 |
|
During the past twenty years, many foreign language departments have created tenure track positions for specialists in second language acquisition, applied linguistics, and foreign language education to serve as language program directors; this has been a very positive direction in foreign language teaching and program supervision. However, for a variety of reasons, some foreign language departments do not have a single language program director, but a structure in which specialists in foreign language acquisition work alongside literature faculty and collateral faculty in teaching and supervising in the foreign language program; other departments have collateral faculty or literature faculty who serve as program directors or course supervisors. Furthermore, with today’s evolving patterns of foreign language enrollment, with fluctuations from language to language and institution to institution, many types of professionals, tenured and non-tenured specialists in second language acquisition, applied linguistics, foreign language education, and literature may be called upon to teach and direct language courses and programs.
Ideally, in making new hires departments should seek specialists in second language acquisition to play a key role in the language program as directors, supervisors, or coordinators, as best suits their program structures. Whoever actually serves in this capacity should have the same rights and privileges as their colleagues in rank, should be afforded appropriate job security, and their work in supervision, pedagogy, and second language acquisition should be included in any evaluation of their job performance. In this regard, research in the fields of applied linguistics, foreign language pedagogy, literature, linguistics of the target language, and second language acquisition should be recognized as valid and appropriate fields of research and scholarly activity in cases of tenure, promotion, and merit review. In addition, textbooks should count as valid books at universities where a book is a requirement for tenure.
We also urge that each institution provide directors, supervisors, and coordinators with the maximum appropriate course load reduction in recognition of the responsibilities in administration as well as in program and instructor development that such positions carry in addition to regular participation in departmental academic life. Moreover, each institution should provide the directors, supervisors, and coordinators with an appropriately-sized staff to assist in the management of the program. The point is, once again, that whoever actually serves in the capacity of director, supervisor, or coordinator, regardless of area of specialization, should be afforded the same rights and privileges as their colleagues in rank.
November 2001