2000-2001 Focus on articulating global learning objectives for

PSU Department of Languages and Literatures

Initial meetings and discussion held in the spring of 2002 determined that the six major programs of study of foreign languages and literatures at PSU share over-arching goals in three primary areas

• communication skills and strategies
• critical inquiry
• making cultural connections

After FLL approved a draft of specific learning objectives, we surveyed each major language program to determine the following:

Question 1: How are the stated learning objectives reflected, proportionally, in the current upper division courses that FLL major programs offer?

Instrument: We used a simple grid listing all the courses taught by each program and asked instructors to rank on a scale of 1-4 how much weight each objective had in the syllabus and work of a particular course.

Findings: In the process of examining the data, FLL recognized that the balance between individual objectives or among categories varied by language program depending on several interdependent factors:

• whether the language is closely related to English
• and consequently, the level of proficiency that students can acquire and what projects they can undertake
• the number and specialization of faculty in each program
• and consequently, the opportunities for expansion of course offerings

Although results varied proportionally by program, there was one commonality: Each program places a high emphasis on making cultural connections and on providing the foundations for continued learning. This appears to be, in part, an outgrowth of our response to the University’s mission.
Less expected was the somewhat proportionally lower exposure for communication skills and strategies overall (with the exception of Spanish), since PSU’s foreign language program has historically been proficiency oriented. Here as well, there was considerable variation among the languages in terms of the opportunities for and emphasis given oral and written skills. Reading skills are typically well supported by all languages through both language and literature courses.

Outcomes: The results of the survey guided our choice for an initial pilot project undertaken in 2001-02. We chose to make communication skills our first focus.
FLL has also made a concerted effort to increase ‘real world’ opportunities for students, adding FLL 407, a three-term community-based service learning opportunity