Research Area: Languages
Few institutions of higher education offer first- and second-year foreign language courses online, and it wasn’t too long ago that Oregon State University’s Susana Rivera-Mills somewhat agreed with that approach. The Spanish professor and associate dean of OSU’s College of Liberal Arts wasn’t sold on the notion that foreign language programs could be effectively taught online. Rivera-Mills has since changed her opinion on the matter thanks to extensive research she conducted in 2010 with funding from OSU Extended Campus (Ecampus) … Continue reading
[Summary from: Educause, 2009] This article describes how one American Sign Language (ASL) class employed video podcasting (vodcasting) assignments to improve students’ receptive and expressive skills. Vodcasts are downloadable video files distributed through the Internet on a subscription basis. The procedures used can be applied to other learning, including foreign languages, to achieve similar outcomes. Gale, E. & Kung, S. (2009). Teaching a Foreign Language Using Video Podcast Assignments: Examples from An American Sign Language Course, Educause Quarterly Magazine, 32 … Continue reading
[Summary from: Educause, 2008] This Viewpoint article discusses technology and understanding how to employ Web 2.0 tools to successfully support pedagogy. The author illustrates the need for foreign language faculty to be competent users of technology in order to meet the needs of today’s students. For those students who cannot travel to the target country to immerse themselves in the culture and the language, the Internet is a valuable alternative that not only delivers authentic content but also communication capabilities. … Continue reading