The Self-Access Study Center (SASC) at Brigham Young University's English Language Center (ELC) is a self-access lab where students can work independently to improve their language skills. Although some students have discovered how to use the SASC effectively, the majority of them appear to be unaware of the resources available in the center. Their trips to the SASC end up becoming more like a cyber cafe situation, where friends send email and chat online. If the SASC is used merely as a computer lab, then students are not using the resources available to fine-tune their English skills. The current project addresses two points. First, in an effort to provide on-going support for students and teachers, a Web site and database were created to provide users with information regarding materials available in the SASC at Brigham Young University's English Language Center. Second, a SASC orientation for both students and teachers at the ELC was implemented in September of 2004. It took place in the SASC and gave students and teachers a brief explanation about how to use the SASC effectively. ELC students later completed a survey as means of gathering feedback regarding the use of the SASC. The survey data showed that the students felt the website was very helpful and that the orientation had a strong influence on how students used the SASC. Analysis of the data showed that students tended to be more autonomous as a result of the SASC orientation. The results from the 2004 survey, with regards to the materials that students reported using, indicate that students used the SASC more for individual use and group work than to fulfill assignments or requirements from their teachers.

After almost two years of residing in the Republic of China, the author of this business plan together with her business partner came to realize that there is market potential for offering Spanish Language teaching services abroad. Every year, there are more than one thousand Taiwanese students enrolled in one of three modalities of college or university Spanish Language courses: as a major or minor; as an elective course; and, as a non credit course. A small percentage of the students who study Spanish Language travel abroad to increase their abilities in the language. Most of them choose Spain simply because it is the only choice they have been offered. On the other hand, most of the students who don’t travel abroad to practice the Spanish language don’t do it because traveling to Spain to study the language is too expensive for their budgets. This business plan describes a business model to promote a Language Center in La Antigua, Guatemala, which represents a less expensive alternative for those Taiwanese students who want to practice the Spanish Language but are not willing to pay the higher price charged for similar services in Spain. The business logistics include setting a Promotion Company in Honduras, which will work through a Promotion Office in the Republic of China to promote the services of Language Center located in Guatemala. A separate business plan will be elaborated for the operations of the Language Center in Guatemala. To determine whether the proposed business model is feasible or not, a market research was conducted. Through the results of this research it was established the potential demand and marketing mix. An operational study was also conducted to determine the optimal structure of the business and a financial study and analysis was conducted to determine the profitability level of the investment. The market research revealed that Taiwanese students would be willing to spend around NT$100,000 for a 10 week intensive course in La Antigua, Guatemala. The demand for these services has been forecasted to go from 58 to 193 in a period of 5 years, generating revenues ranging from NT$5.8 to 23.4 million in the same period. According to the calculations, the business would repay the investment in a 13-month period and would bring an average of 84% of return on equity during the first five years of operations, making it an exceptional investment opportunity.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This thesis analyzes factors related to academic, military and personal backgrounds that affect graduation of students enrolled at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC). The data in this thesis were taken from DLIFLC and only students from the four principal services with valid DLAB scores were considered for this study. Also, as DLI is concerned with students who do not make the grade academically, entries having administrative attritions were not considered. Four logistic regression models were analyzed for the purposes of this study: Graduation of students across all four categories of languages taught at DLIFLC, graduation of students in Category I languages, graduation of students in Category III languages and graduation of students in Category IV languages. The results of this study can assist DLIFLC in investing its resources in students with the best chances of success and assist the staff in identifying the weaker students from the onset of the course. / Major, Republic of Singapore Air Force

In Winter semester of 2005 the English Language Center (ELC) began plans to implement a content-based program for students at its highest proficiency level in order to provide them with more effective preparation for academic studies in English. Since that time, the program has undergone various changes to provide a more stable, cohesive, and responsive curriculum. There is a need, however, for greater teacher support and training. This paper outlines the process I underwent to create a handbook that would provide needed guidance and training for teachers in this program. This project involved an in-depth needs analysis of teachers and students in the program. Results from this analysis led to the selection of three basic principles that were used in the design and development of this project: (1) practicality, (2) instructiveness, and (3) sustainability. The resulting project is a binder organized into four tabs: (1) Program Overview, (2) The Basics of Content-based Instruction at the ELC, (3) Challenges and Strategies in CBI, and (4) Additional Resources. This resource was developed using Microsoft Word 2007 and includes a variety of graphics, text boxes and layouts to provide a professional and user-friendly product. An evaluation of the project based on the responses of three teachers who used the handbook during Winter semester 2009 revealed that it was a useful and needed resource for teaching content-based classes at the ELC. Further piloting is needed to verify these findings. It is recommended that in the future this resource be maintained by the ELC Coordinator assigned to oversee the content courses. As the ELC continues to refine the content curriculum, evaluation and revisions of this handbook should be carried out at regular intervals to ensure its continued relevance and accuracy over time.