, perform item analyses, and generate score reports for students.
Visit the Second Language Assessment
page to learn more.
Less Commonly Taught Languages Project (LCTL)
To expand their efforts, members of the LCTL project developed sharable materials for LCTL teachers by creating interactive lessons using culturally authentic pictures and text from websites in less commonly taught languages. Descriptions of how these will fit into the curriculum of a LCTL program and suggestions for use will be made available through the COBALTT website. Project members created sample lessons and lesson plans for selected languages designed to show how teachers can use the web-based materials created through this project, and how these materials can be adapted for use in other languages. In addition, the LCTL project will continued to offer an annual summer institute aimed at the specific needs of LCTL teachers.
Visit the Less Commonly Taught Languages
page to learn more.
Content-Based Language Action and Research Projects
Two specific research projects were conducted during 1999-2002:
- “Expressing Cognitive Operations through the Language of Immersion”
- “Learning Language in a Language Immersion Village”
Both of these projects explored the theme of content-based language instruction in a variety of contexts.
Visit the Language Immersion
Education page to learn more.
Strategies for Language and Culture Learning
Building on CARLA's previous research and teacher resources on language strategies and culture learning, CARLA received funding in 1999 to create a set of user-friendly materials designed to maximize study abroad with materials on language and culture-learning strategies, as part of its U.S. Department of Education's Language Resource Center grant. Project leaders created, field-tested, and revised a set of guidebooks as part of the Maximizing Study Abroad series. The series includes three separate publications for students, study abroad program professionals, and language instructors to learn and use language and culture learning strategies.
Visit the Maximizing Study Abroad
page to learn more.
Dissemination of information has always been a strong emphasis for CARLA’s LRC. Each of the proposed projects sponsored learning opportunities for teachers through CARLA's summer institute program, published research and working documents through the CARLA working papers series, and shared information and resources through the CARLA website.
National dissemination efforts also included a conference on Language Teacher Education, held in Minneapolis in May, 2001, designed to provide a forum for all those engaged in research, instruction, and program development for language teacher education programs nationwide.
CARLA also sponsored the American Council on Immersion Education (ACIE), which publishes the ACIE Newsletter three times each year, maintains a listserv, holds an annual summer institute for immersion educators, and offers an extensive immersion education website and bibliography.
