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What ’ s the hook? Recruiting students to French. Mary Vogl, Colorado State University Michele LaPean-Usher, Milton High School, Milton, WI Larry Kuiper, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Anita Alkhas, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The good….
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What’s the hook? Recruiting students to French Mary Vogl, Colorado State University Michele LaPean-Usher, Milton High School, Milton, WI Larry Kuiper, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Anita Alkhas, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The good… • By 2007–08, [K-12] enrollment increased by 3.1%, reaching 8.9 million students, or 18.5% of all students. (ACTFL survey) • University foreign-language enrollment is at an all-time high. (MLA Survey, 2009)
the bad… • K-12 world language enrollments have decreased in some states (e.g., Wisconsin & Colorado) • Language courses as a percentage of college classes:1965 16.5% 2006, 2009 8.6% • Graduate-school foreign language enrollment 2006 -2009: down 6.7% • Colleges & universities w/ foreign language requirement for graduation:1885: 64%; 1966: 89%; 1971: 77%; 1994: 66%; 2009: 50% • MLA Survey of 100 institutions: % of college students in lang. classes 1965 (language requirement intact): 25% 1970 (requirement rescinded): 14.9%
and the ugly… • “At least 54 foreign-language majors […] have been either threatened or eliminated.”Dr. “Tennessee” Bob Peckham, New York Times, Dec. 2010 • Departments cut 2002-present SUNY Albany - French, Italian, Russian and Classics degree programs Louisiana State -- Japanese, Russian, Swahili & Portuguese eliminated ; German & Latin degrees cutDrake University – all foreign lang. instruction cutUniversity of Nevada Reno - ? • University of Northern Iowa – all but Spanish • GERMAN Programs closed University of Southern California Humbolt State Alfred University Bethel CollegeUniversity of Maine Washington State Univ. (phasing out)University of Florida – Ph.D. in German • FRENCH Programs closed Rice University – Graduate program Univ. of Florida – Ph.D. in FrenchB.A. IN FRENCH:South Carolina State University Nicholls State University Tennessee State UniversityFoothill College in California. H • OTHER Programs closedHoward University - Classics Oregon State – Italian Univ. of Florida - Korean & Vietnamese
SO… how do we hook students when our job is on the line?
What Can We Do? • recognize we can’t do it all • focus on areas where we have agency • choose new initiatives wisely • maximize what we already do well • identify allies and build partnerships • tailor our efforts to our institution/context • be vigilant, scan the horizon for opportunities & threats
Work smarter, not harder http://www.marketing-tools-for-real-estate.com/image-files/catch-fish.jpg
Advocacy Resources (don’t reinvent the wheel) • AATF Advocacy Site http://www.utm.edu/staff/globeg/advofr.shtml • http://frenchadvocacy.wikispaces.com • Sample advocacy letters, testimonials from students, etc. • ACTFL Advocacy Sites http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3656 http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=5084 • ADFL Toolkit for Department Advocacyhttp://www.adfl.org/resources/adfl_toolkit_defend_dept.htm • CALPER Advocacy Site http://calper.la.psu.edu/resources.php?page=langadv
Where do we focus our efforts? Visibility and Outreach to Parents/Students/Schools (VISIBILITY VIABILITY) Visibility and Outreach to Community Visibility and Outreach on Campus Recruitment & Retention: Administrative/Programmatic Initiatives Recruitment & Retention: Curricular Initiatives Partnerships
Where do we focus our efforts? I.Visibility and Outreach to Parents/Students/Schools (VISIBILITY VIABILITY) II. Visibility and Outreach to Community
Outreach - Curricular Workshops and Immersion Experiences for Teachers
I. Visibility and Outreach to Parents/Students/Schools Language Days; Teacher Organizations & Curricular Workshops; Online pedagogical resources; (Virtual) Visits to schools; Student internships/service learning in schools; Online student collaborations; College for Kids; concurrent enrollment… II. Visibility and Outreach to Community Film series, Invited Speakers; Open House, News Items, State Fair, Service Learning, Fundraising for causes;Student projects/assignments in the community; Literacy/Storytelling; Informal consulting…
