RUSSIAN PREP:
«Hit the ground running!»
E7331 Final Project
Argosy University – San Francisco Bay Area
Dr. Barbara Cole
December 11, 2010
Tatiana, Julia, Irene
CONTENT
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Rationale
Goals
Scope and Sequence
Course Design (Theory and
Samples)
• Course Assessment
The National Security Language
Initiative (NSLI) of 2006
Foreign language skills are “fundamental to
the economic competitiveness and security
interests of the nation” (U. S. Department of
Education, 2006). NSLI creates framework and
shared goals across the learning continuum
aiming at promoting strategic thinking and
analysis by supporting individual programs.
“DLIFLC provides culturally-based foreign
language education, training, evaluation,
research and sustainment for DoD
personnel in order to ensure the success
of the Defense Language Program and
enhance the security of the nation”
(DLIFLC, 2010).
GOAL:
Provide students with
essential knowledge and skills
to succeed in the Russian Basic
Course Program.
160 hours:
blended course
• Learn How to Learn (10 hours)
• Grammar Essentials (15 hours)
• Language and Area Studies (130
hours)
• Assessment ( 5 hours)
Program Objectives
• Recognize and produce basic vocabulary related to daily
life involving different modalities: listening, reading and
writing.
• Identify major history events, traditions, religions,
economic and societal trends, geographical features of
Russia, and the ways of life of its people.
• Determine their learning styles and barriers, as well as
pursue self-directed or intentional learning by setting
the learning agenda.
• Recognize morphological and syntactic features of the
grammar in the light of present-day linguistics.
Theory
• Concept-Building Model (gaining and keeping
learner’s attention and providing meaningful
feedback)
• ARCS Model by Keller (emphasis on motivation
and interest)
• Merrill’s theory (solving real-world problems)
• Reigeluth’s Elaboration theory (increasing order
of complexity)
• Cultural awareness building
Main Components
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Sound and Script
Cultural Resources
Grammar Essentials
Learn how to Learn
Glossary
Sound Recorder
Pronunciation Guide
Tutorial
Features
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Authentic contexts
Pronunciation
Exposure to the culture and customs
Practice in all four skills
Meaningful basic grammar
PDF writing drills
Writing tool
Interactive games
Activities, Assignments and
Assessment
Cultural e-portfolio – a tool of
non-traditional “authentic“ assessment
1. Facilitates cultural competency
2. Creates cultural context for learning foreign
language
3. Promotes learners’ cognitive development
4. Motivates students for study Russian culture and
language outside the classroom
Examples of Portfolio activities &
Assignments
Cultural Competence Concentration
• Read an article or watch video clip about
cultural topic of the unit
• Conduct independent research
• Write a summary of the article or reflection
on the topic presented.
• Collect 20 entries total according to cultural
content of each unit (2 entries per unit)
Examples of Portfolio Activities &
Assignments
Target Language Concentration
• A collaborative teacher-student effort
• Each item should be dated to facilitate the
evaluation of progress
• Experiment to determine what works and feel
free to modify as needed
• Stress the importance of the students'
reflection on which items are worth including
http://www.pgcps.org/~elc/portfolio3.html
Discussion Board: Activities &
Assignments
Learning Strategies
• Read the information on
particular learning strategy
and a question posted by
teacher. For example:
“What technique you use
that helps you to memorize
new words?”
• Write your response to the
questions.
• Place it on Discussion
Board. Comment on two of
your classmates' responses
Cognitive Development
• Read an article or watch
video clip where the main
political or social issue in
Russia is discussed
• Write a paragraph or two
using your own arguments.
• Place it on Discussion
Board. Comment on two of
your classmates' responses.
Scoring Rubric For Evaluation
http://pareonline.net/
CONTENT
Covers topic indepth with
details and
examples.
Subject
knowledge is
excellent.
ORGANIZATION
Content is well
organized using
headings or
bulleted lists to
group related
material.
MECANICS
No misspellings
or grammatical
errors.
Includes
essential
knowledge
about the topic.
Subject
knowledge
appears to be
good.
Uses headings or
bulleted lists to
organize, but the
overall
organization of
topics appears
flawed.
Includes
essential
information
about the topic
but there are 12 factual errors.
Content is
minimal OR
there are
several factual
errors.
Content is
logically
organized for the
most part.
There was no
clear or logical
organizational
structure, just
lots of facts.
Three or fewer
misspellings
and/or
mechanical
errors.
Four
misspellings
and/or
grammatical
errors.
More than 4
errors in spelling
or grammar.
Vocabulary & Grammar –
Traditional Assessment
• Self-graded vocabulary quiz for every
unit (fill-in-the blank format)
• Self-graded grammar quiz
• Graded vocabulary test (multiple choice
format) – administered 2 times: in the
middle of the course and at the end
Final grade
• CP Entrees – 55%
• Self-graded quizzes – 40%
• Attendance - 5%
Academic Recourses:
Text & Digital Assets
• Russian Cultural Orientation
http://fieldsupport.dliflc.edu
• Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. “Russia.” 4
September, 2008.https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworld-factbook/geos/rs.html
• Basic Russian Guide
http://fieldsupport.dliflc.edu/products/russian/ru_bc_LSK/defa
ult.html
• Recommended Internet Resources:
www.lenta.ru
www.radiomayak.ru
www.vesti.ru
Questions/Comments