center for educational resources in culture, language and literacy
--- About CERCLL ---▲
The mission of CERCLL is to support the educational community and the nation by providing resources and research focused on culture, language and literacy in less commonly taught languages (LCTLs).
CERCLL serves as a unique local, regional, and national resource for scholars, academic professionals, teachers and others interested in improving our nation's capacity to deliver high-quality, pedagogically-sound, and cost-effective instruction in foreign languages. The majority of CERCLL's projects focus on the teaching and learning needs of the LCTLs. Many are aimed at increasing the nation's capacity to produce Americans with advanced proficiency in the LCTLs through the development, assessment, publication and dissemination of instructional materials in the LCTLs. In accordance with the invitational priorities, we have several projects that have been developed with UA's Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES), which is a Title VI National Resource Center (NRC). We also have projects developed in collaboration with UA's Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS).
Second language acquisition research shows that it is difficult for learners at the intermediate and advanced levels of proficiency in foreign languages (especially LCTLs) to make advances in literacy skills quickly and efficiently. Our goal is to help learners attain not just emergent but active literacy through CERCLL's projects. We define literacy in broad terms, by addressing not only traditional concepts of literacy related to the reading of printed text, but also the concept of new/multi-literacies, which we understand to include cultural literacy and use of the new technologies (e.g. technological literacy, media literacy). Knowledge of a language and the ability to read authentic texts mean that the language learner also has to understand the cultural and social context in which that language is used. In short, learners need to attain a level of social and cultural literacy that will allow them to read with deepened understanding. Thus, teachers must be trained to incorporate cultural and social information into their language courses in ways that will engage the learners and have effective results.
National Advisory Board - meeting, March 2008
Our projects encompass culture and literacy as we:
CERCLL is located in the Learning Technologies Center (LTC) at The University of Arizona, and brings together faculty members and other UA academic professionals from such diverse areas as the College of Humanities (COH), the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), the College of Education (COE), the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES), the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS). We also work with the Critical Languages Program (CLP) and Partnership Across Languages (PAL), a program which brings together foreign language teachers at the University of Arizona, Pima Community College, and local high schools.
CERCLL's local advisory board provides feedback and guidance for the Center. The advisory board is composed of individuals from the University of Arizona and the southern Arizona community. For a list of CERCLL's local and national advisory board members, please see the People page.
--- About Friends of CERCLL ---▲
CERCLL provides the University of Arizona and the greater language learning community with many opportunities to enhance the teaching of less commonly taught languages. As times change rapidly we try to keep at the forefront of emerging and advanced approaches for language instruction. Remaining successful and viable in education today requires teamwork and an organized, focused effort on community and resource building.
To continue to be innovative and to serve our community we need your support!
CERCLL offers a variety of ways in which you can be involved in furthering our mission:
And of course we are always open to other creative ways that CERCLL can be supported by our friends. We'd love to hear your ideas.
To become a Friend of CERCLL, fill out our Gift Form [PDF].
For more information about opportunities to get involved with CERCLL, contact Garry Forger, the Development and Grants Management Officer for Learning Technologies:
Garry Forger
Phone: (520) 626-3918
Email: gforger@email.arizona.edu
--- About Tucson ---▲
Welcome to Tucson, Arizona! Located in southeastern Arizona, in the biologically-diverse Sonoran desert, Tucson offers a great variety of attractions. Hike through forests of 40-foot cactus at Saguaro National Park, explore the heavens at Kitt Peak National Observatory, or experience the underworld at Kartchner Caverns State Park. The VisitTucson.org website will provide you with everything you need to plan a wonderful visit to Tucson.
Distances - Albuquerque, NM is 500 miles northeast, about an 8-hour drive. Denver, CO is 900 miles northeast, about a 14-hour drive. Los Angeles, CA is 500 miles west, about an 8-hour drive. San Diego is 400 miles west, about 6-hour drive. Phoenix, AZ is 100 miles northwest, about a 2-hour drive.
Tucson International Airport - The airport is situated about 8 miles south of the University of Arizona campus. Their website shows which airlines fly to Tucson, provides direct links to those airlines, and offers general information about air traveling to Tucson.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport - This airport is one of the busiest in the nation and is about a 2-hour drive from Tucson. To get to Tucson from Sky Harbor Airport you have the option of renting a car or taking the Arizona Shuttle. The Arizona Shuttle drops you off at several locations in Tucson.
