LINGUIST List 6.1463

Fri Oct 20 1995

Qs: "Models of Interaction" Survey

Editor for this issue: <lveselinemunix.emich.edu>

Directory

1. , "Models of Interaction" Survey

Dear Colleagues:

The Center for International Education and the Institute of
Russian Language and Culture of the Tver InterContact Group,
are requesting your assistance in implementing a research
project on the topic of "Russian Language Study in Russia and
Abroad: Models of Interaction". Tver InterContact Group
publishes several informational newsletters in various
educational fields, among which one focuses on opportunities
for the study of Russian Language and Area Studies in Russia.
This newsletter is brand new, and is privately published by our
group, free from any government influence.

Contributors to this latter newsletter include language
professors, specialists in the methodology of teaching Russian
as a foreign language, linguistic scholars, and international
programs administrators. We ask you to complete the following
questionnaire, which will assist us in determining the
direction of our editorial strategy in future editions of this
newsletter. This will also assist us in the planning of
educational projects, both at our institution and in
cooperation with other educational institutions.

We thank you in advance for your participation in this survey.
Your input is invaluable to the success of this project. Please
respond to our email address (below).

Richard Smith
International Programs Director
Institute of Russian Language and Culture
Tver InterContact Group

email: richardic.tunis.tver.su
*******************************

Outline of questions:

I. College-related information
II. International contacts and experiences
III. Teaching materials
IV. Associations and information resources
V. Curriculum
VI. Methodological questions and problems
VII. Personal academic background

I. College-related information

1. What is the current enrollment in Russian- and Slavic
Studies-related coursework at your college?
- Undergraduate
- Graduate
- Post graduate
- Interdisciplinary studies related to these areas

2. How has the enrollment in these courses varied over the past
three years at your institution?
- Significant decline in enrollment
- Insignificant decline
- Essentially unchanged
- Insignificant increase
- Significant increase

3. To what do you ascribe any fluctuations in course
enrollment?

4. What status does your department enjoy in the general
structure of the college?
- Very insignificant
- Approximately equal to others
- Significantly important

5. How would you predict the future popularity of enrollment in
your department?

6. What, in your opinion, would serve to attract more students
to study Russian at your college?

7. What influences students at your school in their decision
whether to enroll/ not enroll in courses in your department?
- Factors in favour
- Factors against

8. What courses offered by your department enjoy the most
popularity among students?
- Practical communication
- Literature & history
- Area studies
- Translation and textual analysis

9. Does your department include native Russian speakers within
its faculty?

10. Do you think that it is preferable that the following
courses be taught by native speakers?
- Yes, for language labs
- Yes, for translation-intensive courses
- Yes, for area studies courses
- No, effectiveness of instruction depends entirely on the
capability and knowledgeability of the instructor, rather than
on his/her nationality
- Other responses

II. International contacts and experiences

1. Does either your univeristy in general, or your language
center in particular, have any formal contacts with any higher
educational institutions in Russia? If so, then with what HEIs,
and for what duration has this relationship existed?

2. What foreign cooperative programs are you currently involved
in, and what similar programs are being planned by your school?
- Faculty exchanges
- Student exchanges
- Other (please specify)

3. Do your offer transfer credit for courses taken overseas by
your students? If so, then on what basis do you accept such
coursework for credit?

4. Who administers study abroad and/or transfer of credit from
other institutions, within your college, and/or your
department? Please include the following information as regards
such persons:
- Name
- Postition or title
- Department
- Telephone number
- Fax
- Email
- Snail mail

5. Do you maintain professional contacts with any teachers,
professors, or other scholars within the NIS?

III. Teaching Materials

1. What educational materials do you use in your language labs?
- Title
- Author
- Date of publication
- Publisher

2. List the ten most popular textbooks or other reading
materials used in Russian courses on literature, history,
translation, text analysis, or other courses within your
department.

3. What types of educational materials would you prefer to have
access to in teaching your classes, which you find are
difficult or impossible to come by?
- In language labs
- In courses on theoretical linguistics courses
- In area studies courses

4. Which materials do you personally consult in your research
and class preparation work?

5. What bibliographic and research companies do you turn to in
choosing and ordering your course materials?

IV. Associations and information resources

1. Do you personally, or does your department as a whole,
belong to any professional associations or organizations? If
so, then which?

2. Do you frequently refer to the internet listservers and
email for use in expanding your educational horizons and
meeting and conversing with your colleagues? If so, then which
sources do you most often employ?

3. What professional journals do you refer to in your work?
- Names of periodicals
- Publishers
- Frequency of publication

4. Do you regularly attend any research, continuing
professional education, or similar conferences?
- If yes, then which conferences, and who organizes them?
- If no, then why not?

5. Do you think that it is important and/ or useful to
participate in topical conferences in Russia?
- Yes, in the following ares:
- No (please elaborate)

6. Are you interested in receiving information about upcoming
topical conferences in Russia, related to your work? If yes,
then in what areas?

7. What do you consider to be the most reputable sources of
professional information in your area of work?
- Colleagues
- Periodical publications (specify which)
- Internet resources (specify which)
- Other

V. Curriculum

1. What levels of Russian language study does your department
offer?

2. What coursework (theoretical or practical) does your
department offer at the undergraduate/graduate/postgraduate
levels, aside from language labs?
- Course title
- Level of course
- Hours per semester

VI. Methodological questions and problems

1. What aspects of Russian language study do your students find
to be the most difficult to master?

2. In what areas of Russian language study do you feel that
your department is lacking?
- Variety of theoretical subjects (which?)
- Intensity of language labs
- Internships
- Other

3. How do you rate the quality of instruction at your
department?
- Inadequate
- Adequate
- Excellent

4. What factors most hinder the effectiveness of Russian
language instruction at your institution?

5. What aspects and topics relating to Russian language study
are you most interested in discussing with your colleagues in
Russia?

6. Do you use any textbooks or other teaching or research
materials, published in Russia (or in the Soviet Union)? If
yes, then which?

7. Would you be interested in participating in an on-line
Russian language and culture course for students and teachers
of Russian as a foreign language? If yes, then in what areas of
study would you most like to participate?

VII. Personal academic background

1. In what areas do you hold academic degrees? (Please include
degree, year and place of matriculation).
- Teaching of Russian as a Foreign Language
- General Philology
- Linguistics
- History and/or Area Studies
- Literature
- Other

2. What is your experience (academic or otherwise) in the
teaching of Russian as a foreign language?
- For how long?
- Where?
- To whom?

3. Have you ever worked, interned, or studied in Russia? If
yes, then please state where, when, and briefly describe your
experiences.

4. Have you ever considered continuing your professional
education in the various fields of Russian language study? If
so, then which of the following are you most interested in
pursuing:
- Language practice
- Internships
- Teacher training conferences, seminars, and workshops
- Independent research

5. Please provide the following information on how we might
contact you in the future, regarding the results of this
survey, and pursuing further professional dialogue:
- Name and title
- Institution or organization
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Fax
- Email

***********************************

Just a friendly reminder: Please send all replies to our email
address, (richardic.tunis.tver.su), and *not* to the list as a whole.