1. Department of Languages and International Studies Mission Statement

The Department of Languages and International Studies began the program review process by reconsidering our departmental mission statement.

The Department of Languages and International Studies endeavors to accomplish its goals within the institution’s official mission. We attempt to inspire students to achieve the full measure of human potential by not only helping them develop a broad awareness of human cultures, achievements, capabilities and limitations, but also encourage them to learn and use skills and talents in the service of other people and the world.

The overall goal of the Department of Languages and International Studies is to prepare students for careers in the global market of the 21st century. We also strive to instill in students an awareness of their place in a rapidly changing world and to help them develop the attitudes and skills to allow them to participate effectively in the contemporary global community.

Our specific goal is to produce majors who are communicatively competent in another language and proficient in the five language skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking and culture. Furthermore, the department seeks to educate and train majors who are sufficiently knowledgeable to be successful in graduate programs, who can assume appropriate responsibilities in business, human services and government, or who can teach competently at the secondary level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The principle objective of the department is to provide students with a strong foundation in the five languages skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking and culture. This objective can be accomplished in the following ways:

To provide students with a strong understanding of grammar. This comprises acquiring expertise in both the target language and in the native language. We want our students to graduate with a sufficient foundation in grammar in order to be able to understand, write and speak the target language in a variety of situations.

2. To facilitate acquisition of a fundamental vocabulary in the target language. This includes both passive (reading) and active (spoken) vocabulary. To be able to converse on a variety of topics and in a variety of settings.

3. To help students learn to write competently.

4. To develop students' ability to listen well, to understand what is heard and then to respond in an appropriate manner.

5. To enhance students' oral communication skills, including self-expression (students' accent and pronunciation)

6. To foster cultural awareness and sensitivity of the country (or countries) where the target language is spoken.

7. To develop an understanding of (and an appreciation for) the literature written in the target language. To learn to read and interpret literary works critically.

 

Objective 1: Foundation in grammar

Virtually all courses (that do not stress literature or culture) focus on grammar acquisition, expansion, or review both orally and in writing.

Outcome assessment in these courses

1. Oral and written Examinations and quizzes created by the instructor that force students to use more than one language skill

Objective 2: Vocabulary adequate for oral and written comunication on a variety of topics and diverse situations.

1. Examinations created by the instructor

2. Oral presentations that force students to use learned vocabulary and to express themselves in new and different ways

3. Compositions that encourage students to spend time looking up words and expressions in a dictionary

Objective 3: To develop written competency

1. Frequent compositions on a variety of topics

2. Plot summaries from books or stories read in class or from movies shown during class

3. Spontaneous "reaction" or "position" papers about current events or stories read in class. Papers that promote critical reading and analysis of texts.

Objective 4: Listening/Response skill

1. Target-language tapes, videos, movies and CDs shown or listened to both in and out of class that encourage students to respond orally to what they have seen and heard

2. Music

Objective 5: Oral communication skill

1. In-class presentations

2. In-class speeches on a variety of topics

3. Oral examinations (all questions and answers are in the target language)

Objective 6: Cultural Awareness

1. Examinations created by the teacher

2. Term papers and written assignments over specific cultural topics in the target language

3. Oral reports presented in class

Objective 7: Appreciation for literature

1. Examinations created by the teacher (essay format)

2. Position/ reaction papers

3. Explication de texte (critical analysis/interpretation of literary texts)

4. Documentation of Student Learning in the Major

We collect multiple copies of assessment information. This information includes tests, topic-specific essays written in and out of class, summaries of literary works written in the target language (and in English for International Studies courses), compositions, position papers, journals, daily assignments, workbook exercises and semester research projects.

This material is photocopied by the teacher and stored in the departmental files. The chair of the department is responsible for overseeing this process.

5. Use of Assessment Information to Improve Education

The department studies the collected information at regular intervals. For language classes, these means many times during the semester especially when a book is used for the first time in class. Semester by semester comparisons are made in order to ensure that material (its presentation by the teacher as well as its retentation by the students) is consistent over an extended period of time. This method of study allows us to make changes in the delivery of our courses and helps us better meet the needs of our students.

 

The departmental assessment plan is reviewed prior to the start of every academic year.

1. exams 2. in-class essay/position paper 3. oral presentation

4. group work/discussion 5. written translations 6. compositions

7. term papers 8. tapes, videos, movies, CDs

1. exams 2. in-class essay/position paper 3. oral presentation

4. group work/discussion 5. written translations 6. compositions

7. term papers 8. tapes, videos, movies, CDs/oral comprehension