Based on the philosophy of language acquisition through the Communicative Language Teaching approach, much emphasis will be placed on oral communication skills with equal focus being placed on fluency and accuracy.  This will be attained through the use of dynamic, interactive tasks which will include pair/group work (cooperative learning), games, classroom discussions, video activities, listening/reading comprehension tasks, writing exercises, and pronunciation practice, all of which are based on authentic and meaningful material. The professor will act as a facilitator within a student-centered classroom, allowing the students to construct their own learning. There will be constant exposure to the target language, as only English will be spoken in the classroom, thereby creating an authentic environment which will, in turn, facilitate the acquisition process. The four main skills – listening, speaking, reading, and writing – will be presented in an integrated fashion rather than isolating them, thus enhancing the creation of a natural and authentic learning experience.

• Emphasis is placed on learning to communicate through interaction in the target language.
• Opportunities provided for learners to focus, not only on the language buy also on the learning process itself.
• Learners’ own personal experiences are used as an important contributing element to classroom learning.
• Classroom language learning is linked to language activation outside the classroom.
• Learning is a process of creative construction and involves trial and error.

Instructional Strategies

• Group/pair  work
• Cooperative learning
• Role-play
• Panel discussions/debate
• Video/music activities
• Guest speakers

Future Language Course Offerings
Mandarin                                  English for Tourism
Italian                                      English for Business
Portuguese                               German