what ’ s the hook? recruiting students to french
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What ’ s the hook? Recruiting students to French. Mary Vogl, Colorado State University Michele LaPean-Usher, Milton High School, Milton, WI Larry Kuiper, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Anita Alkhas, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The good…. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
What’s the hook? Recruiting students to French
Mary Vogl, Colorado State UniversityMichele LaPean-Usher, Milton High School, Milton, WI
Larry Kuiper, University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeAnita Alkhas, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The good…• By 2007–08, [K-12]
enrollment increased by 3.1%, reaching 8.9 million students, or 18.5% of all students. (ACTFL survey)
• University foreign-language enrollment is at an all-time high.
(MLA Survey, 2009)
the bad…• K-12 world language enrollments have decreased in some states
(e.g., Wisconsin & Colorado)• Language courses as a percentage of college classes:
1965 16.5% 2006, 2009 8.6%
• Graduate-school foreign language enrollment 2006 -2009: down 6.7%
• Colleges & universities w/ foreign language requirement for graduation:1885: 64%; 1966: 89%; 1971: 77%; 1994: 66%; 2009: 50%
• MLA Survey of 100 institutions: % of college students in lang. classes1965 (language requirement intact): 25% 1970 (requirement rescinded): 14.9%
and the ugly…• “At least 54 foreign-
language majors […] have been either threatened or eliminated.” Dr. “Tennessee” Bob Peckham, New York Times, Dec. 2010
• Departments cut 2002-presentSUNY Albany - French, Italian, Russian and Classics degree programs Louisiana State -- Japanese, Russian, Swahili & Portuguese eliminated ; German & Latin degrees cutDrake University – all foreign lang. instruction cutUniversity of Nevada Reno - ?
• University of Northern Iowa – all but Spanish
• GERMAN Programs closedUniversity of Southern California Humbolt State Alfred University Bethel CollegeUniversity of Maine Washington State Univ. (phasing out)University of Florida – Ph.D. in German
• FRENCH Programs closedRice University – Graduate program Univ. of Florida – Ph.D. in FrenchB.A. IN FRENCH:South Carolina State University Nicholls State University Tennessee State UniversityFoothill College in California. H
• OTHER Programs closedHoward University - Classics Oregon State – Italian Univ. of Florida - Korean & Vietnamese
how do we
hook students
when our job
is on the line?
SO…
The sinker, not the hook:
• recognize we can’t do it all
• focus on areas where we have agency
• choose new initiatives wisely
• maximize what we already do well
• identify allies and build partnerships
• tailor our efforts to our institution/context
• be vigilant, scan the horizon for
opportunities & threats
What Can We Do?
http://www.marketing-tools-for-real-estate.com/image-files/catch-fish.jpg
Work smarter, not harder
Advocacy Resources (don’t reinvent the wheel)
• AATF Advocacy Site http://www.utm.edu/staff/globeg/advofr.shtml
• http://frenchadvocacy.wikispaces.com– Sample advocacy letters, testimonials from students, etc.
• ACTFL Advocacy Sites http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3656 http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=5084
• ADFL Toolkit for Department Advocacyhttp://www.adfl.org/resources/adfl_toolkit_defend_dept.htm
• CALPER Advocacy Site http://calper.la.psu.edu/resources.php?page=langadv
Where do we focus our efforts?
I. Visibility and Outreach to Parents/Students/Schools (VISIBILITY VIABILITY)
II. Visibility and Outreach to Community
III. Visibility and Outreach on Campus
IV. Recruitment & Retention: Administrative/Programmatic Initiatives
V. Recruitment & Retention: Curricular Initiatives
VI. Partnerships
Where do we focus our efforts?
I.Visibility and Outreach to Parents/Students/Schools
(VISIBILITY VIABILITY)
II. Visibility and Outreach to Community
500+ high/middle school students
Outreach & Partnership: Local teachers association
Outreach - Curricular Workshops and Immersion Experiences for Teachers
Fundraising
I. Visibility and Outreach to Parents/Students/Schools
Language Days; Teacher Organizations & Curricular Workshops; Online pedagogical resources; (Virtual) Visits to schools; Student internships/service learning in schools; Online student collaborations; College for Kids; concurrent enrollment…
II. Visibility and Outreach to Community
Film series, Invited Speakers; Open House, News Items, State Fair, Service Learning, Fundraising for causes; Student projects/assignments in the community; Literacy/Storytelling; Informal consulting…
Where do we focus our efforts?
