Center for Language Education And Research (CLEAR) at Michigan State University - About Us

The Center for Language Education and Research (CLEAR)

An Overview

The Center of Language Education and Research (CLEAR) at Michigan State University was established in 1996 as a Language Resource Center (LRC) through a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education. As an LRC, CLEAR strives to promote and support the teaching and learning of foreign languages in the United States through its various projects and outreach activities.

In August 2010, CLEAR began its fifth funding cycle as one of 15 LRCs across the country. In the upcoming years, CLEAR will continue to develop materials for foreign language teaching and learning, conduct research on the teaching and learning of foreign languages, and provide professional development opportunities for educators in the field.

CLEAR's Projects for 2010-14

CLEAR's current projects are arranged into four categories:

• Collaborative Projects
• Professional Development Projects
• Web-Based Materials Development Projects
• Assessment and Research Projects

Each category contains projects which focus on achieving CLEAR's overall goals as an LRC. The projects are led by faculty members with the support of CLEAR faculty and graduate students. A National Advisory Board (comprised of individuals of national and international reputation in the field of foreign languages) assists in the guidance of the projects.

CLEAR's projects for the current funding year (2010-11) in each category are as follows:

Collaborative Projects

• Business Asian Language Institute (collaborative with (collaborative w/MSU's CIBER and Asian Studies Center)
• Language Learning & Technology (collaborative w/University of Hawai'i's NFLRC)
• Business Language/Culture Institute for Community Colleges (collaborative w/MSU's CIBER)
• World Languages Day (collaborative w/numerous MSU NRCs and CIBER)
• Research into Methods for Teaching Business Language/Culture (collaborative w/MSU's CIBER)
• Collaboration on Joint LRC Website (collaborative with all LRCs)

Professional Development Projects

• Professional Development Webinars
• Video Assistance for Understanding Language Teaching Techniques (VAULTT)
• Summer Professional Development Workshops
• Future Faculty Development (collaborative w/MSU's Second Language Studies Program and CIBER)

Web-Based Materials Development Projects

• Language Instructional Management System and Rich Internet Applications Expansion
• Mobile Telephony and Applications

Assessment and Research Projects

• Online Listening and Speaking Tests for LCTLs
• Interaction and Corrective Feedback in the LCTL Classroom
• Development of L2 Oral Interaction Ability During Study Abroad
• Use of Audio Portfolios in Oral Language Development