Spring 2012

I just realized that I haven't posted on ANYTHING academia-related, so I figured I should do that...

I just finished finalizing my schedule for the spring semester, a normal 9 credits, as follows.

Spanish 544: Applied Linguistics for Teachers (taught by my adviser, for my doctoral "strand")
Educational Psychology 761: Statistical Methods Applied to Education (I already shudder when I think about this class)
French/Italian 821: Deep Language Learning with Educational Technologies (taught by Francois Tochon)

I'm actually really excited for the 1st and 3rd classes; pedagogy and its effects on SLA is my research focus and I'm particularly interested in online and technology-based learning, especially since so many colleges and universities are switching their language classes to hybrid or fully online versions.

I also can't help but think what would have happened if I had not continued on with my PhD. We got an e-mail about job openings at MSU for some language coordinator positions awhile back. All it required was an MA. My first thought was, "Are you kidding me?! I could have worked with Bill VanPatten just with my MA?!?!?!?!" But then I thought, "But I was so utterly unhappy in that language department, I probably wouldn't apply anyways." I guess things happen for a reason.

Oh, and please keep your fingers crossed that I get some funding for next semester!

-L