CALENDARIO

FOR LANG 4400 Spring 2008

3:00-5:00 MW     WH 003

..Prof. Tom Mathews 

 

Office: WH 104

Office Phone: 626-6345

Off. Hours: 9:00 - 11:00 MWF; 9:00 -12:00 TR, or by appointment

e-mail: tmathews@weber.edu

 

  Foreign Language Teaching Methods  


Prerequisites

3220: Phonetics and Phonology (for French, German or Spanish). Students must have completed this course with a C or better, or be enrolled now.

ACTFL Proficiency Tests. Record of an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and a Written Proficiency Test (WPT), administered by LTI, must be presented to the instructor. The department standard is Advanced Low.


Objectives

Understand the current trends in Second Language Acquisition theory.

Become acquainted with several methods used in the classroom to teach foreign languages.

Create and teach a series of lessons in order to practice several L2 teaching techniques.


Text Book

Shrum, J. L., & Glisan, E. W. (2005). Teacher's Handbook: Contextualized Language Instruction (3rd edition). Boston: Heinle and Heinle--Thompson Learning. Available in the WSU Bookstore or online from many vendors.

 

Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century (3rd edition).  You may order this directly from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

 

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Some Rules and Other Information

Policies on Grading 

Grade Descriptions
A Note on Curves

  If at any time during the semester you want an approximation of your grade, or if after the semester is over, you wish to know what grade you received, email the instructor at tmathews@weber.edu . Include your name and your student ID as well as a request for your grade.

 

Policy on Late Work

       Assignments are due at the beginning of the period on the day indicated in this syllabus. Things WILL be accepted later that day (after class, in my office, or in my mailbox--B1 134) but with one letter grade reduction from what they would otherwise have received. Assignments turned in through the next class period, will be reduced by 50%. After that, papers will not be accepted or graded. Exceptions to this policy must be arraigned beforehand. 

 Academic Honesty

        It is expected that students will submit their own work. A complete description of cheating and plagiarism can be found in the WSU Student Code (Section IV, Part D, Paragraph 2). Plagiarism will result in failure on an assignment or in the course, depending on its severity.
        On the other hand, students are encouraged to collaborate on assignments and to have others read their work and give comments and suggestions before turning work in.

 

        Students with medical, psychological or learning limitations or disabilities who desire academic adjustments or accommodations, must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (tel. 626-6413). This contact should occur at least ten days prior to the time an academic adjustment or accommodation is needed.

 

Notice: All Foreign Language Majors
Senior Assessment Requirement


Assignments and Evaluation

Quizzes, homework and Participation
There will be a series of mostly unannounced quizzes throughout the semester. Quizzes may not be made up due to absence. From time to time, points will be given in class for participation in classroom discussions. Obviously, students who are not in class will not receive these points. Few excuses will be accepted for missing class.

15%

Thought Papers
Each student will write a series of five thought papers or position papers. These essays need not present the results of any research beyond what is presented in class and in the text, but rather, should be a synthesis of the student's ideas and concerns about the assigned topic. Nevertheless, if the words or ideas of anyone other than the student are included, proper citation must be used. It is expected that each essay will be between three and five pages, typed and double spaced.

20%
Professional Development
Students will engage in activities that would earn them the equivalent of 5 points of inservice professional development towards state licensure or re-licensure. This includes attending or participating in approved workshops, classes, professional organizations, conferences, etc.

5%

Peer Teaching
Each student will prepare and present a series of five short (20 minute) lessons to peers in the class. Each lesson will focus on certain topics or techniques. Grades will be based on lesson plan, teaching technique and peer evaluations and self-evaluation.

20%

Unit Plan
Each student will prepare a one month (20 hour) unit plan based on a section of a specific textbook. This plan must also specifically incorporate the 5 C's and at least three "skills" must be practiced in each day's lesson. More details for this assignment will be given in class.

20%

Final Exam
The final exam will be comprehensive.  It will consist of an oral section as well as short answer and essay type questions.

20%


All work in this class including the final grad will be based on the following scale:
 

A

93-100

 

C

73-76

A-

90-92

 

C-

70-72

B+

87-89

 

D+

67-79

B

83-86

 

D

63-66

B-

80-82

 

D-

60-62

C+

77-79

 

F

0-59

 

Calendar for ForLang 4400

 

The dates indicated on this calendar show when each reading or other assignment is due. Reading should be done before coming to class. Assignments are due during class on the date indicated.

 

 

DATE

TOPIC 

ASSIGNMENT

1

7 January

Introduction to the course. Review of Syllabus.
Discussion: Is First Language Acquisition different from Second Language Acquisition?

 

 

9 January

Brief History of Foreign Language Teaching

Preliminary Chapter: The profession

Read pp. 1-10

2

14 January

Chapter 1: Understanding Input, Output and Interaction

Demonstration: Silent Way (Caleb Gattegno)

Read pp. 11-39

Essay 1:
Why do we teach L2?

16 January

Chapter 2: Standards for Foreign Language Teaching

Demonstration: Suggestopedia (Georgi Lozanov)

Read pp. 40-65

3

21 January

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

No Class

 

23 January

Discussion: The Monitor Model (Stephen D. Krashen)
Demonstration: TPR (James Asher)

 

4

28 January

Chapter 3: Organizing Content and Planning

Read pp. 66-94

 

30 January

Demonstration: Strategic Interaction (Robert J. DiPietro)

The Scenario Collection is here

5

4 February

Chapter 6: Interactive Approach

Read pp. 154-188

 

6 February

Communication:

Demonstration: Audio-Lingual Method (Dell Hymes et al.)

Essay 2:
Is negative affect good or bad?

6

11 February

Demonstration: Jazz Chants (Carolyn Graham)

 

 

13 February

Chapter 7: Story-Based Approach

Cultures:

Read pp. 189-212

7

18 February

President's Day

No Class

 

20 February

Peer Teaching 1: Listening Lesson

 

8

25 February

Chapter 8: Developing Interpersonal Communication

Connections:

Read pp. 213-264
Turn in evaluations of Listening Lesson

 

27 February

(continued)

Essay 3:
How do the 5 C's promote language proficiency?

9

3 March

Chapter 9: Developing Presentational Communication

 

  Read pp. 265-313

 

5 March

Peer Teaching 2: Grammar Lesson

 

 

10 – 14 March

Spring Break
No Class

10

17 March

Teaching Culture: Three techniques

 

Turn in evaluations of Grammar Lesson

 

19 March

Comparisons:

Chapter 10: Diversity in the Classroom

Read pp. 314-354

11

24 March

(continued)

Communities:

Essay 4:
The use of English in an L2 class

 

26 March

Peer Teaching 3: Reading Lesson

 

12

31 March

Chapter 11:Assessing Language Performance

Discussion: Testing and Evaluation

Read pp. 355-406
Turn in evaluations of Reading Lesson

 

2 April

 (continued)

13

7 April

 

 

 

9 April

 Discussion: Grading and Inflation  

14

14 April

Chapter 12: Using Technology

Read pp. 407-442
Turn in evaluations of Integrated Lesson

 

16 April

Peer Teaching 4: Integrated Lesson with technology

Essay 5:
Grade inflation in elective courses

15

21 April

 continuted

 

23 April

Review for final exam

Power point review is here.

Turn in evaluations of Technology Lesson

Unit Plan due

.

FINAL EXAM

 Monday, April 30

4:30 PM

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