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Introduction
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The main objective of the faculty of the Department of Foreign Languages
and Literature is to enable you to understand, speak, read, and write a
foreign language with an intonation, pronunciation, accent, and fluency
of speech comparable to an educated native speaker in normal conversation.
This objective is not easy to realize, but it should remain a goal in any
case.
It is very likely that you will be confused when you first hear authentic
native speech spoken at normal speed. You will wish you could slow down
the tape, but this action would be counterproductive; normal people do not
speak in slow motion. The confusion will pass as your ears become more
accustomed to the language. There is no shortcut or magic solution. You
must realize that you will learn to understand a foreign language only by
hearing it spoken frequently. Practice in the FLTC is not a short and
effortless road to language mastery, but must be seen as one part of an
integrated learning process, demanding work and concentration on your
part.
The instructor will give you specific lab assignments. Should you come
to the Foreign Language Training Center on your own, you should strive
for a balance of activities, with variety, to avoid monotony. In the
laboratory, much more so than in the usual classroom lesson, you must
give full attention to active participation (not even daydreaming!).
Full participation can be very fatiguing. While in the foreign
language lab you can use the computers, watch videos that pertain to
the foreign language you are studying or work on your textbook
materials.
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Ten Best Reasons for Working Regularly in the FLTC
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10. It is a nice place to hang out.
9. You may hear authentic native speech as often as you desire.
8. You will have psychological isolation, which releases you
from some of the inhibitions you feel about making strange
foreign language sounds in front of other students.
7. You can take the chance of making mistakes without fear of
judgment by the instructor or your peers.
6. You will be able to practice each language element as many
times as you wish before moving on to the next.
5. You will be able to study at your own pace, concentrating
on the parts of the work in which you need the most practice,
rather than being forced to keep pace with the rest of the
class.
4. You will be able to review and reinforce what your
instructor covered in the regular class.
3. You will be able to listen to a great variety of native
voices; both male and female, old and young. This will
prepare you to understand the language in a variety of
situations.
2. The FLTC spell checker will improve your spelling
and grades in your exercises and compositions.
1. It will count for 25% of your final grade.
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What to Do at the FLTC
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Read your syllabus attentively. If you have any doubts
about your assignments, check with your instructor. Student
workers are not familiar with the requirements
from the various professors.
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Checking In/Out to Receive Proper Credit
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SIGNING INTO THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING CENTER
If you are already registered for your foreign language
class before the beginning of the semester:
1. Scan the back of your SIUE Student ID card ("Cougar
Card") at the Lab Office window.
2. Confirm your class and section information with the
Lab Assistant.
3. Use the FLTC for your foreign language studies.
If you add your foreign language class after the semester begins:
1. Scan the back of your SIUE Student ID card ("Cougar
Card") at the Lab Office window.
2. Give the Lab Assistant your first and last name.
3. Tell the Lab Assistant which class and section
you are in.
4. Use the FLTC for your foreign language studies.
5. After your first time of signing into the lab, you will only
need to swipe your ID and confirm your class.
***IMPORTANT***
If you are taking more than one language class, make sure you specify which
language class you’d like to earn minutes for EACH time you swipe into the FLTC.
SIGNING OUT OF THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING CENTER
In order to receive lab minutes for all the time you spent in the
lab, you MUST sign out upon leaving the FLTC. You must also keep
a record of all of your minutes in case of computer failure or
a discrepancy in the minute reports.
If you fail to sign out of the FLTC, your record will be
locked and only an administrator will be able to log you back in.
In addition, you will NOT receive any minutes for your time spent
in the FLTC during your last visit. NO EXCEPTIONS!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: Who are those people in the FLTC?
A: Regular students... minimum wage... mere mortals...
here to help you. Report to them mechanical problems with
the equipment. If you have any problems with, or complaints
about the student-workers, please talk to the Department
Chair, Belinda Wickham, or the FLTC Director, Douglas Simms.
Q: Can I copy the computer programs?
A: No, but you may come by the FLTC and use these programs
as much as you like during operating hours.
Q: What do I do when I have completed all the assigned
lab material before I have completed all the required
lab time?
A: First of all, congratulations on your hard work. You
might think about doing some extra pronunciation exercises
or reinforcing some particular structure.
Q: I forgot to sign out of the lab last time I visited,
what should I do?
A: You will have to have an admin unlock your account
so you can sign back in. In addition, if you forget to sign
out, you loose all minutes accured during your last visit,
no exceptions.
Q: How do I find out how many minutes I have in the lab
this week/semseter?
A: You can find out by asking the lab assistant when signing
out of the FLTC, or just bring your student ID by the FLTC and
we'll be happy to tell you.
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Rules
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Do not attempt to do homework on other academic subjects while
in the FLTC. It can cause a negative chain reaction and
massive confusion.
Do not fall asleep with the headset on your head. Contrary to
popular belief, foreign languages are not assimilated better
in your sleep.
Do not postpone your lab work until the last two weeks
of the semester. Most instructors only will accept a certain
amount of lab minutes a week.
Do not bring all of your textbooks to the lab and camp out
as a way of getting time.
Do not overwork your brain devising new ways of wasting your
time in the FLTC. You may think you are fooling the student
workers and your instructor but, in reality you are only
cheating yourself.
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