The Center for Language Education and Research (CLEAR)

An Overview

The Center of Language Education and Research (CLEAR) at Michigan State University was established in 1996 as a Language Resource Center (LRC) through a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education. As an LRC, CLEAR strives to promote and support the teaching and learning of foreign languages in the United States through its various projects and outreach activities.

In August 2006, CLEAR began its fourth funding cycle as one of 15 LRCs across the country. In the upcoming years, CLEAR will continue to develop materials for foreign language teaching and learning, conduct research on the teaching and learning of foreign languages, and provide professional development opportunities for educators in the field.

CLEAR's current projects are arranged into five categories:

• Web-Based Materials Development Projects
• Professional Development Projects
• Evaluation/Assessment Projects
• Collaborative Projects
• Research Projects

Each category contains projects which focus on achieving CLEAR's overall goals as an LRC. The projects are led by faculty members with the support of CLEAR faculty and graduate students. A Local Advisory Board (comprised of representatives from MSU's collaborating units and CLEAR faculty) and a National Advisory Board (comprised of individuals of national and international reputation in the field of foreign languages) assist in the guidance of the projects.

CLEAR's projects for the current funding year (2006-2007) in each category are as follows:

Web-Based Materials Development Projects

• Rich Internet Applications for Language Learning
• MIMEA: Modules for Interactive Multimedia Education and Assessment

Professional Development Projects

• Onsite Teacher Development Workshops
• Summer Workshops
• Summer Institutes for LCTL teachers
• Future Faculty Development (collaborative w/MSU's Second Language Studies Program)

Evaluation/Assessment Projects

• Interactive Proficiency Assessment Training
• The Role of the Workshop in Teacher Development
• A Unified Model for the Assessment of LCTL Learning

Collaborative Projects

• Language Learning & Technology (collaborative w/University of Hawai'i's NFLRC)
• World Languages Day (collaborative w/numerous MSU NRCs)
• Introductory Business Language CD-ROMs for LCTLs (collaborative w/MSU's CIBER)
• Critical Incidents and Intercultural Communication in Business (collaborative w/MSU's CIBER)
• Cultural Interviews with Korean Executives (collaborative w/MSU's CIBER)

Research Projects

• The Use of Subtitles During Video-Based Listening Activities
• Language Aptitude and LCTL Learning