Report Creating diverse and engaging world language communities with(out) textbooks

Rothe, Lucian; Gabbard, Jordan
Volume 04 - Issue 1
2023-10-01
textbook; curriculum redevelopment; diversity; German; small WL programs
University of Hawaii National Foreign Language Resource Center; (co-sponsored by American Association of University of Supervisors and Coordinators; Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition; Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language, and Literacy; Second Language Teaching and Resource Center)
/10125/69883
Rothe, L., & Gabbard, J. (2023). Creating diverse and engaging world language communities with(out) textbooks. Second Language Research & Practice, 4(1), 128–140. https://hdl.handle.net/10125/69883
Full Record
Textbooks have been a staple in many world language (WL) programs for decades. But how do current higher education efforts to create more diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning spaces affect the use of commercial textbooks in WL classes? This report presents how a small German program at a large metropolitan university in the Southern United States redeveloped its program goals and materials to create engaging communities, address matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and adjust program practices based on constant evaluation. In doing so, it reflects on how textbooks have (not) been able to contribute to these objectives. Implications speak to curriculum development, instructional practices and policies, as well as student recruitment, and retention.