The Language Center partners with faculty across campus to support innovative, engaging approaches to language teaching and learning at Carleton. While much of our work is with language faculty, we also welcome and regularly collaborate with colleagues in other disciplines who are interested in incorporating language, culture, or global perspectives into their teaching.
Resources for faculty teaching language courses
The Language Center supports faculty teaching both introductory and advanced language courses in a variety of ways. Some of the most common areas of support include:
- Resources and instructional support: Access to materials such as books, games, and other language-learning resources and gadgets, along with support for incorporating them into your teaching.
- Testing and assessment: Coordination of placement and proficiency testing (e.g., WebCAPE, Avant Place, STAMP, OPI/OPIc) and guidance on interpreting and using results.
- Student, event, and program support: Support for planning and, when possible, funding language-related events and co-curricular programming of all sizes (e.g., visiting speakers, film screenings). This also includes assistance from our trained student staff, who can help with event setup, facilitation, and day-of logistics when you need extra hands!
- Curriculum and course design: Support for developing courses, assignments, and proficiency-aligned learning goals.
- Campus-wide language advocacy: Support for promoting language learning across campus, including outreach, programming, and collaboration with other departments and offices.
- Faculty community: Opportunities for language faculty to come together, share ideas, and build community through informal gatherings, discussions, and events hosted by the Language Center.
You can view a comprehensive list of available resources in our shared spreadsheet (note that resources are organized across multiple tabs by category). If you do not see something you need, we are always open to suggestions. Please reach out to the Director of the Language Center, Amy Hutchinson, at any time.
Support for faculty not currently teaching language courses
The Language Center isn’t just for language faculty, we are happy to help anyone interested in incorporating language, culture, and global perspectives into their teaching, research, or programming. Areas of support include:
- Resources and materials: Access to books, films, and other language- and culture-related materials for use in courses, events, or independent exploration. See all of our available materials on this shared spreadsheet.
- Translation and other language support: Assistance with translating student- and community-facing materials, with support from our multilingual student staff who can provide more accurate, context-sensitive translations than automated tools (e.g., Google Translate). We also offer workshops and programming, such as new student name pronunciation sessions, to support more inclusive and globally aware classrooms.
- Language learning for faculty: Access to platforms such as Mango Languages and Rosetta Stone for learning a new language or brushing up on existing skills.
- Advising support: Guidance and resources for supporting advisees as they navigate language placement, course selection, and their broader language learning journey.
- Campus partnerships and programming: Collaboration on events, guest speakers, and co-curricular initiatives that bring global perspectives into your work.
If you are interested in exploring ideas or collaborations, please reach out to the Director of the Language Center, Amy Hutchinson.