III. Visibility and Outreach on Campus
Foreign Languages Career Fair
Campus Visibility: Publicizing courses
Campus Open House
III. Visibility and Outreach on Campus
Film series; Conferences; News Items (print, univ. website); Open House, Fundraising; clubs/student groups; international/SA/job fairs; “National X Week;” Course/event publicity; Committee work; Social events; Co-sponsoring events…
Where do we focus our efforts?
IV. Recruitment & Retention: Administrative/Programmatic Initiatives
PowerPoint outlining program (to potential majors/minors & 1st & 2nd yr students)
Participation of languages in campus recruitment efforts
IV. Recruitment & Retention: Administrative/Programmatic Initiatives
Educating advisors/administrators; Lobbying (e.g., lang req.); Newsletters/FB groups; liaisons w/ SA, etc.; Strategic committee work; Innovative recruitment materials; Streamlining/Standardization; Branding; Language Houses/Polyglot floors; Honor Society; Student scholarships/prizes/contests/recognition; State/National competitions…
Where do we focus our efforts?
V. Recruitment & Retention: Curricular Initiatives
“Gateway” Languages; Third+ Languages; Accelerated Courses for Experienced Language Learners (XLLs); double majors/minors; certificates; study abroad in 2 languages…
Languages promoting languages
Views of France: Learning French Culture through Cuisine(inspired by a high-enrollment course - Views of Italy: Italians and the Mafia)
100-level course taught in English since 2000 (satisfies two Gen Ed requirements)
90-115 enrollments per semester
Variations: honors college, freshman seminar, summer,
advanced U/G course in French
--> Food studies certificate (2012)
“Bread and Butter” Course
Courses taught in English• FREN 195 First Year Seminar: French Culture through Cuisine (Literature Core)• FREN 195 First Year Seminar: A Season in the Congo (Literature Core, CD)• FREN 250 Africa Films Africa (CD)• FREN 260 a.k.a. Africa: Mapping Identifies in African Literature and Film (Literature
Core, CD)• FREN 340 French Cinema and Literature
(Literature Core)• FREN 350 Paris-Berlin: Connections and Contrasts at the Turn of the 20th Century (Literature Core)
V. Recruitment & Retention: Curricular Initiatives
Innovative courses: high enrollment intros - interdisciplinary - in-translation - language across the curriculum - content courses - short courses - service learning; Clarity & transparency: advising - course descriptions - standardizing syllabi…; Multiple options (double majors/minors; certificates, etc.)…
VI. PartnershipsWithin languages, among languages, across disciplines, across levels, with community-campus-state-national-
international organizations, with alumni…
Language Faculty in Beginning Arabic (summer short course)
I. Visibility and Outreach to Schools
Language Days; Teacher Organizations & Curricular Workshops; Online pedagogical resources; (Virtual) Visits to schools; Student internships/service learning in schools; Online student collaborations; College for Kids; concurrent enrollment…
II. Visibility and Outreach to Community
Film series, Invited Speakers; Open House, News Items, State Fair, Service Learning, Fundraising for causes; Student projects/assignments in the community; Literacy/Storytelling; Informal consulting…
III. Visibility and Outreach on Campus
Film series; Conferences; News Items (print, univ. website); Open House, Fundraising; clubs/student groups; international/SA/job fairs; “National X Week;” Course/event publicity; Committee work; Social events; Co-sponsoring events…
IV. Recruitment & Retention: Administrative/Programmatic Initiatives
Educating advisors/administrators; Lobbying (e.g., lang req.); Newsletters/FB groups; liaisons w/ SA, etc.; Strategic committee work; Innovative recruitment materials; Streamlining/Standardization; Branding; Language Houses/Polyglot floors; Honor Society; Student scholarships/prizes/contests/recognition; State/National competitions…
• Recruitment & Retention: Curricular Initiatives
Innovative courses: high enrollment intros - interdisciplinary - in-translation - language across the curriculum - content courses - short courses - service learning; Clarity & transparency: advising - course descriptions - standardizing syllabi…; Multiple options (double majors/minors; certificates, etc.)…
This presentation is available:
e-mail: [email protected]