Dear Serafina,
The different approaches, missions, and viewpoints in the recent IALLT book
that I edited show that each center is quite different. The IALLT survey(s)
back that up. I summarized the findings here:
http://ialltjournal.org/index.php/ialltjournal/issue/view/10
And here: http://ialltjournal.org/index.php/ialltjournal/issue/view/29
I revisited the conclusion of the book and thought this paragraph might be
useful:
“In any case, the language center is poised to provide a multiplier effect
for its various tasks, from research support to experimental
learning/teaching space, from community of practice hub to a social
environment, from curated resource center to clearing house of new
technologies or innovative teaching practices. It makes possible what
individual instructors cannot provide on their own. As such, the language
center is more connected, more interdisciplinary, more proactive and
innovative than ever before. The general direction of the evolution of the
language center is clear, as the chapters of this volume put forth. We are
moving away from massive technology installations to more flexible, more
adaptable, more diverse spaces. Technology is not necessarily the only
focus of language centers, but rather one (albeit often very important)
aspect. Reinventing and reconfiguring one’s language center has become a
perpetual, never-ending task for center staff in these days of ever faster
technological and institutional changes.”
At my institution, this is how we interpreted what a language center is:
http://rhodeslanguage.org
This would most likely not be a good fit for a different type of
institution. And even among peer institutions, the center would/should be
differently interpreted and conceptualized. And we continue to reinvent
ourselves. For example, in recent years we have become a 24/7 space, a
makerspace, added study abroad advising and ESL tutoring, have moved our
DVD collection to the library, and drastically cut down the number of
computers in the LC. As a result, the center continues to be used a lot.
As far as concrete steps, I would:
- download the *IALLT* *Language Center Evaluation Toolkit ( *
http://iallt.org/resources/publications/ ) and use it to get a sense of
where the center currently is. The toolkit can be adapted to fit your
specific needs. It could also form the basis of your report.
- do an anonymous survey that includes as many constituents as possible:
faculty, students, staff, visitors, etc. This is a good way to find out
what is working and what is not working. Programs/features/projects that
are no longer relevant should probably be revisited and possibly
discontinued to make resources available for projects that are more
relevant. This step can also be done by a consultant.
- meet with every (if possible…) language faculty member at your
institution and listen to them to find out what the center could provide
for them.
- form a language center advisory group (if you haven’t already done so)
that includes a diverse set of stakeholders
- revisit, reevaluate and rewrite the mission statement
- look at some of the recorded IALLT webinars dealing with language center
design and management
- call some of your IALLT colleagues. (I’d be happy to chat if you think
that might be helpful.)
I would use this request to justify the center as an opportunity to
reinvent it. Thank you for bringing this up to everyone’s attention. As I’m
writing this, I’ve already seen several responses in my inbox to your
inquiry, which underscores how relevant this discussion is for many of us.
One last point: IALLT presidents in the past have written letters of
support for language centers that were threatened to be closed. If you (or
anyone else) would find it useful to have such a letter written on their
behalf, I would definitely happy to write that as the president of IALLT.
Cheers,
Felix
---
Dr. Felix A. Kronenberg
Associate Professor, Modern Languages and Literatures
Director, Language Learning Center
Rhodes College
President, International Association for Language Learning Technology
http://www.felixkronenberg.com
---
Dr. Felix A. Kronenberg
Associate Professor, Modern Languages and Literatures
Director, Language Learning Center
Rhodes College
President, International Association for Language Learning Technology
<http://iallt.org>
http://www.felixkronenberg.com
On Mon, Feb 12, 2018 at 4:05 PM, Van Deusen-Scholl, Nelleke <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Serafina,
>
>
>
> Language Centers have evolved from a physical space where pedagogical
> materials were kept and where students were required to engage in language
> lab activities to a shared space for language faculty and graduate
> students. In many institutions, the language center functions as the hub
> and the intellectual home for a vibrant community of practice for language
> instructional faculty who are often marginalized in their home departments
> and who share an interest in the theory and practice of language teaching.
>
>
>
> My colleague Suzanne Young and I have recently contributed an article,
> entitled “The role of language centers in the professional development of
> non-tenure track faculty”, which appeared in Felix Kronenberg’s IALLT
> volume, *From Language Lab to Language Center and beyond: The past,
> present, and future of language center design*. This volume addresses a
> range of issues that underscore the current relevance of language centers,
> and I would strongly recommend it to everyone.
>
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
>
> Nelleke
>
>
>
> *Nelleke Van Deusen-Scholl, Ph.D.*
>
> Director, Center for Language Study
>
> Associate Dean, Yale College
>
> Professor (Adj.) of Linguistics
>
> Dow Hall
>
> 370 Temple Street
>
> New Haven, CT 06520
>
>
>
> *From: *"[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> on
> behalf of Helen Stapleton <[log in to unmask]>
> *Reply-To: *"[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
> *Date: *Monday, February 12, 2018 at 4:45 PM
> *To: *"[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
> *Subject: *Re: Reasons for the existence of Language Learning Centers /
> Language Labs in the age of iphones, notebooks, and other portable
> technological devices
>
>
>
> HI Serafina,
>
> While we no longer need a physical space for listening since recordings
> can all be put online, we feel it is important to have a physical space
> where foreign language tutoring takes place, foreign language magazines are
> kept, and foreign language films are kept and screened. It is also a space
> for checking out computers and iPads. We keep updated all manner of
> foreign language learning subscriptions to sites such as Rosetta Stone,
> Yabla, News in Slow, etc. We keep the foreign language departments'
> websites maintained and updated, and promote their events. We also host
> events that promote a love of language such as foreign language karaoke
> nights and we host forums each semester for foreign language faculty to
> share ideas with one another and learn about things from me. We also act
> as liaison between our students and the numerous online textbook platforms
> such as Vista Higher Learning, and Pearson's MySpanishLab. The students
> always need help getting logged in to and using these online foreign
> language textbooks. We also maintain youtube channels for all of our
> languages where we keep skits, dialogues, lectures, presentations, and
> other language related material.
>
> That's only some of what we do. I'd appreciate hearing what other replies
> you get to this. Would you mind compiling it?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Helen
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 12, 2018 at 2:53 PM, Serafina De Gregorio <
> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
>
>
> What is the rationale for the existence of language learning centers and
> labs in colleges and universities today? This is a question that seems to
> come up every 5 or 6 years at many institutions of higher learning. I have
> been asked by my university to put together a list of reasons why these
> facilites are still useful as well as the ways that they can be put to
> better use. I would appreciate your input concerning this topic.
>
>
>
> Thank you so much for your help.
>
>
>
> Dr. Serafina De Gregorio
>
> Director Language Learning Centers
>
> Fordham University
>
> Tel: 718-817-0798 <(718)%20817-0798>'
>
> Fax: 718-817-0600 <(718)%20817-0600>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Helen Stapleton
>
> Director, E.L. Kellerman Language Resource Center
>
> Sewanee: University of the South, Gailor 227
>
> 735 University Ave.
>
> Sewanee, TN 373783
>
> (931)598-1468 <(931)%20598-1468>
>
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