Methodological Innovation and Mechanical Media

Biographical Notes
Zev bar-Lev
Has taught at Syracuse U., Ben-Gurion U. in the Negev (Israel), and, since 1979, at SDSU. Published "Computer Talk for the Liberal Arts (Prentice Hall) in 1987. Has published numerous articles in various fields of theoretical and applied linguistics, especially teaching of various foreign languages. Teaches 30+ languages in special multi-language courses and programs, using his innovative method, "Sheltered Initiation Language Learning," which imparts exceptional speaking confidence, ability, and accuracy.

Abstract

Even with live teachers, many students have difficulty acquiring
spontaneous and creative speaking abilities in foreign languages, but
an innovative method focusing on smaller "building blocks" for speaking
has succeeded in the classroom, even for Hebrew and other Less Commonly
Taught Languages. Interestingly, this method lends itself more
naturally to mechanical media, and is now being applied to various
mechanical media (as will be explained) for: (1) a Hebrew program for
the new CSU Distance Learning Judaics major, (2) an "Exploratorium"
program for at-risk children with SDSU LARC, and (3) a multi-language
Web-site. (Short sample lessons in several languages will be
presented.)

Proposed target language: all.

Method of Presentation: lecture/discussion with sample lesson and samples of multi-media.

Anticipated benefit to participants: experiencing language learning as a student;
experiencing an innovative method (many of whose elements can be
utilized in any classroom); exploring innovative possibilities for
using mechanical media (and teaching foreign language generally),
especially for independent study and distance learning.