Research
With a goal of informing both instructional practices and advocacy efforts, current and previous research studies in the Language Institute have investigated student and alumni perspectives on language learning and study abroad, and learning outcomes of language programs. Studiesto date include:
Postsecondary Student Goals and the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning
A large-scale, mixed-method stud, conducted in collaboration with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), to investigate the alignment of postsecondary student goals with the goals of the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning (Standards). The study includes responses from 16,529 students at 11 postsecondary institutions across the United States, with interviews from 200 students at two of these institutions. The first research to examine learner perspectives with regard to the Standards, the study considers (a) whether college students have goals consistent with the Standards, (b) whether they expect to reach these goals during their formal language study, (c) whether these goals and expectations differ for first-year and second-year language students, (d) whether they differ for students of more and less commonly taught languages, (e) whether students understand the Standards and see the five goal areas as interrelated or in terms of hierarchies of priorities, and (f) how the Standards might encourage student reflection, especially regarding the relationships among language, culture, and thought.
Publications
Magnan, S., Murphy, D. & Sahakyan, N. Goals of Collegiate Learners and the Standards for Foreign Language Learning. Book manuscript submitted to the Modern Language Journal Monograph Series.
Magnan, S., Murphy, D., Sahakyan, N., & Kim, S. (2012). Student Goals, Expectations, and the Standards for Foreign Language Learning. Foreign Language Annals, 45, 2, 170-192.
Funding
U.S. Department
Department of Education, International Research and Studies Program Grant (2009-12)
Perceptions of Tutoring in the Russian Flagship Program
A pilot study on student and tutor perceptions on the effectiveness of tutoring in the Russian Flagship Program.
Publication
Murphy, D., Evans-Romaine, K., & Zheltoukhova, S. (2012). Student and Tutor Perceptions of Tutoring in a Russian Flagship Program. Russian Language Journal, 62, 107-127.
The Impact of Study Abroad on the Global Engagement of University Graduates
A study on the long-term impact of study abroad on the global engagement of UW-Madison alumni who did and didn’t study abroad as undergraduates. Conducted in collaboration with International Academic Programs and with the support of the UW Alumni Association.
Publication (in preparation)
Murphy, D., Sahakyan, N., Yong-yi, D. & Magnan, S. The Impact of Study Abroad on the Global Engagement of University Graduates.
Funding
University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of the Provost Assessment Grant; International Academic Programs
Reasons Students Enroll in Language Courses
A questionnaire-based study on the reasons that university students enroll in first-second year language courses.
Publication
Murphy, D., Magnan, S., Back, M., & Garrett-Rucks, P. (2009). Reasons Students Take Courses in Less Commonly Taught Languages” Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages, 7, 45-80
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