Using Popular Culture in the Spanish as a Second Language Classroom

Grant:

Lecturers' Professional Development Fund (LPDF)

Academic Year:

2014 - 2015 (June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015)

Funding Requested:

$2,000.00

Project Dates:

Wed, 07/01/2015 - Mon, 08/31/2015

Applicant(s):

anoverr

Overview of the Project:

This proposal funds my participation in an international series of classes and workshops on incorporating popular culture in to the Spanish as a second language classroom. This experience will help me mentor the approximately 20 graduate student instructors and lecturers who work with me each academic year while providing training on creating new activities I can use in the classes I teach.

Final Report Fields

Project Objectives:

The main objective was to familiarize myself with the latest applications available to use popular media in the Spanish as a second language classroom. The classes I attended exposed me to a variety of software and web sites that were unknown to me previously.

Project Achievements:

Formally participating in a series of classes that focused on pedagogical approaches was stimulating. My classmates were fellow teachers from the European Union, Israel and the United States. It was fascinating to learn how colleagues in different systems arrive at similar goals. This semester I have adapted new, authentic materials to my course and made them more accessible to the students by applying lessons learned during the summer.

Continuation:

Formally, it is not continuing beyond the grant period. Informally, I have continued to visit many of the sites and use what was taught during the course. It was a wonderful experience.

Dissemination:

In the Spanish 232 course meetings I have begun to share some of the applications I started using this past summer. This term I supervise 10 instructors (7 Lecturers & 3 GSIs). I plan to continue sharing these materials with the 232 group over the next few years.

Advice to your Colleagues:

The institute where the classes were held and the instructor were fantastic. It was a welcoming environment very conducive to growing as an educator. Perhaps the biggest challenge was overcoming the inertia that can accompany years of teaching and deciding to take the course.

PRINTER VERSION

SEND BY EMAIL