Language 4044 Language Teaching Methods

Spring, 2007

(Prepared: December 26, 2006; Last Change: Jan 16, 2007; May 19, 2007)

Syllabus

Purposes of Course:

• Students will acquire information, resources & techniques to become teachers of world languages in K-12.
  • Students will understand various methods of teaching world languages.
  • Students will understand developments in the field (proficiency; assessment; communicative and structured activities).
• Students will be familiar with national, state & local standards for world languages as a subject.
• Students will understand how K-12 students acquire/learn a second language.
• Students will develop, practice, gain feedback on lesson plans & their delivery.
• Students will develop materials to be used in future employment as world language teachers.
• Students will become familiar with the profession & the relation of the field to the larger community.
• Students will study & practice topics as mandated by accreditation & state law.

Texts:

(Required)

• Curtain and Dahlberg, Languages and Children Making the Match: New Languages for Young Learners, Grades K-8 , 3rd ed.
• Omaggio Hadley, Teaching Language in Context, 3rd ed
• Farley, Structured Input: Grammar Instruction for the Acquisition-Oriented Classroom
• one new mini-dv (digital video) tape

Note: In 2008, one other book will be added: Structured Output

(Other assigned readings)

• Articles, Videos, Readers, On-line materials, as assigned (library; interlibrary loan; web)
• Selected high school texts (on reserve in H 452)

(Recommended)

• Blaz, A Collection of Performance Tasks and Rubrics: Foreign Languages
• Tedick, Proficiency-Oriented Language Instruction and Assessment: A Curriculum Handbook for Teachers (on-line: http://www.carla.umn.edu/articulation/MNAP_handbook.html)

Grades:

• Class Participation (Including WebX) 25%
• Portfolio Projects 30%
  • Unit Plan 10%
  • Text/Video, Pronunciation, Technology 10%
  • Picture File (10%)
• Elementary Teaching/Journal 10%
• Micro-Teaching (Lesson Plans and Delivery) 20%
  • Lesson Plans/Delivery 15%
  • Children's Lit 05%
• Discrete Test (Listening Comprehension or Reading Compr.)/Reaction Papers (Praxis Exam, Videotaped Lesson) 05%
• Exam 10%

Important Information:

Students are expected to come prepared and on time to all classes, and to participate fully. This is especially important this semester due to the reduced number of class sessions. Students must complete all assignments to be eligible to pass the course.

As you read for each assignment, take notes of the main ideas. Be ready to lead and participate in discussion about these ideas, about what you like and don't like, about what you want clarified or what you question, about how to put the ideas into action. At times we will work in class applying the concepts to concrete teaching plans.

Since 1922, the university's expectation has been that undergraduate students should study, on average, 3 hours per week for every credit (1 hour in class, 2 hours outside of class). Some students need less time than others to complete the assignments. If you are having difficulty completing the assignments in the presumed time-frame, please see me.

According to department policy, the instructor will inform the department head at the end of the course whether or not to recommend students for student teaching/licensure, based on their performance in this course.

Due Dates: See Schedule.

If for any reason you need special accomodation to complete this course, please speak with the professor immediately.