Lear - Don’t Reinvent the Wheel: Integrating Career Readiness into Already-Existing 1st and 2nd Year

A webinar presented by Darcy Lear, Ph.D, University of Chicago on October 5th, 2023.
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Abstract:
The idea of maximizing learners’ career readiness in language programs brings to mind entire courses, certificates, or minors in business, medical, legal or other profession-specific areas. However, already-existing first- and second-year language courses are full of content that could quickly and easily be tied to career readiness. In this webinar, we will explore examples of skills that every employee in every workplace needs to be a successful professional and we will workshop examples that build on content that is part of every introductory and intermediate language curriculum. Having polished phone skills is one example of something that all our students will need in the workplace, whether they become doctors, lawyers, business people, or follow any other career path. At the most introductory level, practice with the alphabet and the digits 0-9 together with a few simple strategies are all language students need to take the most simple phone messages. As students’ general language skills improve, so can their workplace skills so that by the intermediate level, taking phone messages becomes an excellent application of analysis and synthesis skills. Similar activities related to networking in career contexts, crafting professional emails, and using digital tools can also be easily integrated into language programs. The language classroom can provide a low-stakes environment to get over the learning curve before students find themselves in the high-stakes settings of career fairs, job interviews, and professional environments. At the end of each course, students can write a resume line that concisely describes their language skills that apply to the workplace, which in turn can get them started thinking about cover letter paragraphs and answers job interview questions. This interactive webinar will provide opportunities to design classroom activities, ask questions, and develop materials that work for each participant.
Bio:
Darcy Lear has a PhD in foreign and second language education from the Ohio State University. She has worked as the basic language program director at the University of Illinois, the coordinator of the minor program in Spanish for the Professions at the University of North Carolina, and the coordinator of the Languages for Specific Purposes program at the University of Chicago Language Center. Darcy regularly researches, publishes, and presents on languages for specific purposes. Her publications include the introductory Spanish textbook Conéctate (with Grant Goodall) from McGraw Hill Education and Integrating Career Preparation into Language Courses from Georgetown University Press.

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