Under current geo-political conditions of social, environmental, and economic fragility and instability, the need for education to cultivate empathy, heighten attentiveness to the biosphere, and augment commitment to civic engagement imposes itself with urgency (Rifkin, 2012). As fundamentally social-relational phenomena, semiotic agility and critical language awareness serve as critical resources for ameliorating and transforming selves, communities, and societies. These points suggest that instructed language education would benefit from greater integration with a variety of real world contexts and communities. In response to this need, contributions to this volume propose approaches to pedagogically mediated second language learning that link classroom activities with relevant social practices occurring outside of instructional settings. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, language educators face the daunting challenge of effectively integrating advanced digital technologies into their teaching practices. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of online and blended learning environments, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to engage students. However, many educators need access to comprehensive resources that detail cutting-edge research and practical strategies for incorporating digital tools into language instruction. Technology-Mediated Language Learning and Teaching is a timely solution to this pressing issue, offering a comprehensive overview of the latest research and theoretical frameworks in using advanced digital technologies in language education. By exploring topics such as gamification, social media, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality, this book provides educators with a roadmap for enhancing student engagement and improving learning outcomes. Through a combination of theoretical insights and practical case studies, this volume equips educators with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the complex landscape of technology-enhanced language learning.

A seminal work in the field, this book shows how transformative education can be applied to world language programs.

Despite rapid globalization within contemporary society and the seemingly obvious need for the study of foreign languages (FL) and cultures; recruitment to undergraduate FL degrees has dwindled, graduate programs have disappeared; and institutions have restructured independent language departments into mega-departments of languages, literatures, and cultures. At the same time, the FL and humanities disciplines have engaged in “soul-searching” exercises in an effort to understand and express a renewed sense of value for the study of foreign language and culture. As a result of these kinds of societal and disciplinary movements, FL programs, along with other educational sectors, are facing the increased need to engage with peripheral forces like accountability and accreditation, to express and ensure their value through outcomes assessment, and to begin to think, innovate, and behave programmatically. Key to enacting these changes systematically and effectively is heightened awareness of the importance of program evaluation, not only as a means to demonstrate how and why FL study is a valuable pursuit in today’s world, but also as a process through which sound improvements can be made, participants can learn, and educational relevance can be sought. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

Teaching World Languages for Specific Purposes provides learner-centered strategies, models, and resources for the development of WLSP curricula. This guide bridges theory and practice, inviting scholars, educators, and professionals of all areas of world language specialization to create new opportunities for their students.

In this concise and practical book, Martel advocates for a content-based approach to foreign language curriculum design that emphasizes communicative competence, cognitive engagement, and social justice. Intended primarily for busy teachers with limited preparation time, the book includes: An introduction to content-based instruction and its use to date in foreign language education Step-by-step strategies for designing content-based unit plans, lesson plans, and assessments A complete curricular unit that serves as a guiding example, including nine lesson plans and a summative assessment The book is accompanied by a website that will feature additional examples of content-based curricular materials across a range of languages and proficiency levels, available at http://cbi.middcreate.net/movingbeyond.

The democratization of schooling and greater access to higher education, together with the implementation of language requirements in colleges and universities across the United States, has led to a higher degree of diversity in language classrooms. One usually thinks of gender, ethnic, racial, or social diversity, but individual differences, including learning disabilities and special needs, also contribute to diversity and have an impact on assessment, placement, and curriculum. In their role as administrators and teacher educators, Language Program Directors (LPDs) seek to integrate current practices and research in applied linguistics into program design and administration, including assessment. To make individual differences a theoretically grounded integral component of their decision-making processes, LPDs need resources that provide cutting-edge primary and secondary research on the conceptualization, measurement, and consequences of individual differences on language development in the classroom. This volume provides LPDs with the means to transmit information to their instructors in effective ways so that the instructors develop a sophisticated understanding of individual differences, including learning disabilities, special needs, and strategies for dealing with diverse student populations. In addition, this volume creates a forum for reflections about and solutions to challenges related to diversity as it relates to individual differences. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.