Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Home Of The Brave Book Study Assignment Description, David Wolff

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

Individuals lead storied lives, and everyone has a story to tell. Our stories can be shared orally and documented in print. Often, learners are exposed to stories through novels and other trade books. Teacher educators may benefit from using the stories in novels and trade books as case studies in preservice teacher preparation course. This assignment description outlines how to use the novel, Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate, as a case study to contextualize and understand the lived story of an individual learning a second language and living in a new country. Through the novel, preservice teachers experience …

English 890: Advanced Research Methods, A First Benchmark Portfolio, Janel Simons

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

In this benchmark portfolio, I reflect on course design and student learning in a course I teach for incoming Master's students in the English department, ENGL 890: Advanced Research Methods. ENGL 890 is a mini-session course intended to introduce students to various aspects of managing graduate-level research within the discipline of English studies. In this portfolio, I discuss the learning outcomes and goals for the course, highlight some of the assessments I use, reflect on student learning throughout the course, and articulate changes that might improve student learning in future iterations of the course. Given the overarching goals of this …

Educators Remedying Linguicism Through Critical Language Awareness And Critical Trans/Multilingualism: Towards Planetary Justice, Kate Alice Garnett

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate how a critical understanding of language use, language ideologies, and linguicism can influence educators’ praxis and identities. Specifically, the research explores how Critical Language Awareness (CLA) impacts educators’ praxis, their lingua-cultural identities, and their relationships with language and linguicism towards planetary justice. These inquiries were examined through participants’ involvement in a 6-week teacher educator course designed by this researcher entitled Humane Language Education. The course aimed to enable participants to analyze and address language injustices individually, communally, and globally. Unexamined language biases erode linguistic and cultural diversity, disseminate violence and discrimination, and …

Collaborative Publishing And Multivalent Research: Writing Center Journal Scholarship From 2001 To 2020, Joseph Cheatle

The Writing Center Journal

This work examines articles published in the Writing Center Journal between 2001 and 2020 in order to understand more about the publishing, scholarship, and research practices of the field of writing center studies. Through analyzing articles published in the Writing Center Journal between 2001 and 2020, this work makes three contributions to the field. The first contribution of this work is an overview of the shift from scholarship to research in the field of writing center studies. The second contribution of this work is to highlight the growth of collaborative scholarship and research during this time. As is demonstrated in …

“Hopes And Fears”: What Do Writing Center Administrators Think Of Merging With Or Converting Into A Learning Center?, Jenny Goransson

The Writing Center Journal

This article shares findings from a survey study (n = 73) focused on writing center administrator (WCA) perceptions of two phenomena we see on many secondary and postsecondary campuses in recent years: writing centers expanding to become learning centers, and writing centers consolidating or merging with other tutoring services on campus. Through analysis of the qualitative, open-ended survey responses, the study revealed that WCAs’ views of these trends are greatly impacted by local conditions and levels of autonomy, as well as WCAs’ beliefs about expertise. Also, consolidation and expansion are seen by WCAs as shifting writing center identity in …

Slouching Towards Causality: Does Our Writing Center Tutoring Work?, Dennis Paoli, Jack Kenigsberg

The Writing Center Journal

Replicable, aggregable, data-supported (RAD) research has become standard in writing center studies. Choice of research question is determined by local conditions and exigencies, often influenced by institutional assessment policy and national mandates. The methodology of choice in most writing center research is qualitative inquiry, though quasi-experimental quantitative studies, with their inherently difficult protocols and ethical problems, persist in their effort to address the question fundamental to writing center labor: Does writing center tutoring improve student writing? In a quasi-experiment applying propensity score matching to a sample of student users of the Rockowitz Writing Center at Hunter College of the City …

Review: Writing Centers & Racial Justice: A Guidebook For Critical Praxis, Faith Thompson

The Writing Center Journal

Writing Centers & Racial Justice seeks to answer the question many writing center directors seeking to enact antiracism have: “But how do we DO it?” This edited collection is not a how-to guide but offers strategies, suggestions, and even curriculum for writing center administration. It is broken down into five parts, each tackling a different component of writing center work, such as hiring and retention practices as well as tutor education. It calls on readers to look outside the writing center and begin to expand this work through their institutions and communities, as well as directly calling out professional organizations …

