A UDL blended curriculum metamodel for proficiency-oriented Chinese instruction
With its evident need in a globalized era, world language education has nonetheless faced a precipitous enrollment decline in the U.S. This study responds to such challenges by proposing a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Blended Curriculum Metamodel. The Metamodel aims to provide proficiency-oriented instruction for learners across levels with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and needs. At the novice-intermediate level, a technology-enriched asynchronous series was designed as an integral or supplementary part of a face-to-face class with the aim to provide multiple means of representation and action & expression. At the intermediate-advanced level, a self-guided project was designed to provide students with multiple means of engagement. The study examined the effectiveness of the proposed Metamodel via students’ perceptions and discussed implications for its further implementations.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Literature review
- 2.1Proficiency-oriented instruction
- 2.2Universal design for learning
- 3.A UDL blended curriculum metamodel
- 4.A UDL blended curriculum model in practice
- 4.1An overview
- 4.2Study One
- 4.2.1Participants
- 4.2.2Design description
- 4.2.3Results
- 4.3Study Two
- 4.3.1Participants
- 4.3.2Design description
- 4.3.3Results
- 5.Discussion
- 5.1Strengths
- 5.2Challenges
- 5.3Pedagogical implications
- 6.Conclusion
- Notes
- Author queries
-
References
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
References (36)
References
American Academy of Arts & Sciences (AMACAD). The humanities in American life: Insights from a 2019 survey of the public’s attitudes and engagement. Retrieved from [URL]
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. (1982). ACTFL provisional proficiency guidelines. Yonkers, NY: ACTFL.
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. (2012). Proficiency guidelines. [URL]
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. (2013). NCSSFL-ACTFL can-do statements: Progress indicators for language learners. Retrieved from [URL]
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. (2024). Proficiency guidelines. Retrieved from [URL]
Bauman, D. (2020). Can these degree programs, under assault for a decade, survive a pandemic? Retrieved from [URL]
Brecht, R. D., Davidson, D., & Ginsberg, R. B. (1993). Predictors of foreign language gain during study abroad. Washington, DC: National Foreign Language Center.
CAST (2018). Universal design for learning guidelines (Version 2.2). Retrieved from [URL]
Conley, C. S., Kirsch, A. C., Dickson, D. A., & Bryant, F. B. (2014). Negotiating the transition to college: Developmental trajectories and gender differences in psychological functioning, cognitive-affective strategies, and social well-being. Emerging Adulthood,
2
(3), 195–210.
Conley, C. S., Shapiro, J. B., Huguenel, B. M., & Kirsch, A. C. (2020). Navigating the college years: Developmental trajectories and gender differences in psychological functioning, cognitive-affective strategies, and social well-being. Emerging Adulthood,
8
(2), 103–117.
Copeland, W. E., McGinnis, E., Bai, Y., Adams, Z., Nardone, H., Devadanam, V., & Hudziak, J. J. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on college student mental health and wellness. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,
60
(1), 134–141.
Danesh, J., & Shahnazari, M. (2020). A structural relationship model for resilience, L2 learning motivation, and L2 proficiency at different proficiency levels. Learning and Motivation,
72
1, 101636.
Davidson, D. E. (2002). When just being there is not enough [Paper Presentation]. Symposium on Language Gain in Study Abroad, Global Forum on Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Davidson, D. E., & Garas, N. (2023). What makes study abroad transformative? Comparing linguistic and cultural contacts and learning outcomes in virtual vs in-person contexts. L2 Journal: An Electronic Refereed Journal for Foreign and Second Language Educators,
15
(2), 71–91.
Diao, W., & Liu, H. Y. (2021). Starting college, quitting foreign language: The case of learners of Chinese language during secondary-postsecondary transition. Journal of Language, Identity & Education,
20
(2), 75–89.
Doran, P. R. (2015). Language accessibility in the classroom: How UDL can promote success for linguistically diverse learners. Exceptionality Education International,
25
(3), 1–12.
Dörnyei, Z. (2005). The psychology of the language learner: Individual differences in second language acquisition. Mahwah.
Gabbianelli, G., & Formica, A. (2017). Difficulties and expectations of first level Chinese second language learners, in Kecskes, I. (Ed.), Explorations into Chinese as a second language (pp. 183–206). Singapore: Springer.
Hu, B. (2010). The challenges of Chinese: A preliminary study of UK learners’ perceptions of difficulty. Language Learning Journal,
38
(1), 99–118.
Johnson, S. (2019). Colleges lose a ‘stunning’ 651 foreign-language programs in 3 years. Retrieved from [URL]
Levey, S. (2023). Universal design for learning. Journal of Education,
203
(2), 479–487.
Li, S., Hiver, P., & Papi, M. (Eds.). (2022). The Routledge handbook of second language acquisition and individual differences. New York: Routledge.
Liu, Y., Yu, Q., & Wu, Y. (2025). Seeking changes in a challenging time: New perspectives for proficiency-oriented Chinese teaching and beyond, Chinese as a Second Language, (To be added when available)
Liu, Y., & Shirley, T. (2021). Without crossing a border: Exploring the impact of shifting study abroad online on students’ learning and intercultural competence development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online Learning Journal,
25
(1), 182–194.
Liu, Y., Yao, T., Bi, N., Ge, L. & Shi, Y. (2017). Integrated Chinese
3
1 (4th Edition). Cheng & Tsui Company.
Luo, Han. (2015). Curricular goals and curriculum design: The case of a college-level Chinese language program. Journal of Chinese Language Teachers Association,
50
(3), 23–44.
Malone, M. E., Rifkin, B., Christian, D., & Johnson, D. E. (2003). Attaining high levels of proficiency: Challenges for language education in the United States [Paper presentation]. Conference on Global Challenges and US Higher Education, Duke University, Durhan, NC.
Modern Language Association (MLA). (2019). Enrollments in languages other than English in United States institutions of higher education, Summer 2016 and Fall 2016. Modern Language Association of America. Retrieved from [URL]
Modern Language Association (MLA). (2023). Enrollments in languages other than English in US institutions of higher education, Fall 2021. Retrieved from [URL]
Nier, V. C., Donovan, A. E., & Malone, M. E. (2009). Increasing assessment literacy among LCTL teachers through blended learning. Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages,
9
1, 105–136.
Rifkin, B. (2003). Oral proficiency learning outcomes and curricular design. Foreign Language Annals,
36
(4), 582–588.
Robinson, M. D., Irvin, R. L., & Persich, M. R. (2022). Ego effectiveness: A novel individual difference approach to health behavior and coping. Journal of Health Psychology,
27
(7), 1679–1696.
Salimi, N., Gere, B., Talley, W., & Irioogbe, B. (2023). College students mental health challenges: Concerns and considerations in the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy,
37
(1), 39–51.
Stein-Smith, K. (2021). Foreign languages in higher education in the US–issues and advocacy. Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice,
21
(2).
Winke, P., Zhang, X., Rubio, F., Gass, S., Soneson, D., & Hacking, J. (2020). The proficiency profile of language students: Implications for programs. Second Language Research & Practice,
1
(1), 25–64.
Yan, X., Lei, Y., & Shih, C. (2020). A corpus-driven, curriculum-based Chinese elicited imitation test in US universities. Foreign Language Annals,
53
(4), 704–732.