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Succeeding With SCOLA in Immersive, Extensive LA

Jabra Ghneim PhD. (ABD)
Jabra Ghneim PhD. (ABD)

Succeeding With SCOLA in Immersive, Extensive Language Acquisition. A presentation delivered at the SCOLA 2012 Conference. Omaha, Nebraska

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Succeeding with SCOLA in Immersive, Extensive and Intensive Language Classes &Other Reflections
First, Some Disclaimers Mastering spoken language is key to any long-term success in language acquisition.
Needed: Language-derived Population Knowledge Spoken language so thoroughly permeates how and what people think that it is folly to learn subsets of those thoughts without knowing the language; languages are more systems of thinking than they are mere systems of communication. Someone who speaks language x with a population of native speakers will absorb in short order familiarity with their customs, beliefs, behaviors, and so forth, but someone who has studied various aspects of culture without knowing the target language has error and separation built into their knowledge from the start. If the Army had to choose one priority between language per se or the products of language it arbitrarily calls culture, it chose wrongly. In reality, the choice poses a false dilemma. Col. Richard Outzen, Small Wars Journal March 20, 2012
Some Numbers 600-700 class hours to a 2 ILR in OPI. 100% Success rate using non-government, ACTFL-certified organizations. Most important: Students maintain and improve in the language on their own if given the opportunity in their work. Focusing on speaking-listening rather than the DLPT doesnt necessarily come at the expense of DLPT scores
Some Numbers Pashto/ DLPT V/Constructive Response after 14 Weeks
Now, Back to our Topic! Its 2007, DLPT IV is phased-out. DLPT scores are falling faster than Alice through the rabbit hole (or Tommy Kellys Pants).
What is to be Done? Based on sensing sessions, student reports and DLI DLPT V requires the development of the following skill set: Understand freeform speech and editorial. Text analysis skills in both English and the target language. Analysis of text tone. Understanding rhetoric and nuance. Teach critical reading and literary analysis skills A worldwide schema in text taught, and study of a wide range of geopolitical topics and editorial rather than just focusing on raw news material.
Extensive vs. Intensive Extensive: focuses on the quantity of material at or below the students level. Used exclusively by GLS with great success in DLPT IV. Requires graded material at different levels; user must be able to recognize 80% or more of the vocabulary. Typical load: 32 pages per day required (in and out of class). Simple quizzes required daily to confirm material was read. One to two hours of leisurely listening (music, children stories, etc.) Students can choose what they want to read. Post 2007 this method was not sufficient on its own to maintain a 2/2 or higher. Role of instructor is to guide the students through material selection, make sure they read it and answer general questions on vocabulary and context.
Extensive vs. Intensive Intensive: Lexical and contextual analysis of material. Activities include: Analyzing editorial and opinion materials, magazine articles rather than news media, discussion sessions seeking feedback and explaining context and background. Strategic translation exercises to help the participants understand how the different lexical elements of text work to convey tone and intent. Strategic translation is also used as a tool for deliberate and focused practice, where the instructor identifies specific weaknesses in student comprehension, and focuses his attention on those particular issues. Using this lexical approach exclusively produces 2/2 scores or higher for 20% of the students in any given class. Requires an instructor whose linguistic training is above the industrys average.
The 80/20 Way To succeed we had to mix intensive and extensive activities. Optimal ratio is 80% extensive and 20% intensive. Templating our process to make sure all instructors can handle the intensive portion. As well as training instructors to a higher level.
Succeeding With SCOLA Extensive Intensive & Intensive Extensive Extensive Intensive (great for graded material)
Succeeding With SCOLA Without the extensive resources SCOLA offers, obtaining the huge amounts of materials the 80/20 approach requires, would be harder and costlier.
Thank you and Questions Jabra Ghneim Jabra@globallanguagesystems.com Tel: (800) 381-6545

More Related Content

Succeeding With SCOLA in Immersive, Extensive LA

  • 1. Succeeding with SCOLA in Immersive, Extensive and Intensive Language Classes &Other Reflections
  • 2. First, Some Disclaimers Mastering spoken language is key to any long-term success in language acquisition.
  • 3. Needed: Language-derived Population Knowledge Spoken language so thoroughly permeates how and what people think that it is folly to learn subsets of those thoughts without knowing the language; languages are more systems of thinking than they are mere systems of communication. Someone who speaks language x with a population of native speakers will absorb in short order familiarity with their customs, beliefs, behaviors, and so forth, but someone who has studied various aspects of culture without knowing the target language has error and separation built into their knowledge from the start. If the Army had to choose one priority between language per se or the products of language it arbitrarily calls culture, it chose wrongly. In reality, the choice poses a false dilemma. Col. Richard Outzen, Small Wars Journal March 20, 2012
  • 4. Some Numbers 600-700 class hours to a 2 ILR in OPI. 100% Success rate using non-government, ACTFL-certified organizations. Most important: Students maintain and improve in the language on their own if given the opportunity in their work. Focusing on speaking-listening rather than the DLPT doesnt necessarily come at the expense of DLPT scores
  • 5. Some Numbers Pashto/ DLPT V/Constructive Response after 14 Weeks
  • 6. Now, Back to our Topic! Its 2007, DLPT IV is phased-out. DLPT scores are falling faster than Alice through the rabbit hole (or Tommy Kellys Pants).
  • 7. What is to be Done? Based on sensing sessions, student reports and DLI DLPT V requires the development of the following skill set: Understand freeform speech and editorial. Text analysis skills in both English and the target language. Analysis of text tone. Understanding rhetoric and nuance. Teach critical reading and literary analysis skills A worldwide schema in text taught, and study of a wide range of geopolitical topics and editorial rather than just focusing on raw news material.
  • 8. Extensive vs. Intensive Extensive: focuses on the quantity of material at or below the students level. Used exclusively by GLS with great success in DLPT IV. Requires graded material at different levels; user must be able to recognize 80% or more of the vocabulary. Typical load: 32 pages per day required (in and out of class). Simple quizzes required daily to confirm material was read. One to two hours of leisurely listening (music, children stories, etc.) Students can choose what they want to read. Post 2007 this method was not sufficient on its own to maintain a 2/2 or higher. Role of instructor is to guide the students through material selection, make sure they read it and answer general questions on vocabulary and context.
  • 9. Extensive vs. Intensive Intensive: Lexical and contextual analysis of material. Activities include: Analyzing editorial and opinion materials, magazine articles rather than news media, discussion sessions seeking feedback and explaining context and background. Strategic translation exercises to help the participants understand how the different lexical elements of text work to convey tone and intent. Strategic translation is also used as a tool for deliberate and focused practice, where the instructor identifies specific weaknesses in student comprehension, and focuses his attention on those particular issues. Using this lexical approach exclusively produces 2/2 scores or higher for 20% of the students in any given class. Requires an instructor whose linguistic training is above the industrys average.
  • 10. The 80/20 Way To succeed we had to mix intensive and extensive activities. Optimal ratio is 80% extensive and 20% intensive. Templating our process to make sure all instructors can handle the intensive portion. As well as training instructors to a higher level.
  • 11. Succeeding With SCOLA Extensive Intensive & Intensive Extensive Extensive Intensive (great for graded material)
  • 12. Succeeding With SCOLA Without the extensive resources SCOLA offers, obtaining the huge amounts of materials the 80/20 approach requires, would be harder and costlier.
  • 13. Thank you and Questions Jabra Ghneim Jabra@globallanguagesystems.com Tel: (800) 381-6545

Editor's Notes