Center for Language Education And Research (CLEAR) at Michigan State University

Michigan State University
A-712 Wells Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: 517-432-2286
Fax: 517-432-0473
clear@msu.edu

Past Summer Workshops

Jun 16th, 2003 (Mon) -- Jun 18th, 2003 (Wed)

Teaching Listening and Speaking in the Foreign Language Classroom
Organizer: Anne Violin-Wigent, Assistant Professor and French Language Director, Department of Romance and Classical Languages, Michigan State University

This workshop will consist of three parts. In the first part, the discussion will focus around listening. We will address questions such as 1) why listening in a foreign language is different from listening in one’s native language, and 2) what can be done to facilitate the listening process in the foreign language for students. The second aspect to be discussed is speaking, including pronunciation, lexical and grammatical accuracy in speaking, and oral feedback from the teacher. Finally, the emotional aspect of speaking in the foreign language during class will be analyzed. Several strategies to encourage students to speak in class will be mentioned, among other things.

Each of these items will first be discussed in groups, followed by practical implementations of the discussions as well as feedback. Activities for all represented languages will be presented. This workshop is geared toward secondary and university level instructors.

Jun 19th, 2003 (Thu) -- Jun 21st, 2003 (Sat)

Teaching Reading in the Foreign Language Classroom
Organizer: Margo Glew, Program Coordinator for the Less Commonly Taught Languages, Department of Linguistics and Languages, Michigan State University

This workshop will focus on the teaching and learning of reading in the foreign language classroom. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and learn about how students learn to read in a second language as well as the role that reading plays in the overall process of acquiring a second language. Furthermore, workshop participants will examine the national FL standards and consider how they relate to what we know about teaching and learning as well as how they relate to our own goals for the classroom. Practical suggestions for how to implement goals (the National Standards and our own) into our classrooms will then be explored. Finally, workshop participants will discuss issues of special interest to the foreign language classroom. Participants will learn about and have an opportunity to develop practical strategies for the classroom in order to 1) build vocabulary, 2) integrate content and language learning, 3) integrate literature and language learning, 4) make the best use of technology to assist in the learning of reading, and 5) evaluate student progress in reading acquisition.

Jun 23rd, 2003 (Mon) -- Jun 25th, 2003 (Wed)

Teaching Writing in the Foreign Language Classroom
Organizer:
Charlene Polio, Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics and Languages, Michigan State University

This workshop will cover several areas of foreign language writing instruction. It will begin with a general discussion of how writing fits into a general skill foreign language class and the role it plays in meeting the National Standards for Foreign Language Teaching. There will be some focus on essay writing including how to: 1) construct assignments; 2) create prewriting activities; and 3) give feedback on and assess assignments. In addition, examples will be given of writing activities for beginners as well as controlled writing tasks and those that target specific grammatical structures.

Activities for all levels and all populations of foreign language learners will be presented, however, more of the activities will be relevant to secondary and university level instructors.

Jul 14th, 2003 (Mon) -- Jul 18th, 2003 (Fri)

Jul 23rd, 2003 (Wed) -- Jul 25th, 2003 (Fri)

Developing a learning scenario to bring out the best in your foreign language class
Organizers:

Emily Spinelli, Professor of Spanish, University of Michigan-Dearborn
Anne Nerenz, Professor of French, Eastern Michigan University
Tom Lovik, Professor of German, Michigan State University
Cindy Kendall, College of Education, Michigan State University

This workshop will introduce participants to integrating the National Standards for Foreign Language Teaching for practical use in the classroom. The morning sessions will provide participants with information on the National Standards, assessing teacher and student language proficiency, designing a learning scenario based on a thematic unit, incorporating technology into their learning scenario and standards-based student assessment grounded in the national standards and the learning scenario. Participants will design a basic standards-based learning scenario during this workshop. Target language enrichment opportunities will be available to participants while on campus.Stipends to help defray the program costs and partial travel/accommodation costs are available for participants for this workshop only.

Stipend recipients must be teaching a foreign language in the United States. Additional stipend conditions will be included in the acceptance letters.

Participants interested in receiving a stipend must indicate so in the statement of purpose.