Review: A Working Model For Contingent Faculty, Courtney L. Werner

The Writing Center Journal

In his book A Working Model for Contingent Faculty, Robert Samuels presents multiple ideas for helping contingent faculty organize to gain equity on campus: in their careers, working conditions, and pay. Samuels critiques current prominent, negative discourse on contingent faculty, offering instead ways to emphasize contingent faculty’s diverse and positive experiences and opportunities. I offer additional insights spurred from Samuels’s ideas, including connecting with student government and finding ways to make writing center work and research more public and apparent to institutional stakeholders (e.g., students, faculty, donors, administrators, boards/trustees).

Four Lessons To Build Upon: A Study Of Postsecondary Composition Classroom Curriculum, Tucker D. Nielsen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Soft skills in technical professions may be valued by employers, but post-secondary students engage with a dichotomy arguing against the blend of soft and hard skills. This study utilized activities with LEGO® bricks to determine how plausible kinesthetic learning methods are within university composition classes. Four in-class activities based on the class’s four core assignments were spread across the Spring 2024 semester at Michigan Technological university. Through written reflections, lists, posters, and photos of students’ builds, students practiced and demonstrated engagement with identified composition and critical thinking skills.

Two criteria (Audience Expectations and Genre Expectations, were not demonstrated as clearly …

Bridging The Gap: An Analysis Of Elementary Literacy Instruction, And Proposed Solutions To Exponentiate Literacy Skills, Avery E. Gray

Honors College Theses

The reading achievement gap is generally identified as the increasing disparity between higher-level students and lower-level students within the same grade or school level. Student data presented in the form of secondary reading assessment scores were analyzed for the state of Georgia, as well as nationally, for student achievement regarding reading skills in public schools from grades 3-5. Interviews conducted with educational professionals were conducted to reveal anecdotal manifestations of what the presented data looks like in terms of student ability, and how the teaching practice has reacted to such manifestations. The evaluation of these consistencies and explanations given to …

Building Social Media Literacy In The Russian Language Classroom, Kelly Knickmeier Cummings

Russian Language Journal

This article presents ways to teach media literacy (ML) skills in Russian language classrooms with particular focus on developing proficiencies to navigate social media (SM) where information disorder is a critical concern. Because of its numerous configurations and applications, SM is understood broadly as “the creation and exchange of user-generated content.” After outlining critical concerns surrounding SM use, the discussion focuses on three conditions that affect the development of ML skills when trying to engage meaningfully online: cognitive vulnerabilities, unreliable narrators, and populist rhetoric. Developing an awareness of how these three conditions on SM impact decision-making and behavior online equips …

Tracking Current Events In The Russian-Language Classroom, Cori Anderson, Daniel Brooks

Russian Language Journal

Given weaponized disinformation about recent US elections and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, media literacy has become an essential part of a 21st-century liberal arts education, in line with the AAC&U’s Essential Learning Outcomes. By including news media in the language classroom, instructors can introduce students to the products and practices of the target culture and enhance their comprehension of Russian-language texts. We describe a current events blog project, appropriate at any level of instruction, with specific examples from second- and sixth-semester university-level Russian-language courses. Students follow current events in the Russian-speaking world on a topic of their choosing, …

Teaching Critical Media Literacy In An Advanced-Level Classroom Through The Eyes Of Journalism As A Profession, Alexandra Shapiro

Russian Language Journal

This paper presents an approach to promoting social media literacy in a Russian language class. The instruction was conducted within a university setting for Flagship students in their third year of Russian studies. The course focused on teaching professional Russian to students at the Intermediate Mid to Advanced levels. It is modular and covers several topics, including journalism, law, and human rights, among others. The overall aim of the course was to help students develop critical thinking skills, expose them to Russian language and culture, and enable them to stay informed about current events while discussing a wide range of …

Constructing A Course On Russian Media Analysis For Learners At Ilr 3+/4 Proficiency, Olga Mukhortova

