Programs, Purposes, and Policies:Re-Envisioning World Language Instruction in the Context of Budgetary Constraints

Benjamin RifkinThe College of New Jersey

excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research and public service.

advancement of society through research, creative activity, scholarly inquiry and the development of new knowledge

preserve and promote the arts, benefit the state’s economy serve citizens

UT-Austin Mission Statement

What starts here changes

the world.

UT-Austin Slogan

Awareness of global issues

Proficiency in a second language

UT-Austin College of Liberal Arts Mission Statement

People of Texas Texan Economy Language and International Studies as a key

component in the liberal arts education for all students (AAC&U)

UT-Austin as a leader in world language education in the US and beyond

Why Should UT-A Be International?

Knowledge of human cultures through study in the humanities, history, languages

Intellectual and practical skills including inquiry and analysis, critical and creative thinking, written and oral communication, teamwork and problem solving

Personal and social responsibility including intercultural knowledge and competence

Ethical reasoning and action Foundations for lifelong learning

AAC&U LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes

All these must be anchored through active involvement with diverse communities and real world challenges

AAC&U LEAPEssential Learning Outcomes (2)

At a competitive disadvantage Reducing the potential of the state in

international commerce Reducing the potential of graduates for

lifelong learning Reducing the potential of the graduates for

fulfilling lives

UT-A Students without Language and International Studies Training

AAC&U Employer Survey DataSkill or Knowledge Base Employers Report Wanting to Hire …

Global Issues 72%

US in the world 60%

Teamwork 76%

Critical thinking and analytic reasoning 73%

Written & oral communication 73%

Information literacy 70%

Creativity & innovation 70%

Complex problem solving 64%

This research, published by the American Psychological Association, is the first of its kind to look at the link between living abroad and creativity.

[Researchers found] there is some sort of psychological transformation that needs to occur when people are living in a foreign country in order to enhance creativity. This may happen when people work to adapt themselves to a new culture …”

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/apa-lot042309.php

APA Study on Creativity

Sample Federal Employers NASA FBI Coast Guard USAID Energy Dept. Broadcasting Board of Governors NSA / CIA

Commerce Dept. State Dept. Dept. of Defense Nuclear Reg. Commission Dept. of Agriculture Export Import Bank Intl. Trade Com.

Sample Private Sector Employers Morgan Stanley Microsoft General Motors Otis Elevator Reebok Hewlett Packard Delta Airlines Price Waterhouse

Citibank 3M Ford AT&T Honeywell Gillette Avon Exxon / Mobil

Sample NGO Employers Peace Corps AA Amnesty International Citizens Watch Nonviolence International Green Cross

International Resettlement Agencies IREX ACTR / ACCELS Mother & Child Church Missions Women’s Crisis Center of St. Pbg.

Creation of Texas Language Center Enhancement of UT-Austin grants for Title VI

Centers, Flagship programs Revision of undergraduate language

programs to provide instruction beyond the area of literature

Impact on shape of graduate curricula?

Discussion of 2007 MLA Report

Purposes for Language Study

Students’ purposes and goals

Faculty purposes and goals

Administrative purposes and goals

Goals and objectives of potential employers

Goals and objectives of graduate and professional schools

Heritage Specialist Liberal Arts Applied

Language Learning Missions

Heritage

Specialist

Liberal Arts

Applied

Other

Students’ Purposes for Language Study

Assessment Factors Enumerative Attitudinal Quantitative Qualitative Benchmark moments Tasks integrated into

the curriculum Multidimensional

assessment

Assessment Feedback Loop

UT-Austin InstructionalAssessment Resources

Tenure-StreamLecturersGraduate Assistants

Instructor of Record in UT-Austin Language Classes

Title VI Centers: European Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, South Asia Institute,

National Language Resource Center: Center for Open Educational Resources and Language Learning

Arabic Flagship Program South Asian Flagship

Program

Federally Funded Centers

Reallocation of Enrollments

Incentives for enrollment in under-enrolled language classes

Incentives to continue study beyond the language requirement

Heritage language class options

Reallocation of Instructional Hours

22

1

1

1SLA/FL-Ed

Expertise

Not All Technology Is Useful

Expanded Use of Technology

Importance of the Mission Statements Policies Purposes Programs (and Public Relations) Assessment and Feedback Loop Enrollment Patterns Heritage Languages Deployment of Instructors Expanded (and Wise) Use of Technology

Summary Conclusions