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St. Norbert College Language Services 
Institution name: St. Norbert College
Address: 100 Grant St.
De Pere, WI 54115
Telephone: (920) 403-4075
Extension:
Fax: (920) 403-4083
Web address: http://www.snc.edu/languageservices
 
Name: Kristina Reignier
Title: Director of Language Services
Address: 100 Grant St.
De Pere,  WI  54115
Email: kristina.reignier@snc.edu
Telephone: (920) 403-4075
Extension:
Fax: (920) 403-4083
Purposes and goals of the program:
Language Services at St. Norbert College reaches out to the college community and general public, allowing students to experience language and cultures not readily available elsewhere in the community. The Children's Language Institute offers children classes in Chinese(Mandarin), Spanish, French, German, Japanes, and Italian. Adult non-credit language classes offered include Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Czech, French, German, Italian, Oneida, Polish, Russian, Spanish,Portuguese, American Sign Language, Greek and Hmong.

Note: Hindi classes were offered in the past. Classes are provided based on instructor availability.
Program origin:
The program began in the late 1990’s as part of the college’s Continuing Education Program. The program has grown to include Translations and Interpretation Services, adult non-credit language classes, and children’s language and culture classes. These classes are offered 3 times a year in over 9 languages.
Program funding:
Funding comes from program tuition and budgetary allowances from the Center of International Education at St. Norbert College.
 
