The LCTL Instructor Professional Development Survey is being distributed in fall 2021 (October-December) and investigates the state of less commonly taught language (LCTL) instruction in the United States in higher education through the lens of instructors and collects data about LCTL teachers’ professional backgrounds, current professional development needs, and impressions about the classroom, instruction, and technology.
The data collection instrument was inspired by the questionnaire used by Johnston and Janus (2003), where they examined teacher professional development needs in LCTLs. Johnston and Janus collected data in 1999, meaning no such research has been conducted in over 20 years. This survey instrument also expands upon the content from Johnston and Janus questionnaire. To ensure relevance and appeal to a broad range of LCTL instructors and administrators, the authors requested input on the survey from the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOLCTL) board.
We hope that the results of this survey will allow us to understand the state of LCTL instruction in the United States with the goal of connecting instructors to the necessary professional development and other resources that would improve LCTL instruction in the United States and demonstrating robust data as we advocate for stronger LCTL instruction.
Are you a LCTL instructor interested in participating in the study? Please click here to access the survey! (A consent form and explanation of the study will appear at the beginning of the survey. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Michigan State University.)