SYLLABUS FLAN 541
PRACTICUM in WORLD LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION - SECONDARY
Part I
Professor:
Anne Grundstrom Nerenz, Ph.D.
Contact information:
Office:
Office telephone:
Messages only:
Home telephone:
e-mail:
344 Alexander
(734) 487-0191
(734) 487-0130
(734) 668-0097 prior to 9:00 p.m.
anerenz@emich.edu
Office Hours:
Thursday
9:00 - 12:00 and by appointment
Description
FLAN 541 is a three-credit practicum course designed to prepare undergraduate and postbaccalaureate teacher candidates for careers as teachers of Arabic, Chinese, French, German,
Japanese, or Spanish in secondary school settings. This course meets once per week for three
consecutive class periods, e.g. 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Teacher candidates apply concepts and theories learned in FLAN 611 to teach varied lesson
designs in mentored, weekly small group micro-teaching sessions.
• In weekly mentored micro-teaching sessions, small groups of students present under
the guidance of the professor a variety of lesson designs, including culture listening,
vocabulary, grammar, reading, and writing lessons which they have planned;
candidates also critique and reflect on their own and each other’s teaching
demonstrations.
• In the field practicum portion of the course, teacher candidates spend one hour per
week in secondary school settings observing master teachers, working with diverse
student populations, and teaching improved versions of their micro-teaching lessons
Students must have senior or graduate standing. Co-requisite with FLAN 611 Theory and
Methods of Modern Language Instruction.
A. Course Goals and Objectives
Teacher candidate will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to
teach world languages in standards-based, modified immersion settings. Specifically,
teacher candidates will be able to:
• design lessons within an authentic cultural setting and integrate cultural practices,
products, perspectives and comparisons
• conduct lessons using the world language 95% of the time, even for beginning
students, by tailoring their language to students’ levels and reinforcing meaning in
a variety of ways;
• monitor and verify students’ comprehension of the target language using a variety
of strategies and at varied levels;
• design and present varied, developmentally-appropriate lesson types;
• make and reinforce connections to other disciplines using the world language;
• design and present varied and developmentally-appropriate activities that move
students toward open-ended communication;
•
•
design formative and summative assessments based on authentic print and audio
texts; and
reflect on, analyze, and improve their teaching practice.
B. Outline of content to be covered
All concepts and skills in this course are cumulative. For example,
• in Week 1, the FLAN 611 large group lecture, discussion, demonstration lesson,
readings, and written assignments address the teaching of culture and the fundamental
role that culture plays both in setting the context for each daily lesson and in unifying
lesson activities. In all subsequent weeks, original micro-teaching lessons in FLAN
541:
— must be set in an age-appropriate and authentic cultural context and
— must address cultural practices, products, perspectives, and distribution and allow
language learners to make cultural comparisons.
• in Week 2, the FLAN 611 large group lecture, discussion, demonstration lesson,
readings, and written assignments focus on making input comprehensible to learners
even the most basic levels of proficiency. In all subsequent weeks, original microteaching lessons in FLAN 541:
— must be set in an age-appropriate and authentic cultural context;
— must address cultural practices, products, perspectives, and distribution and allow
language learners to make cultural comparisons; and
— must be conducted exclusively in the target language at a level appropriate to
novice learners.
See the attached course syllabus for a detailed outline of content to be covered.
C. Student assignments and presentations
Students are expected to:
• prepare and present weekly micro-teaching demonstration lessons;
• prepare written reflections on weekly micro-teaching demonstrations;
• complete at least 15 hours of guided field observation in diverse secondary world
language classrooms;
• teach five micro-lessons to secondary language learners in diverse world language
classrooms;
• prepare written analyses and reflections on the five lessons taught to secondary
language learners;
• prepare and present a mid-term and final teaching demonstration.
• prepare a research paper and present key findings on an approved topic.
See course syllabus Part II for a detailed list of course assignments.
D. Method of evaluation
Teacher candidates’ demonstration lessons, written reflections, and in-class peer critiques are
evaluated using rubrics. Rubrics are made available to teacher candidates prior to each
assignment.
