ERIC Number: EJ1039556
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Sep
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0018-2133
EISSN: N/A
Literary Discussions and Advanced-Superior Speaking Functions in the Undergraduate Language Program
Darhower, Mark
Hispania, v97 n3 p396-412 Sep 2014
During the last decade, researchers of foreign language pedagogy have become increasingly interested in the "language-literature divide" (Donato and Brooks 2004). The purpose of the current study is to contribute to this growing body of research by investigating the extent to which whole class discussions in three third-year undergraduate Spanish literature/culture courses provided opportunities for learners to engage in the communicative functions corresponding to the advanced and superior levels of the "ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines--Speaking." The analysis included teacher questions, quantity of learner versus teacher speech, and distribution of teacher and learner verb forms. The results showed that, although there were some opportunities for learners to converse at the advanced and superior levels, the majority of learner discourse occurred below the advanced level. Recommendations for further research and pedagogy are provided.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, College Second Language Programs, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Language Proficiency, Guidelines, Teaching Methods, Spanish, Literature, Communicative Competence (Languages), Language Skills, Oral Language, Teacher Student Relationship, Verbs, Discourse Analysis, Classroom Communication, Discussion (Teaching Technique), Standards, Qualitative Research
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Inc. 900 Ladd Road, Walled Lake, MI 48390. Tel: 248-960-2180; Fax: 248-960-9570; e-mail: AATSPoffice@aatsp.org; Web site: http://www.aatsp.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A