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

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

Summer 2008 Workshops

July 2008
S M T W T F S
29 30 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9


Jul 10th, 2008 (Thu) -- Jul 12th, 2008 (Sat)
  Making the Most of Video in the Foreign Language Classroom
Workshop Leader: Dr. Eve Zyzik
Workshop Times: 9:00 - 4:00 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:

- Listening comprehension processes
- Choosing appropriate video materials (authentic versus scripted
video materials)
- Sequencing a lesson with video (pre-viewing, during viewing, post-viewing)
- Top-down and bottom-up activities for each stage of working with video
- Video without sound
- Video to teach grammar
- Video to promote output
- Video to teach culture
- DVD with subtitles and captions
Jul 14th, 2008 (Mon) -- Jul 16th, 2008 (Wed)
  Tech Up Your Classroom: Enhancing Your Foreign Language Classroom with Technology
Workshop Leader: Dr. Senta Goertler
Workshop Time: 9:00 - 4:00 each day


We use technology in our everyday lives, and so do our students. Why not use it for teaching? Technology can help make the language classroom more efficient, more authentic, more learner-centered, and it addresses different learning styles. In this workshop, we will discuss simple ways of “teching up” your classroom through the use of chats, message boards, blogs, wikis, videos, web quests, course management systems, Microsoft Office software, the Internet in general, and various free CLEAR products. You will get to experience activities from the learner’s perspective and develop and share your own activities. The goal of the class is to help you use technology effectively for your own teaching, your administrative tasks, and your professional development, including potential action research projects.
Jul 17th, 2008 (Thu) -- Jul 19th, 2008 (Sat)
  Next-Generation Tools for Language Teaching: Rich Internet Applications for the Classroom
Workshop Leader: Dr. Dennie Hoopingarner
Workshop Time: 9:00 - 5:00 each day


Technology never stops advancing. Just when you thought you knew it all, along comes something new! Web 2.0 is all about interactivity, which is a perfect fit for language learning. Learn how to use CLEAR's free new tools for creating interactive web-based multimedia, without having to program, download, or upload anything. This set of tools can be used with any language, any textbook, and any level. Learn how to make web pages where your students can record audio files that are automatically uploaded to your virtual dropbox. Make a "mashup" that combines your text, pictures, video, and interactive language exercises into one web page. Create virtual conversations for your students where they listen to questions, and the program captures their responses automatically. All of these functions are available to you from within a web browser, with no special hardware or software needed. Come and experience the next generation of web-based language teaching!
Jul 21st, 2008 (Mon) -- Jul 23rd, 2008 (Wed)
  Designing Online Language Teaching Materials with an Accompanying Online Assessment Portfolio
Workshop Leader: Dr. Paula Winke
Workshop Time: 9:00 - 4:00 each day


The goal of this workshop is for you to create computer-assisted language teaching materials and a complementary online portfolio assessment program specifically for your classes and the language program at your school. This workshop has you use user-friendly, publicly-available technology and software that is either extremely low-cost or free. Software we will use includes CLEAR’s Rich Internet Applications technology, Audio Portfolios and Hot Potatoes.

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 materials with an online assessment portfolio that you can use with your students for formative and self-assessment. At the end of the workshop, you should have eight online tasks for language learning (two each for listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and one online portfolio plan with rubrics drafted. The online assessment activities will incorporate feedback that students 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 some of the materials you currently use for teaching to the workshop. We will look at your classroom materials (textbooks, workbooks, and any CDs or DVDs you have) to see what online components and portfolio assessment program would complement them. The workshop is hands-on, individualized, practical, and fun!
Jul 24th, 2008 (Thu) -- Jul 26th, 2008 (Sat)
  Incorporating Communicative Speaking Activities into the Teaching of Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Vocabulary
Workshop Leader: Dr. Charlene Polio
Workshop Time: 9:00 - 4:00 each day


One concern from teachers and students is that students do not get enough talking time in class. Furthermore, many researchers have argued for the importance of language production in the development of overall language proficiency. This workshop will begin with a framework for developing and evaluating communicative speaking activities. This will then be followed by examples of how to incorporate speaking activities into the teaching of reading and writing. In addition, the participants will observe and develop activities that target specific grammar and vocabulary so that instructors can better supplement their textbooks with communicative speaking tasks. An emphasis will be placed on how to structure activities to get student to talk and to use more advanced language and how to make sure students receive feedback. In the workshop, participants will learn to first evaluate activities by trying them in demonstration lesson. They will then develop similar activities for their specific teaching contexts.
Jul 28th, 2008 (Mon) -- Jul 30th, 2008 (Wed)
  Language Program Development
Workshop Leaders: Dr. Senta Goertler & Ms. Angelika Kraemer
Workshop Time: 9:00 - 4:00 each day


Do you want to start a Saturday School, an After-School Program, a FLEX Program, a Heritage Language Program, a Language Maintenance Program, a Summer Language Program, or any other language program? Do you already have a program like this or are you a language teacher who wants to “grow” your language program? This is the workshop for you!

In this workshop we will present theoretical and practical issues in program development, program maintenance, program articulation, and program recruitment. We will draw from program administration and second language acquisition research and present our own practical experiences in working with the German for Kids Programs at Michigan State University and the Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik (German Summer School at the Pacific). While our experience is based on German, the topics addressed apply to all languages and we will utilize the expertise of the course participants to provide examples of other languages.

As a course we will develop practical documents for your own context (needs assessment, funding request letters, marketing materials) and use the German Summer Camp (a two week intensive afternoon program for elementary school kids) as our lab setting. Each morning we will first present a topic from a theoretical perspective and then share our own practical experience. Each afternoon we will observe the German Summer Camp and we will work on your materials. In addition, this workshop is also intended as a place to network with other language teachers and language program administrators.