Where do we focus our efforts? III. Visibility and Outreach on Campus
III. Visibility and Outreach on Campus Film series; Conferences; News Items (print, univ. website); Open House, Fundraising; clubs/student groups; international/SA/job fairs; “National X Week;” Course/event publicity; Committee work; Social events; Co-sponsoring events…
Where do we focus our efforts? Recruitment & Retention: Administrative/Programmatic Initiatives
PowerPoint outlining program (to potential majors/minors & 1st & 2nd yr students)
Recruitment & Retention: Administrative/Programmatic Initiatives Educating advisors/administrators; Lobbying (e.g., lang req.); Newsletters/FB groups; liaisons w/ SA, etc.; Strategic committee work; Innovative recruitment materials; Streamlining/Standardization; Branding; Language Houses/Polyglot floors; Honor Society; Student scholarships/prizes/contests/recognition; State/National competitions…
Where do we focus our efforts? V. Recruitment & Retention: Curricular Initiatives
Languages promoting languages “Gateway” Languages; Third+ Languages; Accelerated Courses for Experienced Language Learners (XLLs); double majors/minors; certificates; study abroad in 2 languages…
“Bread and Butter” Course • Views of France: Learning French Culture through Cuisine • (inspired by a high-enrollment course - Views of Italy: Italians and the Mafia) • 100-level course taught in English since 2000 (satisfies two Gen Ed requirements) • 90-115 enrollments per semester • Variations: honors college, freshman seminar, summer, advanced U/G course in French • --> Food studies certificate (2012)
Courses taught in English • FREN 195 First Year Seminar: French Culture through Cuisine (Literature Core) • FREN 195 First Year Seminar: A Season in the Congo (Literature Core, CD) • FREN 250 Africa Films Africa (CD) • FREN 260 a.k.a. Africa: Mapping Identifies in African Literature and Film (Literature Core, CD) • FREN 340 French Cinema and Literature (Literature Core) • FREN 350 Paris-Berlin: Connections and Contrasts at the Turn of the 20th Century (Literature Core)
V. Recruitment & Retention: Curricular Initiatives Innovative courses: high enrollment intros - interdisciplinary - in-translation - language across the curriculum - content courses - short courses - service learning; Clarity & transparency: advising - course descriptions - standardizing syllabi…; Multiple options (double majors/minors; certificates, etc.)…
VI. PartnershipsWithin languages, among languages, across disciplines, across levels, with community-campus-state-national-international organizations,withalumni… Language Faculty in Beginning Arabic (summer short course)
I. Visibility and Outreach to Schools Language Days; Teacher Organizations & Curricular Workshops; Online pedagogical resources; (Virtual) Visits to schools; Student internships/service learning in schools; Online student collaborations; College for Kids; concurrent enrollment… II. Visibility and Outreach to Community Film series, Invited Speakers; Open House, News Items, State Fair, Service Learning, Fundraising for causes;Student projects/assignments in the community; Literacy/Storytelling; Informal consulting… III. Visibility and Outreach on Campus Film series; Conferences; News Items (print, univ. website); Open House, Fundraising; clubs/student groups; international/SA/job fairs; “National X Week;” Course/event publicity; Committee work; Social events; Co-sponsoring events… Recruitment & Retention: Administrative/Programmatic Initiatives Educating advisors/administrators; Lobbying (e.g., lang req.); Newsletters/FB groups; liaisons w/ SA, etc.; Strategic committee work; Innovative recruitment materials; Streamlining/Standardization; Branding; Language Houses/Polyglot floors; Honor Society; Student scholarships/prizes/contests/recognition; State/National competitions… Recruitment & Retention: Curricular Initiatives Innovative courses: high enrollment intros - interdisciplinary - in-translation - language across the curriculum - content courses - short courses - service learning; Clarity & transparency: advising - course descriptions - standardizing syllabi…; Multiple options (double majors/minors; certificates, etc.)…
This presentation is available: e-mail: alkhas@uwm.edu