--- Forwarded Message from [log in to unmask] --- >To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] >Subject: arguments for fourth contact hour in the lab >Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 14:54:38 -0600 >From: [log in to unmask] Please excuse cross-postings. I received the following email from a colleague of mine. She is concerned because her department is looking at cancelling the mandatory lab hour for introductory and "remedial" French courses. This is a fourth contact hour with a TA and generally comprises of listening comprehension, one-to-one interaction with the TA on pronunciation and grammar concerns, pairing activities with the students (while being monitored by the TA) and also some grammar or writing exercises. Students also have access to a computerized voice recorder which will record their voices while listening to a pre-recorded recording and then replay them simultaneously. Although we know that most students do not do this and these activities make up only approximately 5-10% of work in the lab (depending on the instructor), some students have commented on their evaluations that this has been an essential tool for them to use. Her greatest concern is loosing that contact or extra assistance from the TA, and particularly because it may or may not be replaced with an appropriate distance solution, or that students will not be as committed to completing the tasks via a distance solution. She is looking for help in finding academic articles to support the need for a fourth contact hour, and I was not able to give any immediate assistance. We are hoping that someone might know of some resources to assist her in determining if there is adequate research to support her position. Thank you, Deanne Cobb ---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- Subject: Need HELP From: "Celine Magnon" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, January 12, 2006 10:47 am To: [log in to unmask] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello Deanne, Last week, a proposal was made to cancel all 4th hour for classes 100, 101, 102...I am of course against and I am trying to organize an argumenttation to oppose this. I will need your help (artciles about the benefit from lab, comment, evaluations..) anything would be appreciate. Celine Magnon Departement de francais University of Regina Tel.: 585 4216 *********************************************** LLTI is a service of IALLT, the International Association for Language Learning, and The Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning (http://consortium.dartmouth.edu). Join IALLT at http://iallt.org. Otmar Foelsche, LLTI-Editor ([log in to unmask]) ***********************************************