Language Teacher
Development for Business
Applications
Maria Antonia Cowles
The Lauder Institute
University of Pennsylvania
cowlest@wharton.upenn.edu
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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The Lauder Program
• MBA Wharton
• MA School of Arts and Sciences
– Eight Languages
– Entry: Advanced (ACTFL)
– Exit: Superior (ACTFL)
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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The Students
• Profile
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Task oriented
Adult learners (average 28)
Focused
Time conscious
Analytical
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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Student Wants and Needs
• Use appropriate and effective discourse
in business-related situations
• Determine learning goals and direct
own learning
• Receive guidance in areas of need
• Validate language learning
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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Language Teacher Profiles
• Majority trained in Literature, few in
SLA
• Institution-wide Pre-assignment Teacher
Training
• Experience using a textbook-based
syllabus and some technology
• Experience with undergraduate students
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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Supplemental Training at Lauder
• Pre-Term In-Service Training
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needs assessment of students
syllabus design (one-on-one)
adult learning styles and attitudes
portfolio building
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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On-Going Training
• Teacher-led seminars on the following:
– Second language methodology
– Discourse analysis
– Sociolinguistics/Inter-cultural
communication
– Heritage speakers and speakers of cognate
languages
– Leadership and interaction with students
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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Challenges
• Frustration on both sides
– Teacher
• Difficulty with selecting and spiraling
business topics to develop higher level
skills
• Difficulty in giving a business perspective
to current events
• Difficulty in designing materials on
business topics
• Conclusion: discourse analysis not enough
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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Challenges
• Student Frustrations:
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Teacher credibility
Motivation decline
Poor performance
Absenteeism
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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Short-term Solution
• Thirty-hour team-taught workshop:
- Business and Methods Professor
• An overview of the functional areas
of business
• A language methodology course with
emphasis on designs for specific
purposes
• Hands-on development of materials
for business practitioners
• A final business language
curriculum project
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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Outcomes
• Ability to design relevant materials
• Ability to add a business perspective to current
events
• Ability to ask appropriate business questions
• Improved motivation and performance of
students
• Instructor credibility
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
11
Long-Term Solution
• Joint Graduate Certificate from Penn’s
Wharton School and Graduate School of
Education (Penn CIBER Support)
– Marketing, Management, Finance, and
Accounting or Legal Issues or Operations
Management
– Overview of SL Pedagogy, Sociolinguistics,
Intercultural Communication, Language for
Specific Purposes
– A final project
Nov. 19, 2004
Maria Antonia Cowles - ACTFL 2004
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