Comments on: Foreign Languages and the Core http://aspectwebsite.com/foreign-languages-and-the-core/ A Publication from the School of Arts & Sciences at Salem State College Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:44:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Michael Peto http://aspectwebsite.com/foreign-languages-and-the-core/comment-page-1/#comment-812 Michael Peto Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:44:04 +0000 http://aspectwebsite.com/?p=1118#comment-812 Perhaps I am bumping into a private conversation coming to this a year late and not being a member of the Salem State community, but I can't help but commenting on the following: "Since many of us believe that our students already come to college with a weak preparation in the basics (reading, writing, math, history), it would be hard to justify those 12 credits in foreign languages..." Yet many studies find that preparation in a second language goes a long way towards sharpening those "basic skills", and not just for students who are already following a rigorous course of study. As a high school Spanish teacher I use information from this NEA study (link following) every year to impress parents with the importance of studying a second language. http://www.ncssfl.org/papers/BenefitsSecondLanguageStudyNEA.pdf Perhaps I am bumping into a private conversation coming to this a year late and not being a member of the Salem State community, but I can’t help but commenting on the following:

“Since many of us believe that our students already come to college with a weak preparation in the basics (reading, writing, math, history), it would be hard to justify those 12 credits in foreign languages…”

Yet many studies find that preparation in a second language goes a long way towards sharpening those “basic skills”, and not just for students who are already following a rigorous course of study. As a high school Spanish teacher I use information from this NEA study (link following) every year to impress parents with the importance of studying a second language.
http://www.ncssfl.org/papers/BenefitsSecondLanguageStudyNEA.pdf

]]> By: Elizabeth Blood http://aspectwebsite.com/foreign-languages-and-the-core/comment-page-1/#comment-722 Elizabeth Blood Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:55:17 +0000 http://aspectwebsite.com/?p=1118#comment-722 I have no idea. Some of our advanced courses are "D1" courses (mostly literature content courses), but those designations were made before I came to Salem State (in 2003). I have no idea. Some of our advanced courses are “D1″ courses (mostly literature content courses), but those designations were made before I came to Salem State (in 2003).

]]> By: William Cornwell http://aspectwebsite.com/foreign-languages-and-the-core/comment-page-1/#comment-709 William Cornwell Thu, 08 Apr 2010 22:55:14 +0000 http://aspectwebsite.com/?p=1118#comment-709 Liz: Have you heard any explanation for why foreign language courses have been excluded from the distribution electives at SSC? Liz: Have you heard any explanation for why foreign language courses have been excluded from the distribution electives at SSC?

]]> By: Elizabeth Blood http://aspectwebsite.com/foreign-languages-and-the-core/comment-page-1/#comment-686 Elizabeth Blood Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:06:20 +0000 http://aspectwebsite.com/?p=1118#comment-686 This is a wonderful article about ways to incorporate languages in the core. At present, languages are excluded from the core. They count for nothing except a free elective for B.S. students. Shouldn't languages at least be a DI option in the core so that students with an interest in or background in a language can pursue proficiency in that language? We currently offer Arabic, Chinese (starting Fall 2010), French, Italian and Spanish in the day school, plus German and Latin are sometimes offered through Continuing Education. Our own research has shown an increasing number of Salem State students interested in languages, but they often don't follow that interest because of flow sheet constraints. We need a change! This is a wonderful article about ways to incorporate languages in the core. At present, languages are excluded from the core. They count for nothing except a free elective for B.S. students. Shouldn’t languages at least be a DI option in the core so that students with an interest in or background in a language can pursue proficiency in that language? We currently offer Arabic, Chinese (starting Fall 2010), French, Italian and Spanish in the day school, plus German and Latin are sometimes offered through Continuing Education. Our own research has shown an increasing number of Salem State students interested in languages, but they often don’t follow that interest because of flow sheet constraints. We need a change!

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