Current News

CLS Classroom Requests for Fall 2009

[Language Instructors Only]

If you would like to request use of one of the five CLS classrooms or two MCLs in Fall 2009 for recurring course meetings (not testing or ad hoc use) please fill out the online request form linked below. If you will not be requesting use of a classroom for at least once weekly for the entire semester, please wait until classes start in January to make your requests. If you need a room for an oral production test (OPT), you should put your requests into our usual room request form, making sure to include in the description that the request is for an OPT.

Please note:

• All final scheduling decisions rest solely with the Registrar. On the form, please describe your reasons for preferring a multimedia classroom at the CLS to a classroom elsewhere on campus. (See the Media Services Classroom Search for campus technology availability.)
• All CLS classroom use is subject to Yale policies, such as that on standard meeting time patterns.
• MCL use is subject to certain restrictions (excluding testing sessions):
  • MCLs may be reserved for recurring course meetings only between 8am and 1pm and between 5pm and closing.
  • MCLs may not be reserved for recurring course meetings in a block greater than 4 hours.

Request Form: http://www.cls.yale.edu/requests-classroom/
Use Policy: http://www.cls.yale.edu/facilities-policy/

The deadline for request submissions is Tuesday, May 12, 2009. You are welcome to contact Trip Kirkpatrick with any questions or comments (432-4609; trip.kirkpatrick@yale.edu).

We look forward to working with you this fall and hope that the additional time for making your request will allow you to think creatively!

Cdigix Users

As you may already know, the Cdigix service is no longer available through the Film Studies Center. The Center for Language Study is aware that a fair number of foreign language faculty are impacted by the loss of the service. A technology solution to the issue at this point is not a viable option. In discussions with Michael Kerbel, Director of the Film Studies Center, we have found out that it will take at least the semester to find an alternative to Cdigix. In light of this, the CLS is offering its assistance in helping to fulfill your video viewing needs. Some of the available options are to:

• The CLS will hold at the front desk DVDs/VHS cassettes for students to borrow. Requires that there be a free room (including an MCL or the SML) with sufficient capacity when students want to view. See our room use listing for current reservations. Requires also that we have the media on hand or the instructor can get the media to us (often from the Film Study Center).
• Schedule a screening at the CLS. Requires instructor to fill out a Room Request. Requires also that we have the media on hand or the instructor can get the media to us.

Please contact John Graves (j.graves@yale.edu) with any questions or concerns.

New CLS Program for Discipline-Specific Language Study

The Center for Language Study is now accepting applications for the Fields Program, a unique opportunity for Yale undergraduates majoring in fields other than language and literature to achieve advanced levels of language proficiency within the context of their academic major. Those studying less-commonly taught languages are particularly encouraged to apply, as opportunities to undertake discipline-specific and advanced-level language study are often scarce for such languages.

Fields students spend up to two years following a highly individualized program of advanced-level foreign language study, in which language practice is linked to students' majors or other areas of academic and intellectual interest. With funding and support, the Fields Program includes several components that contribute to the integration of language and discipline studies: classroom and independent study, regular sessions with a native-speaking language partner, mentoring from a professional in the student's major field of interest, fieldwork opportunities such as internships and study abroad, discipline-specific instructional materials, assessment of language proficiency, and coordination of the overall Fields experience.

More information about the Fields Program is available at: http://www.cls.yale.edu/fields

Impact of Course Renumbering on CLS Services

As you may know, a new course numbering system will be in effect for foreign language courses at the 100-level in the coming academic year. This will affect all L1–­L4 courses as well as many L5 courses with a 100-level designation. Departments will still have considerable flexibility and discretion in designating courses at the 200-level and above, including some courses with an L5 designation, literature courses, and courses taught in English. For a more detailed discussion of the new system, please see our PDF on the matter.

One necessary side effect of this is that the CLS will update its webpages and folder names where course numbers are used.

What's changing?

The CLS will change references (e.g. in webpages, web addresses, or in folder names) to language course numbers. Course numbers formerly encompassing two semesters (e.g. ital130) will be renamed to use both numbers of the new system (e.g. ital130-140). We will change the titles of web-based course materials stored on CLS servers (such as Digital Audio, VISION, Picture Dictionary, etc.) if a course number is used in the title. Examples include:

• The VISION project “Chinese 130” will become “Chinese 130–140 (formerly 130)”.
• The Digital Audio entry for the French collection “138: Advanced Language Practice I” will become “150: Advanced Language Practice I (formerly 138)” and that for “French 138: Songs” will become “French 150: Songs (formerly 138)”.

Further, we are going to take this opportunity to standardize course-based folder names to their canonical Yale abbreviations (e.g. “french115tests” will become “fren110tests”). We will, for academic year 2008–09, provide a Windows shortcut file with the old name. However, these shortcuts are only available from a window, not from a command line or Start --> Run (and, unfortunately, not from a Mac).

What's not changing?

Access to content will not change. The same people who worked with, say, the gman130 folder will be able to work with the gman130-140 folder.

What's next?

We recommend contacting John Graves (j.graves@yale.edu) in order to:

• Change content embedded in or linked from a CRAFT project.
• Update Oral Production Test (OPT) titles or content.

If you have any questions about the impact of the course renumbering changes or if you find any course renumbering problems or discrepancies on our website or in your web projects, please contact us as soon as possible.

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