11042

11042

General Session - Conference Presentation Only (no formal paper)

Reflecting on Reflection in Language and Culture Studies: The VLS Experience
Pete Smith, University of Texas and Drake University, Arlington, TX, USA, psmith@uta.edu Jan Marston, Drake University, Des Moines, IA, USA, jhmarston@drake.edu Laurel Mayo, Drake University and Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, TX, USA, lsmayo@flash.net

Virtual Language Studies, based at Drake University and funded federally, is a model university program for the next generation of language and culture studies. Learners of Russian and Chinese in VLS connect online for in small-group tutorial sessions led by native speaker-mentors, and engage in language and culture learning with university faculty. Central to the VLS program is the development of not only linguistic and cultural skills on the part of the learner, but also positioning the student to think reflectively and critically about his/her own learning—to develop metacognitive skills on the part of the language learner. Extensive student use of learning journals and reflective writing in VLS supports the potential of reflection to foster valuable intellectual, affective, and transformational development in learners. Reflective examples to be shared include: enabling the learner to understand his/her own learning process through writing; developing learning strategies in ways that enhance learning in other areas; deepening the quality of learning, in the form of critical thinking or developing a questioning attitude; facilitating learning from experience; and increasing active involvement in learning and personal ownership of the learning process.

All Audiences virtual learning language and culture learning reflective writing