Topic: L2/FL Program Development, Administration and Evaluation
Spring 2005
Instructor: Renate A. Schulz
Office: Learning Services Bldg. 312
Phone: 621-7388
E-mail: schulzr@u.arizona.edu
Office Hours: Tue 1–3 pm.; Th 2–4 p.m. or on appointment
Course Time and Place: Wednesdays, 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. in ILC 119
Course listserv: german596b@listserv.arizona.edu
Course Materials
Required:
- Christison, M. A. and Stoller, F. L., eds. (1997). A handbook for language program administrators. Burlingame, CA: Alta Book Center Publishers.
- Barrette, C. M. and Paesani, K., eds. (2005). Language program articulation: Developing a theoretical foundation. Boston, MA: Thomson Heinle.
Recommended:
- Bugliani, A., ed. (1994). Chairing the foreign language and literature department. ADFL Bulletin , 25, 3. (special issue)
Course Description
Few universities offer specific preparation in program administration in the context of FL or ESL/EFL programs. In general educational practice, administrators for L2/FL programs are expected to be born not made. In other words, by virtue of their academic preparation, degree, and academic experience, foreign/second language teachers or researchers are automatically expected to be effective administrators. While learning by trial and error certainly may have its merits in many contexts, a haphazard approach to program development, personnel management, student recruitment and assessment can have dire consequences and be costly to an academic unit.
Since many SLAT, ELL or graduates from foreign language departments will eventually – if not instantly after graduation — end up in leadership positions within departments or programs, German/SLAT 596b will explore curricular and programmatic management and assessment issues of FL/L2 language programs from an administrator’s perspective. Administrative leadership in the following contexts will be examined:
- Post-secondary academic departments, including language program coordination
- Intensive/Immersion Programs in English and foreign languages
- Elementary school programs in foreign languages (FLES) and ESL
- High School FL and ESL Programs
- Program Models for Study Abroad
German/SLAT 596b will be conducted seminar-style. Experienced administrators from various educational contexts will serve as guest speakers.
Course Requirements
1) Since the course meets only once a week, regular attendance and active course participation are essential. Please note that any unexcused absence will reduce the final sum of your course points by 10 points and may, therefore, lower your final grade for the course. (150 points)
2) Students, individually or in pairs, will take responsibility for two of the course topics. They will serve as discussion leaders on assigned readings and devise ways to actively involve course participants with relevant learning activities for about one hour of the class period. As part of their preparation, discussion leaders are encouraged to read additional materials and/or visit relevant program(s) and interview administrators. Peer evaluation. (400 points)
3) Discussion leaders will also decide how course participants will be accountable for reading assignments. Whatever written products result will be collected by instructor. (200 points.
4) Course participants will select a book or series of related articles dealing with issues in program development, administration and/or assessment from the course bibliography or other source and write a critical review for distribution to course participants. Suggested length: 800 – 1000 words, following book review format of MLJ, TESOLQ or other applied linguistics journal. (250 points) Due date: May 4.
Tentative Course Outline
Jan 12 Introductions
Review of syllabus and bibliography
Distribution of bibliographies
Development of peer evaluation procedure
What are the issues in program administration?
Qualities of a successful administrator
Jan 19 Readings: Barrette & Paesani, Part I, pp. 1 – 43
Models of program articulation/development
____________________________________________________________
Jan 26 Readings: Barrette & Paesani, Part II
Schulz, R. A. (Winter 2005). The role of basic language program director: Results of a Survey. ADFL Bulletin , forthcoming. (will be distributed as electronic attachment)
Articulation, curricular content and instructional delivery
__________________________________________________________________
Feb. 2 Readings: Barrette & Paesani, Part III
Learner considerations in program development/articulation
________________________________________________________
Guest Speaker: Dr. Beatrice Dupuy, Basic Language Program Coordinator, Dept. of French and Italian. “The basic language program coordinator: Role and responsibilities”
Feb. 9 Readings: Christison & Stoller, Part I
Intensive Language Programs
_______________________________________________________
Guest Speaker: Dr. Lawrence Berlin, Coordinator, English Language Program, Northeastern Illinois University
Feb. 16 Readings: Cristison & Stoller, Part II
Leadership in L2/FL Program Evaluation
__________________________________________________________
Feb. 23 Readings: Cristison & Stoller, Part III
Promoting the language program
__________________________________________________________
Mar. 2 Readings: Cristison & Stoller, Part IV
Organizational issues in language program administration
__________________________________________________________
Mar. 9 Readings: In Bugliani read articles by Jones, Pincus, Mancing, Waldinger, Bugliani (Hiring Strategies)
Organizational issues cont.
Guest speaker: Dr. Mary Wildner-Bassett, Head, Dept. of German Studies
Mar. 16 spring break – no class
Mar. 23 Readings: Christison & Stoller, Part V.
Technology and Funding
___________________________________________________________
Mar. 30 Readings: Christison & Stoller, Part VI with at least one reading from annotated bibliography for each section: Gender Issues, Immigration, ITA, Marketing
___________________________________________________________
April 6 Readings: In Bugliani read articles by Byrnes, Jarvis, Motiff & Motiff, and Schrier
Faculty development and evaluation revisited
Guest speaker: Dr. Beth Harrison, Associate Director, University Teaching Center, University of Arizona
April 13 Readings: Wilkinson S. (2005), pp. 44-58 in Barrette & Paesani; Dillon, S. (2004) U.S. slips in attracting the world’s best students. www.heraldtribune.com ; & Winter, G. (2004). Colleges tell students the overseas party’s over. www.heraldtribune.com and TBA.
Study Abroad
Guest Speaker: Dr. David Wright, Director, Study Abroad and Student Exchange, University of Arizona
April 20 Readings: TBA
Administering L2/FL programs in the schools
____________________________________________________________
April 27 Readings: TBA
Administering L2/FL programs in the schools, cont.
Guest speaker: Dr. Stephanie Duisberg, Amphitheater High School
May 4 Readings: In Bugliani read articles by Riegel, Garcia, Harper and Policy Statements of ADFL
Program evaluation
Due: Book Review
Course Evaluation