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Yale's foreign language programs are directed by an
exceptional team of dedicated language faculty, most of
whom hold the distinctive ranks of Lector or Senior
Lector. All Lectors and Senior Lectors are experienced
in foreign language instruction, and over 90% hold
advanced degrees in such areas as second language
acquisition, education, and foreign language and
literature. Many also bring experience from outside
education, from such pertinent fields as business, law,
and journalism. One-third of the Senior Lectors have
PhDs, and over half have been at Yale longer than ten
years. Many language courses are also taught by Teaching
Fellows and other qualified instructors who are trained
and supervised by expert language faculty.
Foreign language faculty members
also do a great deal of work outside the classroom,
overseeing tutorials, independent studies, research
projects, and the development of new teaching materials.
The university strongly encourages and offers financial
support for professional development activities such as
publishing, attending workshops, and giving
presentations on campus and at regional and national
conferences.
Language programs are housed by
academic departments and area studies councils,
the latter under the umbrella of the
MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at
Yale. Within their departments and councils,
language faculty work alongside colleagues who focus on
teaching and research in literature, history, art, and a
broad range of other fields. Most language programs fall
under the leadership of Language Program Directors, who
are Senior Lectors with extensive experience in language
teaching and program coordination. Language Program
Directors work closely with Chairs, Directors of
Undergraduate Studies, Directors of Graduate Studies,
the Director of Language Study, other faculty in their
departments and councils, and Center for Language Study
staff.
In 1998, Yale created the Center
for Language Study, one of the first of its kind in the
country, and charged it with improving the coherence and
excellence of language programs across the university by
creating a new community of language teachers and
learners, inspiring new levels of aspiration among
language faculty, and by bringing new discipline to
Yale's language efforts. The CLS now performs a central
role in the administration of Yale's language programs,
offering opportunity and support for professional
development, curricular innovation, and meaningful
incorporation of technology in language instruction, as
well as its own independent study and tutoring programs.
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