Carmen Jany

Fall 2006

Certificate in College and University Teaching Portfolio

CV

Websites

• Mixe
  Dictionary
• Ling 101
• Span 2
• Span 3
• German 3

Professional Development at the University of California, Santa Barbara

Course in Foreign Language Pedagogy (Ger 262A)

Given my experience and interest in Foreign Language Instruction I decided to take a course that would give me an overview of the theory and practice in that area. In fall 2004 I took Ger262A, a course in Applied Linguistics. This course did not only help improve my teaching, but it also got me interested in doing research in that area, and I added an additional emphasis in Applied Linguistics to my degree. In Ger262A we covered different theories of second language acquisition, learned about the various methods and approaches to foreign language teaching, and discussed proficiency‑oriented instruction with regard to each of the five language skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture. This was crucial for shaping my views on foreign language instruction, and I developed more efficient methods for teaching each of the five skills in my classes. Before taking this course, I used different methods in class when focusing on the various language skills, but I was not acquainted with the relevant literature in pedagogy nor with the studies which showed the effects of using one method or another. This was extremely helpful, and I often consult these materials before putting together a class exercise or before planning a particular class activity. For example, for teaching writing I now assign a particular task that students may need to complete in real life at some point, such as writing a letter to apply for a job or an e-mail to reserve a hotel, rather than just give them an essay topic. After taking Ger262A I view teaching writing as having a process‑oriented rather than a product‑oriented goal and let students work on several drafts with feedback through peer editing and from me. Ger262A also showed me how important it is to use a communicative approach to foreign language instruction and to include cultural elements in the curriculum as much as possible. Now, I focus more on choosing activities which students are likely to encounter when using the target language and I explain differences, if there are any, in the cultural framework for a particular activity, such as going to the movies or hosting a party. In general, this course has provided me with many ideas for my own teaching and has introduced me to many useful resources.

The assignments for Ger262A were extremely helpful for sharpening my critical thinking with regard to teaching methods, instruction materials, and research on foreign language pedagogy. One of the assignments involved examining the methods and goals of a UCSB language program. I chose the Spanish language program and focused on first year Spanish instruction (Spanish 1-3). This assignment made me realize how difficult it can be to put together an efficient language program and that the program needs to be tailored to suit the department’s and the students’ needs. Spanish classes usually have 30 or more students and are too large for language classes. Many students are freshmen and are not really interested in learning the language. The Spanish program at UCSB focuses on introducing the main grammar points and on training students in basic speaking skills. The students review the grammar at home and class time is used mainly for practice. This maximizes student involvement and the frequent quizzes help to keep them on track. Overall, I have found that the program is effective and that students gain basic speaking skills after a year. A second assignment for Ger262A involved a critique of a textbook. I chose the textbook Puntos de partida which was used for first‑year Spanish instruction (see appendix D). This assignment fostered my critical thinking skills and encouraged me to take a closer look at textbooks before using them in class. The assignments prepared me not only for my own teaching, but also for developing and supervising language programs. In sum, Ger262A was one of the best classes I took as a graduate student. It improved my teaching and it inspired me to continue thinking about issues related to second language acquisition and instruction.