Languages/dialects taught:
  • Arabic
  • French
  • German
  • Greek
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Mandarin
  • Other
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Spanish
    •
    Other Language(s) taught:
    Czech, Oneida, Hmong, American Sign Language
    Program type:  Higher Education
    Average enrollment: 185
    Total contact hours per week: 2
    Times per week classes meet: 1
    When meetings take place:
    Children's classes take place before and after school and during summer. During the school year the classes meet twice per week for 2 hours. The summer classes take place 4 hours per day, 4 days a week. The adult classes take place in the evenings, for 90 minutes, once a week.
    Where meetings take place:
    Children's classes take place at St. Norbert College and at area elementary schools. Adult classes also take place at St. Norbert College.
    Parents' or guardians' expectations of the program:
    Children’s classes expose students to language and culture but do not necessarily promote fluency of language.
    Parents' or guardians' involvement in the program:
    Parents are invited to the end-of-semester fiesta and certificate ceremony.
    Instructors' expectations of the program:
    Instructors want to share the love of language through fun and educational means.
    Number of instructors in the program
    Full-time instructors: 1
    Part-time instructors: 22
    Volunteer instructors:
    Languages in which instructors are proficient:
    Arabic, Russian, Czech, Polish, English, Spanish, French, Ukrainian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, German, Oneida, Polish, Hmong
    Educational backgrounds and credentials of instructors
    (e.g., diploma, bachelor's, master's, doctorate, certificate):
    Children’s classes are taught by St. Norbert College students majoring in education or foreign language. Adult classes are taught by both native and non-native speakers with a mixture of credentials, including bachelor's, master’s, and doctorate.
    Professional development opportunities instructors have:
    The program offers professional development opportunities for children’s language instructors through an orientation and mid-semester meeting. We offer opportunities for adult instructors to network through an annual brainstorming meeting.
    Professional development opportunities instructors need:
    Professional development needs have not been determined through formal measures.
    Students' expectations of the program:
    Children’s classes expose students to language and culture, but do not necessarily promote language fluency. Children expect to have fun and be able to speak the basic vocabulary of the target language. Adult classes are taken for a variety of reasons. Many adults want to learn the basics of the language, while others want to expand on the basics. Some are learning specifically because they are traveling somewhere, working with colleagues that speak the target language or have a family connection to the language (current or past). Some (especially senior citizens) take classes for fun as well as to do to genealogical research.
    Student background
    First-generation immigrants: 3%
    Second-generation immigrants: 15%
    Third-generation immigrants: 55%
    Children of interethnic marriages: 1%
    Children of interethnic adoption: 1%
    Indigenous students: 2%
    Others:
    Students' countries of origin:
    Most of the students are from the USA. Some are from Russia, Poland, Mexico, and Colombia. The percentage of heritage students who are in the children's classes and the adult classes varies. 1 percent of the children are first-generation immigrants, 11 percent are second-generation, and 85 percent are third-generation immigrants.
    How the program identifies heritage language speakers:
    The program identifies heritage speakers by studying and becoming aware of historic settlement in the area and by participating in multicultural festivals put up by local organizations which intend to highlight cultural heritage in the area. Response to advertisements in heritage culture newsletters and/or local press measures the scope as well as the interest of heritage language speakers.
    Average enrollment: 185
    Approximate percentage of students who complete the program: 95%
    Approximate percentage of students who continue to study the heritage language after completing the program: 65%
    Possible reasons that students continue to study the heritage language after completing the program:
    Students continue to study the heritage languages after completing the program for travel purposes, personal enrichment, genealogical research, and to maintain contact with current family members or professional colleagues.
    Total contact hours per week: 2
    Times per week: 1
    Student grouping (e.g., proficiency level, grade, age):
    • Children's classes are K-6 • Adult classes are open to all community members.
    Language skills taught in the program (e.g., reading, writing, speaking, and listening):
    Reading, writing, speaking and listening skills are taught in both children’s and adult classes.
    Aspects of culture included in the program (e.g., history, literature, traditions):
    All aspects of culture (history, literature, customs and traditions, art, music, films, etc.) are included in both adult and children’s classes.
    Other content taught in the program:
    Children’s classes focus more on the stories, traditions, art, and games of each culture. Adult classes are usually tailored to the individual needs of the students.
    Instructional methodologies used in the program:
    Classes are taught in a simultaneous translation technique. With more advanced classes, the student-centered communicative method is used to allow maximum exposure to and practice of the target language.
    Levels of language proficiency reached by the end of the program (e.g., ACTFL proficiency levels, language tasks able to perform):
    Children sign up for the program on a semester-by-semester basis. Some choose to stay in the program and increase their level each semester. We offer Beginners Spanish and French up to Spanish 6 and French 6. Children’s day camps concentrate more on intense exposure to culture and give the basics of language. Adults also sign up on a session-by-session basis. We run the program for cohorts of adults and can offer up to six levels of each language. For instance, we are offering Czech 6 for a group that has taken the previous five levels.
    Textbooks:
    The children's classes use, "Viva el Espanol" and "Vive les Francais." The books used in adult classes vary by language. Each instructor selects his or her own texts. Many are Amsco texts. Many are texts obtained in the country of language origin (e.g. for Czech, we use "Communicative Czech" by I. Reskova and M. Pintarova).
    Manuals and workbooks:
    These vary from session to session.
    Self-designed materials:
    Many instructors design their own materials especially for languages such as Oneida or Hmong, where the written language itself is relatively new.
    Films, videos, and DVDs:
    Videos and films are used in both children’s and adult classes. Local library resources and authentic materials brought from the countries of language origin are used by teachers.
    Music:
    Music is used in children’s classes.
    Technology:
    Powerpoints, Web-based lessons, touch screens in some children’s classes, and A/V technology
    Standardized tests used:
    Other assessments used:
    An online diagnostic assessment is used for adults to rate which level of Spanish is best for them to take. Instructor-designed initial diagnostic and periodic progress tests are administered across the languages throughout the session.
    Connections with local schools or other organizations:
    We have partnerships with 9 local public and private elementary schools.
    Credit received from formal education system:
    No credit is received at the present time. We are working towards being able to award credit to teachers and social workers for recertification.
    Types of support received (e.g., financial, time from parents or volunteers):
    Additional support desired:
    Funding through grants
    Challenges faced by the program:
    Financial support is always a challenge. Our budget does not allow for enough money to properly advertise the program and the classes offered. In addition, there is some apathy among the local population about learning another language.
     
    Comments:
    There are various adult and children's classes offered through St. Norbert College Language Services. To learn more about the adult non-credit classes and children's language institute, and for more information, go to www.snc.edu/languageservices.