Places to Stay - You can stay at quaint bed-and-breakfasts, famous star-studded resorts, rustic ranches, gritty historic hotels, or just about anything in between. The Accommodations page of the VisitTucson.org website is a helpful place to start.
Weather - Weather is an important factor in deciding when to visit Tucson. Tucson's winter temperatures range from evening tempatures of 40°F to daytime tempatures of 70°F, making it a delightful winter destination. Summer high temperatures in Tucson go well above 100°F. But don't forget, "it's a dry heat" (our favorite sarcastic punchline to 115° days). See what today looks like in Tucson by visiting this University of Arizona webcam.
Dress - The lifestyle in Tucson tends to be casual. Casual clothing is acceptable just about everywhere, but bring a set of dress clothes if you plan to have a fancy dinner at one of the resorts. Also be sure to bring a hat for sunny days and a jacket for cooler evenings. Use sunscreen and drink plenty of water if you plan to spend time outdoors.
We've selected a few of our favorite sightseeing attractions which highlight Tucson's unique physical environment and diversity. These special places make Tucson a wonderful place to visit.
University of Arizona - Take a look at the UA Visitor Guide online, for detailed information about visiting our beautiful, dynamic university.
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - It's actually a zoo. Well, maybe more like a wildlife reserve because many of the animals roam free in their natural habitat. There is also a natural history museum and a botanical garden. Located in the beautiful Tucson Mountains west of town, the Desert Museum is one of the most popular destinations for both locals and visitors. You can explore desert paths, watch hummingbirds, get a closer look at our charming javelinas, learn about different flora and fauna (including all those unusual looking cacti), and much more. If you drive back to Tucson during sunset, be sure to park your car and look west from Gates Pass. Any local can direct you to this favorite spot where spectacular desert sunsets live.
Katchner Caverns State Park - Experience a stunning limestone cave in Southeastern Arizona that boasts world-class features. This “live” cave, discovered in 1974, is host to a wide variety of unique minerals and formations. Water percolates from the surface and calcite formations continue to grow, including stalactites dripping down like icicles and giant stalagmites reaching up from the ground. Tour guides will unveil this fascinating underground landscape during a memorable 1½ hour tour.
Kitt Peak National Observatory - Tucson is a world hub for astronomy due to our clear skies, dry climate, and low level of light pollution. We work hard to make sure that city lights don't interfere with our pristine astronomical viewing conditions. The world-renowned Kitt Peak National Observatory is an incredible place to explore the vastness of outer space.
Mission San Xavier del Bac - Built in 1797, Mission San Xavier (pronounced as "hav-ee-air") is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This building is a stunning example of Moorish, Byzantine, and late Mexican Renaissance architecture.
Sabino Canyon - A desert oasis in the northeast corner of Tucson. You can experience Sabino Canyon by hiking or by taking a narrated shuttle bus tour. Although the shade and water are especially attractive in the summer, this is a wonderful place to visit any time of the year.
Saguaro National Park - This dense forest is guaranteed to be unlike any other you've ever seen before. The magnificent Saguaro cactus which populates the forest is a very special plant which only grows in this small region of the world (Sonoran Desert of extreme southeastern California, southern Arizona, and adjoining northwestern Mexico)!
Tubac - The community of Tubac is a haven for artists and craftspeople, and a few hours spent exploring the more than 80 shops, studios, and galleries will give you a taste of traditional southwestern and Mexican crafts. Tubac is located 20 miles north of the U.S./Mexican border.
A unique way to learn about the history of the Tucson area and its people is to spend time browsing the University of Arizona's Through Our Parent's Eyes online exhibits. These exhibits are an amazing resource for providing a different perspective on the history of the communities within the Tucson area.
Check out the Arizona Historical Society website to get a listing of their museums and library in Tucson. There are some great books that have been written on Tucson and southern Arizona (try Roy P. Drachman's "From Cowtown to Desert Metropolis: Ninety Years of Arizona Memories"). The Southwest Center at the University of Arizona has extensive publications on a variety of cultural aspects of the southwestern United States. You can also stop by the University of Arizona Bookstore which is located in the Student Union on the campus of the University of Arizona.
