About MELL
Four
National Resource Centers at the University of Washington's Jackson
School of International Studies received funding
in 2006 from the U.S. Department of Education to launch a
four-year project entitled "Mapping and Enhancing Language Learning"
(MELL) in Washington state. The online survey, produced through a
collaborative effort of the UW Jackson School of International Studies,
UW Language Learning Center, Office of
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington State Coalition
for International Education, and Washington Association
For Language Teaching (WAFLT), represents a
first step to help us get a better picture of what languages students
are currently learning in our K-12 schools and community language
programs.
Which
languages are taught where in our state?
This is the question that prompted the Office of Superintendent of
Public Instruction (OSPI), the Washington Association for Language
Teaching (WAFLT), and the Washington State Coalition for International
Education to conduct the first
World Languages & Technology Survey in the spring of 2004. All K-12
public schools in the state were contacted by email to participate in
the online survey; about 19% responded. Data from that survey are
presented on
http://internationaledwa.org/wlprofile/. The MELL project is making
it possible for the state to expand on that original report and create
both a snapshot and trend reports over time.
Current MELL Activities
We have begun contacting public and
private high schools in Washington state to complete the
2008-9
MELL survey.
Check this site regularly for a list of schools that have
submitted their surveys.
In addition, we have prepared a series of small research
projects to delve deeper into the data gathered so far. In particular,
we are interested in finding out more about the 19% of high schools that
reported not offering world languages in their schools and to compare
the demographics of schools that offer three or more languages and those
that offer two or fewer. The Center for Global Studies at the UW Jackson
School of International Studies hired a Research Assistant, who
has researched and drafted a series of policy briefs from the MELL data during Spring, 2008.
The published policy briefs will be presented at the
PK-20 World Languages Summit at the UW on November 6,
2008.
MELL Activities in 2007-8
Through June 2008, the MELL project assistants contacted public
elementary and middle schools in the state by phone or email and
asked them to complete the
MELL survey.
To see which schools submitted surveys as of 6/30/2008,
download:
Here is a list of just those schools that reported NOT
offering a World Language:
Don't see your school listed? Then forward a link to the
MELL survey
to them.
MELL Activities in 2006-7
In 2006-7, we focused on gathering data about Washington
High Schools.
Accomplishments:
- Contacted public high schools in the state by phone or email and
asked them to complete the
MELL survey.
- Tracked which schools had completed surveys (see
All High Schools)
- Reported on languages taught in the High Schools (see
MELL High Schools)
- Began to look at comparisons between 2004 and 2007 (see
MELL Comparisons)
- Contacted other schools (including elementary and middle) and
community organizations in the state and invited them to complete the
MELL survey.
- Created a profile of all of the high schools that submitted a
survey in 2007.
Download the
MELL High School Profiles 2007 (PDF) (2 Mg)
We reported on the MELL Project through a series of
articles and policy briefs.
-
Washington State Kappan Journal Fall 2007 (PDF)
New journal of the Washington State Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa.
See article "World Languages: State of the State"
-
WES Northwest Fall 2007 Newsletter (PDF)
Newsletter of the University of Washington Center for West European
Studies and the European Union Center of Excellence of the Jackson
School of International Studies.
See article "The MELL Program."
Questions?
Please contact:
mellwa@u.washington.edu or UW Language Learning Center (206)
543-0536.
