Performance versus Proficiency As world language educators, we often talk about the distinction between performance and proficiency. Most of us can explain that the former is language that focuses on familiar contexts and has been practiced, whereas the latter is overarching, encompassing authentic tasks in a real-world context. A simple way of conceptualizing this distinction […]
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John Papa, an HR generalist and US Air Force National Guard, had always been fascinated by the power of language. Growing up in a Filipino household in the United States, he had learned both English and Tagalog from a young age. But it wasn’t until he started working as a human resource generalist for a […]
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By Pete Swanson, PhD, and Jean W. LeLoup, PhD, USAFA Introduction Some would say communicative Language Teaching approaches have helped shift the paradigm of world language teaching and learning. Proficiency testing has now been prioritized where program coordinators and others set proficiency benchmarks for language learners to achieve. Unfortunately, proficiency testing can be costly and […]
Continue readingA graduate of the University of Tampa with dual BA degrees in Advertising/Public Relations and in Spanish, Ashley Counahan is a passionate advocate for language education, intercultural communication, and cultural awareness. As a bilingual English and Speaking speaker, Ashley is pursuing a career in education, and she shared her inspiring story for this month’s “Language […]
Continue readingIn its recent survey on global consumer preferences on the web, “Can’t Read, Won’t Buy,” Common Sense Advisory found that three-quarters of 3,002 respondents in 10 non-English-speaking countries are more likely to buy a product if the post-sales support is in their language. That customer care may be delivered through FAQs or chat at the […]
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