Teachers College

From 'Julie' to 'Wes' to 'Alberto': The Selective Fossilization Hypothesis

Presenter: Dr. ZhaoHong Han - Associate Professor of Language and Education, Columbia University Teachers College
Date: Saturday, October 30, 2010
Time:2:00-3:00 pm
(reception: 3:00-3:45 pm)

Description:

Since its inception in the late 1960s, the field of second language acquisition (SLA) has been facing an explanatory challenge vis-à-vis two robust phenomena in adult SLA, inter-learner differential success/failure and intra-learner differential success/failure, as manifested in and across such well-known case subjects as Julie (Ioup et al, 1994), Wes (Schmidt, 1983), and Alberto (Schumann, 1978). Success in this context loosely denotes target-like attainment (or simply, learning) and failure lack thereof (or lack of learning). While previous research has brought abundant theories to bear on learning (e.g., VanPatten & Williams, 2007), most of them outsourced from other fields and disciplines, within-field systematic attempts at explaining both learning and lack thereof have remained sparse and scattered. Moreover, theoretical attempts have been few and far between to account for inter-learner differential success/failure and are almost non-extent when it comes to intra-learner differential success/failure. To help fill this lacuna, I will propose a Selective Fossilization Hypothesis. After a brief discussion of its epistemological and phenomenological motivation, I will describe and explicate the hypothesis, including its key constructs of L2 input robustness and L1 markedness. I will also employ empirical data from the literature to illustrate its explanatory and predictive potential.

About the Presenters:

Professor ZhaoHong Han teaches in the TESOL and Applied Linguistics Programs at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests lie broadly in second language learnability and teachability. She is the author of Fossilization in Adult Second Language Acquisition (2004) and editor/co-editor of a number of volumes on topics of second language process, second language reading and instruction, and second language fossilization. Her most recent book is titled Linguistic Relativity in SLA: Thinking for Speaking (co-edited with Teresa Cadierno). Dr. Han is the recipient of the 2003 International TESOL Heinle & Heinle Distinguished Research Award. http://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/han - (top)

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The Creative Classroom: Jazz Chants, Music & Poetry

Presenter: Carolyn Graham
Date: Thursday, December 16th, 2010
Time: 7:00-9:00pm

Description:

This two-hour seminar will explore the use of jazz chants in the language classroom. Learn how to create a grammar chant, a vocabulary chant or a chant designed to develop everyday conversation skills. Ms. Graham will discuss the creation and performance of songs and the use of rhythm and simple movement as tools for language development. Explore storytelling, creating and performing poetry and the in-class performance of poetry and jazz chants. This seminar is appropriate for all language teaching contexts, young learners, junior and senior high schools, conversation schools, and even for adults!

About the Presenter:

Carolyn Graham taught English as a Second Language at New York University for 25 years and was a Teaching Fellow at Harvard for nine summers. She currently is working primarily as an author and teacher trainer, giving annual seminars at NYU School of Education and Columbia Teachers College in New York and Tokyo. She is the creator of Jazz Chants and has presented her techniques for using chanting, poetry and music in the classroom throughout the world. She is also a professional musician who worked in the piano bars of New York and Boston for twenty years. (top)

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