Just-in-Time SLA Program Overview
Program Goals
In the Just-in-Time (JIT) SLA program, our primary goal is to equip you and coach you along to become a more efficient and effective learner of your new language regardless of the learning method — attending a language school, working with a tutor, independent learning, or a combination of approaches. We want to empower you through understanding the basics of language learning, instructing you in pronunciation, and giving you skills to plan your own learning for the long-haul.
Audience
JIT SLA is designed for beginning language learners who are planning to serve more than a year or two in a cross-cultural setting. What's distinct about this program is that it takes learners through a learning progression throughout their first year of language learning, setting a firm foundation for living, working, and ministering overseas for long term.
Program Format
Our online Just-in-Time SLA program begins with any of our online Second Language Acquisition courses (the learner can choose between SLA for Beginning Learners, SLA for Continuing Learners, or Introduction to Language Learning) (Phase 1), followed by coaching from the director of ICCT while engaged in on-field learning (Phase 2), and finally, additional online learning modules to set the learner up for continued proficiency improvement throughout their language learning time in the future (Phase 3). The three phases span about one to one and a half years.
Phase 1 consists of your choice of one of our excellent online Second Language Acquisition courses. While the timeline can be flexible according to your availability, some participants have taken it in three weeks (about 15-20 hrs per week), six weeks (about 15-20 hrs per week), or 12 weeks (about 7-10 hours per week). Here are some of the key topics we address in all of our courses:
- phonetics/pronunciation of your target language (10-12 hours, with 7 individual video call meetings)
- understanding the language learning process
- strategies for becoming a better language learner
- working one-on-one with language helpers
- making good audio recordings and using them effectively
- addressing issues such as confidence, anxiety, and motivation
- setting realistic goals and planning learning experiences
- developing listening and speaking skills, including good pronunciation
- learning grammar and vocabulary
- drawing upon multiple resources (e.g., courses, tutors, helpers, community)
- dealing with individual areas or issues that may slow down your learning
Most of the work is done online using Moodle and you also meet individually via video with an instructor two or three times each week. In addition, you may work with a language helper who is either a native speaker of your target language or another language (optional for pre-field learners, required for on-field learners, and depends on the SLA course selected).
Approximately one year of individualized language coaching tailored to your specific needs, including working with you to make the most of your on-field learning program, with supplementary activities as needed. The coaching usually includes at least one individual video meeting per month and bi-weekly group coaching call sessions, all with the director of ICCT.
The focus of Phase 3 is on equipping you to move from an everyday level of language ability to more advanced proficiency needed for effective ministry and professional purposes. Highly customized to meet your unique needs, this phase includes frequent one-on-one video calls, group coaching, and individual assignments tailored to meet your learning needs and goals, all with the director of ICCT.
Similar to Phase 1, this last phase of learning modules comes with a flexible timeline. We can schedule this part of the course at a time that is convenient for you.
“I feel like my toolbox is full of all sorts of tools to pull out and use."
-former SLA participant