Russian Language Journal

The proficiency movement of the 1980s and ‘90s in foreign language teaching and learning demonstrated that U. S. students can attain Intermediate-level proficiency by the end of a four-year post-secondary course of study. Language programs can now pay more attention to enabling students to reach the Advanced1 and Superior levels (ACTFL, 2012; Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR); Martin, 2020, p. 43). One can observe the particular demand for ILR 3/4 speakers from the U. S. government in the diversity of state-sponsored initiatives in foreign languages aiming for Superior-level (ILR 3/3+) and higher proficiency. Understandably, the need for speakers of Russian at …

Book Review: Task-Based Instruction For Teaching Russian As A Foreign Language, Izolda Savenkova

Russian Language Journal

Svetlana V. Nuss' and Wendy Whitehead Martelle's (editors) Task-Based Instruction for Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language stands as an invaluable resource, offering task-based practices beneficial for both novice and experienced instructors of Russian as a second and foreign language. The contributing authors provide excellent examples of classroom activities supplemented with suggestions on how to design task-based syllabi. It is noteworthy that the team of authors is extraordinarily diverse, encompassing educators from various kinds of educational institutions and engaged in different language teaching formats. This work is of great interest not only to practical teachers, but also to researchers in …

Book Review: Любимые Советские Фильмы На Уроке Рки, Ekaterina Talalakina

Russian Language Journal

Любимые советские фильмы на уроке РКИ is the perfect example of the material for the linguo-cultural approach to language learning. The book is designed for Russian as foreign language students at the Advanced Low level of language proficiency and above. The book is built around the exploration of ten popular Soviet movies in the entertainment genre. Each movie is covered in a separate chapter, including the necessary language and culture-related details to promote language acquisition and facilitate comprehension of the cultural references.

An Integrated Model For Teaching Information, Media, And Language Literacy, Maria Shardakova

Russian Language Journal

This paper explores the connection between the rise of critical approaches to teaching media in Russian language classrooms and the political events of the last decade, during which Russia has increasingly positioned itself as an adversary to the Western world. The Russian state’s systematic weaponization of its media, severe restrictions on freedom of speech, and suppression of independent voices have created an environment where propaganda permeates all forms of social and public expression. This saturation has led information consumers to dismiss media content as manipulation, sometimes overlooking voices of resistance. As a result, it is crucial to equip students with …

Students As Co-Creators Of A Russian Media Literacy Course, Katya Jordan, Jennifer Bown

Russian Language Journal

This paper reports on a 4th-year Russian course designed around information, media and technology literacy and focused on developing Advanced-level proficiency. The goals of this course include development of 21st century skills, with an emphasis on information and media literacy. This inquiry-based course follows the core principles of Open Architecture Curricular Design (Leaver & Campbell, 2015), including the use of a theme-based syllabus designed around authentic texts and learner involvement in the selection and delivery of content. The course focuses on current events and uses current authentic materials available through Russian-language news outlets. Students act as co-creators as they select …

Teaching Media Literacy Through Task-Based Instruction, Snezhana Zheltoukhova

Russian Language Journal

This article explores ways to apply the TBLT approach to teaching media literacy as part of an L2 Russian bridge course module. The primary goal of a bridge course is to equip students with the learning skills and tools needed to navigate various online resources, facilitating the transition from language-based instruction to content-based upper-level courses. The TBLT method aligns well with the dual objectives of teaching media literacy while simultaneously improving target language proficiency. In this article, I discuss a set of tasks designed to help students navigate Russian-language media and recognize various propaganda techniques. Additionally, I address some pedagogical …

Critical Language Pedagogy In The Classroom: The Tv Talk Show '60 Minutes' As A 'Lesson' On Russian Propaganda, Eva Binder, Magdalena Kaltseis

Russian Language Journal

This article examines the TV talk show 60 Minutes—one of the main pillars of Russian television propaganda. Since its launch in 2016 on Russia-1, the show has placed the defamation of Ukraine and the promotion of anti-Western, conservative values as Russia’s proclaimed national and international mission at the top of its agenda. Consequently, this talk show is of particular interest for studying and analyzing political propaganda in contemporary Russian mass media. In this article, we focus on a short segment from a 2020 broadcast of 60 Minutes titled “The Limits of Tolerance” and propose ways to integrate it into …

