Keywords

Foreign language housing, language learning, college

Abstract

FOREIGN language housing (FLH), residences on or near college campuses where speakers of the same foreign language live together, have been a part of United States higher education since 1914 (Jordan). As Gregory Wolf points out, “Ideally, the language house is a hermetically sealed linguistic environment where residents agree to speak the target language” and are able to experience “everyday vernacular that is difficult for instructors to replicate in the classroom” (81). Alice Schlimbach and Emil L. Jordan note, FLH “cannot possibly be as advantageous as an extended student-tour to Germany; but it does form a second-best opportunity to come into contact with German culture. The students learn to speak German fluently and gain a comparatively deep insight into German conditions and developments” (351). Immersed in the target language, learners are able to practice the second language in a familiar and nonthreatening environment.

Original Publication Citation

Dewey, D., Bown, J., Baker, W. & Martinsen, R. (2011). Foreign Language Housing in the U.S.: Results of a Nationwide Survey. ADFL.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2011

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/8635

Publisher

Association of Departments of Foreign Languages

Language

English

College

Humanities

Department

Linguistics

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

Download

Share

COinS