Our Mission
The mission of the Language and Culture Learning Center (LCLC) is to improve language learning and teaching at UIC through
the improvement of language teaching curricula and programs through the use of technologically advanced language teaching materials;
the establishment of a blended learning environment based on second language acquisition theory and instructional design principles;
the creation of an intellectual community for scholars in second language learning and linguistics to foster interdisciplinary research;internships and training for graduate students in computer assisted language learning applications.
Objectives
To produce network-based and multimedia instructional materials that will maximize the success of a blended learning environment.
The integration of network-based and other multimedia materials in the language curriculum presents additional and enhanced learning opportunities (language, culture, content and critical thinking skills) for students in courses taught in all language departments and programs. The LCLC will help language faculty
(1) envision computer applications for specific courses;
(2) articulate and develop feasible projects;
(3) integrate the completed projects into their curricula.
These goals will be accomplished through
technology workshops for faculty, lecturers and TAs presenting examples of effective multi-media materials and hands-on development components;
one-on-one meetings with the LCLC technology and instructional design support staff;
To establish a community for second language, heritage language and less commonly taught language learners by
providing the meeting space to foster foreign language use among UIC students;
supporting language clubs, movie series, and language specific events;
sponsoring a speaker series about the target language cultures. This series will focus on current events or cultural aspects of the different target language cultures. Invited speakers will be UIC faculty and representatives from the target language communities in Chicago.
To address curricular needs of individual language departments and programs by addressing basic problems, such as
articulating program goals of the basic language and major/minor programs;
attracting students to the major/minor programs;
setting goals for language proficiency and cultural literacy attainable in four years of language studies.
To assess distance learning needs and develop programs in two main areas:
Teacher education: With the Office of Continuing Education the LCLC will assess the possibility of developing distance learning courses. These courses will particularly serve high school teachers who want to earn a masters degree to improve their career or courses that fulfill teachers continuing education requirement.
Less commonly taught languages: The LCLC will contact language centers and language programs in the CIC to determine interest in languages offered at UIC. The LCLC anticipates an interest in Chinese, Russian and Polish heritage language courses. The LCLC will also explore the interest of UIC students and faculty in taking CIC language courses not offered at UIC.
To create a community for scholars
Faculty conducting research in the learning and teaching of languages are housed in different departments and schools at UIC (e.g., English, Spanish, German, Cognitive Psychology, Computer Science, Education). The LCLC will serve to create a community of like-minded scholars who can share ideas and support one another in their research and development of projects by
establishing a lecture series of faculty presentations and invited speakers from around the nation.
hosting language focused conferences.
To enhance graduate student education and job opportunities
