The third meeting of CIC’s Network for Effective Language Learning (NELL) convened teams from ten institutions and one consortium to explore new approaches to foreign language learning. During the July 13–17 meeting at Endicott College (MA), made possible by a grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation, participants discussed ways to improve language learning in the context of cultural competency and devised plans for adapting some new approaches to the needs of their own campuses. The plans allow participating institutions to invigorate current course offerings and add additional languages to the curricula.

The teams, selected through a competitive application process, consisted of four members: a foreign language department chair, a language faculty member, a technology expert, and a provost or dean. Through a series of plenary sessions and smaller break-out sessions, participants examined a wide range of topics, from creating a learner-centered approach to language learning and working with native-language speakers to faculty development issues.

All participants have become part of an ongoing eCommunity through which institutions are supporting one another in their efforts to bring meaningful change in language learning to their campuses through the exchange of ideas and resources. In addition to interacting through a group wiki, they will participate in several live web conferences in which they will have the opportunity to hear from outside experts about topics that are related to the core concepts of NELL.

As the new cohort launches its online community, participating institutions in the 2007 and 2008 Networks have continued to pursue the plans they devised at the summer meeting. For example, the team from Russell Sage College—of The Sage Colleges (NY)—is preparing to offer two new languages (Chinese and Italian) in fall 2009. At Wiley College (TX), a small pilot program in Spanish using many of the techniques learned at NELL was offered in the spring 2009 semester and received rave reviews from the students.

Facilitators for the Network are Jan Marston, Marc Cadd, and Clayton Mitchell (Drake University, IA); Mary Beth Barth (Hamilton College, NY); Samuel H. “Pete” Smith (University of Texas at Arlington and language examiner for Drake University); and Neal Sobania (Pacific Lutheran University, WA).