Sem: Tasks in the EFL classroo

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

U.S. world language education, or the teaching and learning of languages other than English, faces several pressing challenges. Fewer students are studying languages, and program closings have made national news in recent years. In this seminar, we will explore the current state of world language education from the perspectives of students, language educators, program administrators, policy makers, and researchers, with the goal of understanding how the U.S. system has evolved over time and what forces shape its current state. Course readings will cover K-12, secondary, and post-secondary world language education, and topics will include the enrollment crisis in higher education, the growth of dual language education in K-12, the policy landscape, and how world language education is funded. Students will understand the complex local and national forces shaping language education in the U.S., be able to contextualize and critically analyze language educational trends, and consider the role of researchers in the current landscape.