Jul 28th, 2003 (Mon) -- Jul 31st, 2003 (Thu)

Materials Development Marathon: Creating Online Communicative activities from start to finish
Organizers:

Carol Wilson-Duffy, Instructional Technology Coordinator, CLEAR, Michigan State University
María José Alvarez-Torres, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of English, Michigan State University

Creating fun, interactive, and effective materials in language instruction can be a difficult task for many teachers who are just beginning to explore the use of technology in language instruction. This 5-day workshop will take teachers through the paces beginning with a hands-on tutorial of current Internet tools (i.e., e-mail, text-based and graphic-based chat environments, videoconferences, and integrated tools) and exploration of CALL methodology, and working up to designing online communicative activities and task based online projects. Teachers will develop a set of pedagogically sound online materials directed at their students’ proficiency and needed language skills.

Jun 14th, 2004 (Mon) -- Jun 16th, 2004 (Wed)

Teaching Speaking and Listening in the Foreign Language Classroom
Organizer: Anne Violin-Wigent, Assistant Professor, Department of French, Classics, and Italian, Michigan State University

The first section of this workshop will focus on listening. We will address, among other things, questions such as: 1) why listening in a foreign language is different from listening in one's native language, and 2) what can be done to facilitate the listening process in the foreign language for students. The second aspect to be discussed is speaking, including pronunciation, lexical and grammatical accuracy in speaking, and oral feedback from the teacher (as opposed to written feedback on compositions). Throughout the workshop, the emotional aspect of speaking in the foreign language during class will be addressed. Among other things, several strategies to encourage students to speak in class and to provide adequate feedback will be mentioned.

Each of these items will first be discussed in groups, followed by practical implementations of the discussions and feedback. Activities for all languages will be presented. This workshop is geared toward secondary and university level instructors.

Jun 17th, 2004 (Thu) -- Jun 19th, 2004 (Sat)

Teaching Reading in the Foreign Language Classroom
Organizer: Margo Glew, Coordinator of the Less Commonly Taught Languages Program, Department of Linguistics & Languages, Michigan State University

This workshop will focus on the teaching and learning of reading in the foreign language classroom. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and learn about how students learn to read in a second language as well as the role that reading plays in the overall process of acquiring a second language. Furthermore, workshop participants will examine their own goals for the classroom and consider how they relate to what we know about teaching and learning. Practical suggestions for how to implement goals into our classrooms will then be explored. Finally, workshop participants will discuss issues of special interest to the foreign language classroom. Participants will learn about and have an opportunity to develop practical strategies for the classroom in order to: 1) build vocabulary, 2) integrate content and language learning, 3) integrate literature and language learning, 4) make the best use of technology to assist in the learning of reading, and 5) evaluate student progress in reading acquisition.

Jul 19th, 2004 (Mon) -- Jul 23rd, 2004 (Fri)

Putting Flash into your course
Organizer: Dennie Hoopingarner, Assistant Director for Technology Implementation, CLEAR; and Director, Language Learning Center, Michigan State University

Language teachers can create web-based interactive multimedia using Macromedia Flash. This workshop is intended for teachers with some experience in creating and editing graphics and sound on the computer (see CLEAR's website for details). The basics of Flash will be covered, followed by the application of templates to create interactive multimedia for language learning. To be covered are scripting, web-based delivery and deployment, and integration with existing websites, in a language-teaching context. Examples of past participants' work, as well as tutorials and templates, are available on CLEAR's website.

Examples that use some of the Flash templates can be seen at this URL: http://clear.msu.edu/lansingchineseschool/csl.

Online materials for the workshop (a virtual workshop) are under construction at http://clear.msu.edu/dennie/flash

Computer-Based Media: It is expected that participants have had experience in the following skills:

* Editing a graphic using a program such as Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro or GraphicConverter, including:
o Resizing
o Cropping
o Saving as another format
* Recording audio using a microphone connected to a computer

Documents and Tutorials that will be used in the workshop are available online at http://clear.msu.edu/dennie/flash.

Jul 26th, 2004 (Mon) -- Jul 30th, 2004 (Fri)

Materials Development Marathon: Creating Online Communicative activities from start to finish
Organizer:
Carol Wilson-Duffy, Instructional Technology Coordinator, CLEAR, Michigan State University

Many language teachers these days are feeling the push to learn how to use the World Wide Web to create lessons that are fun, interactive, and effective in language instruction. This is a huge task for many teachers who are just beginning to explore the use of technology in language instruction. This 5-day workshop will take teachers through the paces beginning with a hands-on tutorial of current Internet tools (i.e., e-mail, text-based, graphic-based, audio and video chat environments, webpage development with embedded multimedia) and exploration of CALL methodology, working up to designing online communicative activities and task based online projects. Teachers will work together to create a set of pedagogically sound online materials directed at different skills and proficiency levels. (Webpage design skills are a prerequisite to this workshop.)