Book Review: Teaching Languages With Screen Media: Pedagogical Reflections, Michael Lavery

Russian Language Journal

Herrero and Suarez’s edited volume Teaching Languages with Screen Media explores a range of innovative approaches to incorporating screen media in foreign language instruction. Although none of the authors’ contributions discuss teaching Russian as a foreign language, the book offers a broad theoretical overview of screen studies as well as case studies drawing from diverse contexts (teaching Spanish, French, and English in secondary and university-level education) that can inform the teaching of any modern foreign language.

Book Review: Authenticity Across Languages And Cultures: Themes Of Identity In Foreign Language Teaching And Learning, Aselle Almuratova

Russian Language Journal

The word “authenticity” and its derivatives have become almost a catch-all in language pedagogy. While language teachers strive to use authentic materials in their teaching and attempt to prepare students for authentic communicative situations, few teachers of Russian are aware of the connection between personal and cultural authenticity, as the term itself is not clearly defined in the field of Russian as a Foreign Language (RFL) and is often seen as self-explanatory. The authors of the current volume explore the conceptualization of the word “authenticity” in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) more broadly, bringing together authors from different languages; however, this …

Teaching Media Literacy Through Narrative In An Advanced Russian Listening Course, Karen Evans-Romaine

Russian Language Journal

Teaching information and media literacy has become more important than ever before. This article will describe how students of Russian at the Intermediate High through Advanced levels acquire information and media literacy through narratives in a course focused on development of listening and speaking skills through the Advanced proficiency spectrum. The course, designed for undergraduate students from a variety of majors in a Russian Flagship program and for graduate students from various disciplines, enables students to develop listening comprehension and speaking skills at the Advanced level through narratives. In addition, the course teaches students how to analyze and formulate arguments, …

Book Review: Colloquial Russian: The Complete Course For Beginners, Liz Ewaskio

Russian Language Journal

Colloquial Russian: The Complete Course for Beginners, now in its fifth edition, has been updated to reflect the diversity of the Russophone world, including modernized language, as well as new characters (whose storylines run through the textbook) “to highlight the diversity of speakers of Russian, both within Russia and beyond” (p. xi). Part of Routledge’s Colloquial Series, this traditional textbook is intended for adult learners and students working on their own or with an instructor. Colloquial Russian is designed to bring students up to the GCSE level (the British equivalent of the American GED) and includes advanced-level grammar, such …

Front Matter

Kentucky English Bulletin

No abstract provided.

Policy And Text Selection In The Secondary Ela Classroom, Jessica Winters

Kentucky English Bulletin

No abstract provided.

Crt In Schools, Latoya Lee

Kentucky English Bulletin

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Mentor Texts, Jean Wolph

Kentucky English Bulletin

No abstract provided.

We Have Arabic At This School?: The Impact Of Neoliberalism And Orientalism On Arabic Education In The United States, Ella V. Pastore

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research examines Arabic education in the United States at the undergraduate level, highlighting the question: How do forces such as Orientalism, globalization, and neoliberalism affect the way that the Arabic language is taught and recognized in the United States? The Arabic programs of three highly accredited American universities are presented, in relation to their Japanese programs. While Japanese is a language that faces its own Orientalisms and imperial history with the West, Japan is currently not a country that is prioritized through national security interests, with Arabic being designated as a “Critical Language”. Through examination of the advertisement of …

Curriculum As Theology: A Framework For Analyzing Curriculum As Theological Text, Russell Miller

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

This article seeks to establish a framework that contemplates curriculum as theological text by exploring the works of Neil Postman, W.F. Pinar, and C.S. Lewis in relation to past and present research and commentary. The paper investigates a range of concepts related to theology and curriculum including culture and religion, ethics, and morality. The author argues that curriculum is intrinsically a theological endeavor due to the nature of humanity and the interaction between learning and spiritual development.