Graded course work is weighted as follows:
Weekly micro-teaching demonstrations and field demonstration lessons
Reflections on weekly micro-teaching demonstrations and practicum lessons
Written and in-class oral peer critiques
Mid-term teaching demonstration
Final teaching demonstration
Graduate research paper and presentation
40%
10%
10%
15%
15%
10%
E. Grading scale
A+
A
A-
97-100
93-96
90-92
B+
B
B-
87-89
83-86
80-82
C+
C
C-
77-79
73-76
70-72
D+
D
D-
67-69
63-66
60-62
E
0-59
F. Special Requirements
None
G. Bibliography and Reading List
Teacher’s Handbook 4th Edition
Shrum and Glisan
Heinle / Cengage, 2010
Standards for Language Learning
ACTFL, 2010
Michigan Guidelines for World Language Learning
Michigan Department of Education, 2008
Michigan Standards and Benchmarks for World Languages
Michigan Department of Education, 2008
FLAN 421 Demonstration Lessons in Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish
Nerenz, A.G.
A coursepack is also required.
H. Other pertinent information: Scheduling
FLAN 541 is offered only in the fall of each academic year and is a co-requisite with FLAN
611 Theory and Methods of Modern Language Instruction
• Teacher candidates who plan to student teach during the winter semester immediately
following this course must have applied for student teaching by June 15, prior to
beginning the fall semester in which the course is offered.
• Teacher candidates who plan to student teach during the fall semester immediately
following this course must have applied for student teaching by January 15.
• Teacher candidates seeking K-12 certification must major in the language in which
they are seeking certification and successfully complete FLAN 611 Theory and
Methods of Modern Language Instruction prior to enrolling in FLAN 612 Methods of
Teaching Modern Languages in the Elementary Grades.
Course and University Policies
LiveText subscription
All students seeking teacher certification or endorsement are required: 1) to subscribe to LiveText and 2) submit
portions of their work via LiveText; a subscription to LiveText is required for these students. Contact the College
of Education to obtain a key code that will allow you to purchase LiveText at a discounted rate.
Academic dishonesty
Academic dishonesty, including all forms of cheating and/or plagiarism, will not be tolerated in this class.
Penalties for an act of academic dishonesty may range from receiving a failing grade for a particular assignment
to receiving a failing grade for the entire course. In addition, you may be referred to the Office of Student
Judicial Services for discipline that can result in either a suspension or permanent dismissal. The Student
Conduct Code contains detailed definitions of what constitutes academic dishonesty, but if you are not sure
about whether something you are doing would be considered academic dishonesty, consult with the instructor.
Classroom Management Issues
Students are expected to abide by the Student Conduct Code and assist in creating an environment that is
conducive to learning and protects the rights of all members of the University community. Incivility and
disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and may result in a request to leave class and referral to the office of
Student Judicial Services (SJS) for discipline. Example of inappropriate classroom conduct include repeatedly
arriving late to class, using a cellular phone, or talking while other are speaking. You may access the code online
at www.emich.edu/sis
Student and Exchange Visitor Statement (SEVIS)
The Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) requires F and J students report to the Office of
International Students, 229 King Hall within 10 days of the event:
Changes in your name, local address, major field of study, or source of funding.
Changes in your degree-completion date.
Changes in your degree level (ex. Bachelors to Masters).
Intent to transfer to another school.
Prior permission from OIS is needed for the following:
Dropping ALL courses as well as carrying or dropping BELOW minimum credit hours.
Employment on or off-campus.
Registering for more than one ONLINE course per term (F-visa only)
Endorsing I-20 or DS-2019 for re-entry into the USA.
Failure to report may result in the termination of your SEVIS record and even arrest and deportation. If you have
questions or concerns, contact the OIS at 487-3116, not your instructor.
Special Needs Accommodations
If you wish to be accommodated for your disability, EMU Board of Regents policy #8.3 requires that you first
register with the Disability Resource Center, 240 Student Center.. You may contact the Disability Resource
Center by telephone at 487-2470. Students with disabilities are encouraged to register with ASO promptly as you
will only be accommodated from the date you register with them forward. No retroactive accommodations are
possible.