English Language

Foreign Language Learning Colloquium Speaker Series: Kim Potowski, Professor of Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Foreign Language Learning Colloquium Speaker Series: Kim Potowski, Professor of Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Lecture on Thursday, Oct. 21st at 4pm at Wash U and Workshop at SLU on Friday, Oct. 22nd.

The Washington University Foreign Language Learning Colloquium Speaker Series and the Saint Louis University Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures present, Kim Potowski, Professor of Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and WUSTL undergraduate alumna. 

Lecture: Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 4-5 pm in McDonnell Hall 162 (at Wash U)

NOTE: Visitors must complete self-screening before coming at the following website: https://visitorscreening.wustl.edu/symptom-screener. Also see this link for masking and other guidelines for attendees: https://covid19.wustl.edu/events-with-visitors-checklist/

Apples and oranges: Best approaches in working with heritage speakers

Heritage speakers frequently have characteristics that differ from those of second language learners and thus require different pedagogical approaches. This talk covers questions such as these: What are some typical linguistic, affective, and academic profiles of heritage speakers? How can we determine appropriate curricular goals, instructional approaches, and placement procedures? And what can instructors do when a separate heritage speaker course is not possible and a classroom contains a mix of “apples” and “oranges”? The goal is to best serve the linguistic and affective needs of heritage speakers.

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Workshop: Friday, October 22, 2021 from 4-6 pm in Sinquefield Stateroom, DuBourg Hall (at SLU)

Language development in dual immersion

Dual immersion schools teach in a minority language between 50-90% of the day to two groups of students: second language learners and heritage speakers of the non-English language. Research on these programs consistently finds that they result in higher levels of both English learning and academic achievement for children who are English language learners.  But what about students' Spanish? This study explores the Spanish proficiency of students who studied preschool through 8th grade in two different dual immersion schools in Chicago, IL. Their speaking, writing, pragmatic ability via appropriate politeness and accuracy on four concrete Spanish constructions revealed that students develop quite strong levels of Spanish proficiency, but there is room for improvement. A reception will follow this hands-on workshop. RSVP requested: https://tinyurl.com/SLU-Potowski.

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The Washington University Foreign Language Learning Colloquium Speaker Series is sponsored by the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures; the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures; the Department of Jewish, Islamic and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures; the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, the Department of Education, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. These events are co-sponsored by the Saint Louis University College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.