Aug 3rd, 2004 (Tue) -- Aug 6th, 2004 (Fri)

Digital Video Projects
Organizer: Dennie Hoopingarner, Assistant Director for Technology Implementation, CLEAR; and Director, Language Learning Center, Michigan State University

Digital video is a great way for students to express themselves in the foreign language classroom. This workshop shows teachers how to use digital camcorders and computers to shoot and edit video projects. Topics include camera techniques, dubbing audio and adding subtitles, and output options.

During the workshop, participants will learn how to copy their projects onto videotape, the internet, or DVD.

Although computers and some video equipment will be available for participants to use during the workshop, participants are encouraged to bring their own camcorders, so that they can become familiar with their equipment. See CLEAR's website for more details on recommended equipment.

Aug 9th, 2004 (Mon) -- Aug 11th, 2004 (Wed)

Creating communicative Grammar Activities
Organizer:
Charlene Polio, Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics and Languages, Michigan State University

This workshop assumes that teachers have specific grammatical objectives that need to be covered, and that they want to find ways to teach these structures through communicative activities that will both motivate students and get them to use the structures. Specifically, we will address the follow topics: using the target language communicatively while teaching grammar; supplementing the structural goals of a curriculum and/or textbook with communicative activities; using comprehension-based activities that focus on specific grammatical structures; developing activities that encourage students to produce a particular grammatical structure while requiring to students to communicate meaning; evaluating and choosing correction techniques for oral and written structural errors that occur within meaningful language use; and using authentic materials to teach grammar.

Jul 15th, 2005 (Fri) -- Jul 17th, 2005 (Sun)

Creating communicative Speaking Activities
Organizer:
Charlene Polio, Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics & Languages, Michigan State University

This workshop will begin with a discussion of what it means for a classroom task to be truly communicative and how such tasks are related to the National Standards for Foreign Language Teaching. It will then address three major topics. First, participants will learn to create communicative speaking tasks for a variety of levels, from complete beginners to advanced speakers who have reached a plateau. Second, they will explore the use of authentic materials in creating such activities, and third, the workshop will end with a discussion of using such activities to achieve grammatical objectives. Demonstrations will be provided and hands-on activities will be used to implement the techniques learned.

Jul 18th, 2005 (Mon) -- Jul 22nd, 2005 (Fri)

Digital Video Projects
Organizers:

Dennie Hoopingarner, Assistant Director for Technology Implementation, CLEAR; and Director, Language Learning Center, Michigan State University
Carol Wilson-Duffy, Instructional Technology Coordinator, CLEAR, Michigan State University

Digital video is a great way for students to express themselves in the foreign language classroom. This workshop shows teachers how to use digital camcorders and computers to shoot and edit video projects. Topics include camera techniques, dubbing audio and adding subtitles, and output options.

During the workshop, participants will learn how to copy their projects onto videotape, the internet, or DVD.

Although computers and some video equipment will be available for participants to use during the workshop, participants are encouraged to bring their own camcorders, so that they can become familiar with their equipment.

Jul 25th, 2005 (Mon) -- Jul 29th, 2005 (Fri)

Teaching Writing in the language classroom
Organizer:
Charlene Polio, Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics & Languages, Michigan State University

This workshop will cover several areas of foreign language writing instruction. It will begin with a discussion of how writing fits into a general skill foreign language class and the role writing plays in meeting the National Standards for Foreign Language Teaching. There will be some focus on essay writing including how to: 1) construct assignments; 2) create prewriting activities; and 3) give feedback on and assess assignments. In addition, examples will be given on writing activities for beginners as well as controlled writing activities that target specific grammatical structures.

