Library Policy Statements

I. PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Second Language Studies Department (SLS) is recognized for the wide range of topics relevant to second language teaching and curriculum development. It houses the international newsletter of creole and pidgin studies, Carrier Pidgin. SLS also publishes a working paper series and an occasional papers series. Currently, numerous members of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's SLS department sit on editorial boards of major publications in the field.

The SLS department emphasizes applied psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics; bilingual education; classroom centered research; design and evaluation of instructional materials; SLS methodology; language testing; listening and speaking skills in SLS; pedagogic grammar and phonology; program development and evaluation; reading and writing in SLS; research methods in SLS; and, second language acquisition.

Qualified Liberal studies undergraduates may earn a BA incorporating a core of courses from the SLS department supplemented with others from linguistics, English, anthropology, Asian studies, ethnic studies, psychology, speech, communication, etc. Students may also select the BEd option in English as a second language following a program set by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education.

The department offers the MA in English as a Second Language. This program serves prospective and practicing teachers, administrators and researchers in the area of teaching English to speakers of other languages. Attention is given to the areas of second and foreign language acquisition, applied psycholinguistics, second language use, second language classroom research, bilingual education, curriculum development and teacher training.

The university offers the PhD degree in Second Language Acquisition, an interdisciplinary program administered by the SLS department. Courses in the program are organized into four areas of specialization: second language learning, second language analysis, second language use, and second language pedagogy.

II. COORDINATION OF COLLECTING RESPONSIBILITIES

Second Language Studies draws on the literature from the disciplines of the humanities and social sciences and the geographic area collections. There is heavy overlap with the literature of education and linguistics. The Wong AV Center acquires model examples of language teaching media, and feature films for culture context. The Government Documents Collection acquires the journal, English Language Teaching Forum.

III. GUIDELINES TO MATERIALS COLLECTED OR EXCLUDED

Language:

Emphasis is English. Other languages considered include German, French, and Spanish. Materials in Asian and Pacific vernacular languages are referred to the respective area selectors for funding.

Chronological:

No limitations, but the focus is on the current time period.

Geographic:

No limitation, but emphasis is on the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Hawaii, Asia and the Pacific.

Date of Publication:

Emphasis is on current materials.

Textbooks:

Collected are standard textbooks in the field and selected textbooks for foreign speakers in the study of English to be used by teaching English as a second language practitioners.

Type/Format of Materials Collected:

The Library collects print, non-print, CD-ROM and online resources supporting research in Second Language Studies. Monographic series on language teaching and second language acquisition; reports on research in progress, including working papers, occasional papers, technical papers, proceedings and congresses of major institutes and associations in the field. Major journals and newsletters; selective audio-visual materials and mixed media materials are all acquired. Dissertations are acquired selectively on consultation with faculty. A small test collection is being developed at this time.

Treatment:

Theoretical studies and works on methodology in all areas of second language teaching and second language acquisition; statistical and research design studies in the behavioral sciences applicable for use in second language research; works on syllabus design and needs analysis; English dialect and creole works.

IV. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The Department also supports two English Language Teaching Units. The English Language Institute (ELI) provides English instruction for international and immigrant students who have been admitted to the university and who do not speak English as a native language. The Hawaii English Language Program (HELP), also assists incoming students who do not speak English as a native language. It is an intensive English language program that prepares students for classes conducted in English, as well as day-to-day life in an English speaking environment.

There are also two SLS related centers. The Center for Second Language Research, which conducts research, curriculum development and training projects in the general area of second language (SL) education. This includes basic and applied research on SL teaching and learning, education through the medium of a second language, and classrooms where second dialects are present (e.g., Hawaii Creole English). English and other second languages including heritage languages, indigenous languages, pidgins and creoles (e.g., HCE) are included in this work. The National Foreign Language Resource Center (NFLRC) undertakes projects that focus primarily on the less commonly taught languages of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The NFLRC is one of nine such centers that support teacher training, research, materials development, and dissemination projects in the United States.

Date compiled: 6/01 Compiler: Susan Johnson