RJA #3

RJA #3a: Research Topic Exploration

I'm pretty eager to research my topic, since it is one for which I'd like to go to grad school someday. Throughout my research, I've found many interesting articles about different methods of teaching Italian in the classroom, how the linguistics play a role in the learning process, how to address a teacher in an Italian classroom, and the like. So far, I have primarily used JSTOR: http://www.jstor.org to research scholarly articles which can be found in hard-copy print, but which have (thankfully) been archived online. One must have an account to use JSTOR, which I would recommend very highly to everyone, but the Auraria Library has many great online journal resources which can be accessed if one just goes to : http://library.auraria.edu. The library has paid for the membership on all of these accounts, and they're included with our tuition. Please be smart and take advantage of these things you're already paying for in your schooling.

I have links to all the articles on JSTOR which I personally have found, and they can be accessed at http://www.delicious.com/katherine.fehr


RJA #3b: Research Topic Focus
On Tuesday, our class broke up into groups and brainstormed a list of possible questions related to each other's topics. We were also directed to write our findings in our blog. The following is what happened when we discussed my topic.

Things I put as possible debates over my topic:

1. Immersion in a foreign country is more effective.
2. Partial immersion in a foreign country (at an American or English language university).
3. Schooling in America/English-speaking country is more effective (in classroom).

Throughout our discussion regarding my topic, here are some of the things the others (Braden, Sally, and Luke) had to say:

• Which limits--reading, writing, grammatical-- are the goal and level to which the students in my research are aiming?
• Is it a full literacy program?
• What if one evaluated the process of language from infancy or a very young age?
• Is your topic just researching speaking alone, or does it include reading/writing?

Overall, the opinions I received from my classmates were very helpful. It made me want to ensure that I set basic information for the audience I'm writing for. It's important to keep that in mind, since I'm not writing for an audience who are specifically knowledgeable in language and linguistics.


RJA #3a: Research Topic Exploration

1. Basic question words, and answers I get off the top of my head:

• Who: Students studying a foreign language.
• What: Which approach is most effective for overall literacy and learning of a foreign language?
• When: Currently (perhaps in about the last 20 years, if my scholarly journal articles were written then).
• Why: Because I'm interested to see what results could be possible, since I could be using this information to help me in grad school.
• How: Through online research and research in the Auraria Library.

2. My goal is simple. I want to learn more information about my specific topic, so that perhaps someday I can incorporate it into another paper or something of the sort.

3. I'm writing to my classmates in this paper, and perhaps someday I could incorporate more advanced language or something to the degree that might make more sense to linguists.