Jul 25th, 2005 (Mon) -- Jul 29th, 2005 (Fri)

Vocabulary - The key to Language Fluency
Organizer:
Susanne Rott, Assistant Professor, Department of Germanic Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago

This workshop will begin by outlining the role of vocabulary in developing second language learners’ fluency. It will then address characteristics of vocabulary activities that foster long-term word retention. The main focus of the workshop will be on identifying problems learners face when they learn words and when they try to use these words to communicate their ideas. Workshop participants will learn how to create effective vocabulary activities that remedy learning and production difficulties at different language levels (from beginning to advanced). Additionally, we will make a distinction between vocabulary activities best used in class and outside the classroom. For in-class activities, participants will collaborate on developing vocabulary-focused activities for the four language skills (reading, writing, listening and communicating) and discuss how such activities are best integrated in task-based and communicative language instruction. For vocabulary activities that can be completed outside the classroom, we will look at effective (and less-effective) computer-based materials available online and have a hands-on session on free, easy-to-use shareware.

Jul 10th, 2006 (Mon) -- Jul 14th, 2006 (Fri)

Developing Online Language Materials
Organizer:
Dennie Hoopingarner, Associate Director for Technology Implementation, CLEAR; Director, Language Learning Center, Michigan State University

Putting materials online for student access is no longer an add-on or an extra feature for your course, but a necessary part of any language class. Students expect instructors to post syllabi, announcements, and supplementary materials online. Do you have the skills to meet their expectations?

This workshop will provide language instructors with the skills to create online instructional materials. Topics to be covered include creating web pages, links, graphics, sound, and basic interactivity. The overall focus will be on the special needs of language instructors, including font encoding issues and text direction. At the end of the workshop, you will be able to create online materials for your students.

There are no technical prerequisites, other than basic familiarity with computers. The workshop will be offered in one of MSU's state-of-the-art computer labs. Bring your own portable computer, or use one of our machines. The workshop is hands-on, fast-paced, informative, useful, and fun!

Jul 17th, 2006 (Mon) -- Jul 21st, 2006 (Fri)

Toward friendly assessment in the foreign language classroom
Organizer:
Daniel J. Reed, Visiting Assistant Professor and Language Assessment Specialist, CLEAR

Foreign language teachers have long known that good assessment is a natural part of foreign language teaching. However, the implications of national standards for classroom assessment are often confusing, burdensome and frustrating. For example, "formative" assessment techniques are generally well-suited to the classroom, yet they are not really appropriate for "summative" purposes. In this workshop's discussions and activities, teachers and presenters will untangle the really important assessment threads from the lesser important ones and weave back together teaching and assessment practices in a manner that leads naturally to productive learning experiences for all students. This will be accomplished by first reviewing basic principles of both traditional and nontraditional assessment, and then exploring how these principles can be applied in the development of assessment materials that align with the curriculum and state and national standards. Participants will also be given guidance and hands-on experience in the development of assessment materials that suit the local context in which they teach.

Jul 9th, 2007 (Mon) -- Jul 11th, 2007 (Wed)

Conducting Action Research in the Foreign Language Classroom
Action research is research conducted by practitioners (i.e., language teachers) with the aim of making positive changes in teaching practices and learning outcomes. This workshop is designed for practicing language teachers with little to no prior research experience who would like to implement an action research project in their own classrooms. Participants will begin by (a) identifying a specific issue that they view as critical to their everyday teaching (b) formulating a research objective, and (c) creating a research design, including selection of participants, choice of materials, and procedures to be followed that best serves that research objective. Practical advice on how to collect, analyze, and interpret data will also be discussed. We will also explore broader issues related to action research projects, such as the benefits and drawbacks of collaborative research with colleagues, whether and how to involve administrators and other interested parties in the research project, and protection of the rights of students as potential research subjects.

Jul 12th, 2007 (Thu) -- Jul 14th, 2007 (Sat)

Integrating Technology and Assessment for Language Teaching and Learning
Workshop leaders: Dr. Paula Winke & Dr. Dennie Hoopingarner
Times: 9:00-3:30 each day

Advances in technology and developments in the field of language assessment come together in this CLEAR workshop, which is designed for teachers of all languages. The overall goal is to show how technology facilitates assessment, and how assessment in turn facilitates learning. In short, assessment facilitates learning when it provides feedback that is relevant and timely. This workshop introduces easy-to-use technology that can help to make this happen.

This workshop will provide you with the skills to create online assessment activities for reading, writing, listening and speaking. Special emphasis will be placed on aligning these assessments with state and national standards and the particular curricular objectives of your language program. At the end of the workshop, you will be able to conduct online assessment activities with your students and provide them with feedback that they can use to develop their language skills. There are no technical prerequisites, other than basic familiarity with computers. The workshop will be offered in one of MSU's state-of-the-art computer labs. Bring your own portable computer, or use one of our machines. The workshop is hands-on, fast-paced, informative, useful, and fun!

Jul 16th, 2007 (Mon) -- Jul 18th, 2007 (Wed)

Focus on Form in the L2 Classroom
This workshop will address the issue of how to integrate attention to accurate use of language within activities that are designed to promote fluent oral production. Many second language classes include activities in which students communicate with each other and the teacher in order to improve their speaking skills. However, the role of attention to accuracy in these contexts is debated. For instance, should teachers correct learner errors during communicative activities? If so, how should errors be corrected? Which errors should be addressed? Should students be encouraged to raise questions about linguistic items during discussion activities? These questions, among others, will be explored in detail during this workshop. Participants will begin by exploring their own beliefs about error correction/focus on form and the impact of these beliefs on classroom interaction. Next, participants will consider the advantages and disadvantages of different correctional options, both from the viewpoint of teachers and learners and from the perspective of researchers on second language acquisition. Finally, specific recommendations that teachers can take to the classroom will be discussed.

Jul 19th, 2007 (Thu) -- Jul 21st, 2007 (Sat)

Keeping Teacher and Student Talk in the Target Language
Workshop leader: Dr. Charlene Polio
Times: 9:00-3:30 each day

Most teachers and teacher educators believe that maximal use of the target language in foreign language classrooms is best for facilitating language acquisition. Sometimes, however, various obstacles prevent the teachers and students from speaking the target language.

This workshop will have two parts. The first focuses on teachers’ language use and describes strategies that teachers can use to teach in the target language, particularly in difficult contexts such as when working with beginners and teaching grammar. In addition, demonstrations of various techniques will be given including how to give directions for complex activities while speaking only in the target language. The participants will act as beginning language learners in these demonstrations. The presenter will also discuss how small amounts of English can be used effectively instead of as something to fall back on when target language use becomes difficult.

The second part of the workshop will focus on student language use. Participants will be provided techniques for beginners to start speaking the target language quickly, in new contexts and using a variety of tasks. Participants again will act as students in various demonstrations of a new language, this time speaking the language. The presenter will then provide sample activities for more advanced students that will not only keep them speaking the target language but also push them to produce more advanced language.

Jul 30th, 2007 (Mon) -- Aug 1st, 2007 (Wed)

Making the Most of Video in the Foreign Language Classroom
Workshop leader: Dr. Eve Zyzik
Times: 9:00-3:30 each day

Teachers and researchers agree that video materials can enhance the learning environment in foreign language classrooms by providing rich, contextualized input. The combination of aural and visual cues naturally makes video input more comprehensible. However, there are several uses of video that extend beyond listening comprehension activities. For example, video can be effectively used to teach grammar and in promoting output (both oral and written). This workshop will consider multiple uses of video as well as techniques for adapting authentic materials to learners of various proficiency levels. The workshop will address the following topics: choosing appropriate video materials (authentic versus scripted video materials and appropriate uses of each; sequencing a lesson with video (pre-viewing, during viewing, post-viewing); top-down and bottom-up activities for each stage of working with video; creating selective listening activities for video segments; uses of video without sound ; using video to teach grammar; using video to promote output; using video to teach cultural topics; combining video and reading materials; and using DVD with subtitles.

Aug 2nd, 2007 (Thu) -- Aug 4th, 2007 (Sat)

Language Teaching and Technology
Workshop leader: Dr. Senta Goertler
Times: 9:00-4:00 each day

Technology in the classroom can ease your classroom management tasks, provide a change of pace for your students, provide you with an opportunity to include the target community, and provide you with easy access to written documents of students' language production. During the workshop you will learn how to use computer technology (such as course-management software, chat rooms, Instant Messaging, and websites). On the one hand you will experience the technology from a learner's perspective at the same time you will be provided with activities for your own teaching. Finally, you will also have the opportunity to develop your own materials suited for your class. The workshop will introduce free (in case your district is unable to purchase software) as well as commercially available software programs (in case your district is considering purchase or has already purchased programs).