LCTL Doors. Downloadable Online Open Resources that ‘open doors’ for language instructors by providing them with instructional activities that they can easily transform to use in their classroom. They were designed especially for instructors of less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) who may struggle with a lack of resources for teaching their language. The site includes a rich list of additional resources with ideas on how to use these materials in your classroom.

The Pathways Project is a collaborative network of Open Educational Resources (OER) developed by the Department of World Languages at Boise State University for use by Idaho’s K-16 language teachers and students. The activities are focused on interpersonal communication, as most language students consider it the most challenging of the four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking). Each lesson is about 30 minutes in length and includes a warm up, main activity, and cool down with detailed teaching instructions, and classroom slides which can be tailored for the type of students. Material is currently developed for American Sign Language, Arabic, Basque, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.

Elementary Arabic I. This is an open textbook on Beginner Arabic for undergraduate students who are taking Arabic in their first semester. It addresses letters and sounds of Arabic along with basic skills in reading, speaking and writing. The book can be used as a self-study resource or as the main textbook in beginning Arabic classes.

Elementary Arabic II. This is an open textbook on Elementary Arabic for undergraduate students who are taking Arabic in their second semester. It addresses language structures in theme-based modules that cover the four language skills. The book can be used as a self-study resource or as the main textbook in beginning Arabic classes.

Elementary Chinese I. This open textbook is designed for those who are learning Chinese as a second/foreign language in their first semester. It has eight chapters, covering topics including a brief introduction about the Chinese language, greetings, and self-introduction, hobbies, nationalities, family members and occupations, inviting friends to dinner, talking about food and beverage, making phone calls, and talking about classes and exams.

Elementary Chinese 1 Workbook. Through the power of H5P interactive activities, this workbook, employing an innovative e-writing approach, is designed to help beginning learners lay a solid foundation for the natural development of the Chinese language skills necessary to excel in their learning journey. At the heart of this method lies a focus on Chinese receptive skills that are essential for the development of communicative competences: listening and reading, seamlessly integrated with typing. This unique combination, unlike the traditional handwriting approach, not only fosters accuracy in listening and reading comprehension but also enhances their accurate pronunciation and typing in Chinese communication.

Elementary Chinese II. This open textbook is designed for those who are learning Chinese as a second/foreign language in their second semester. It has six chapters, covering topics including describing school life, shopping in stores and online, transportation means, reporting weather and climates, ordering foods, and asking and giving directions.

Uusi Kielemme. An ever-growing website, it is very thorough and indispensable for learning Finnish without a textbook.

Course 1: Innovation and Entrepreneurship

This course discusses the cultural climate in Israel and reasons why such a small country produces so many start-ups. It is designed to provide comprehensive additional exposure to intermediate Hebrew students and allow them to move to an advanced-low proficiency level. The focus of this course is on content and task-based learning; that is, authentic materials, real-life communication tasks in digital and face-to-face contexts and linguistic experiences in the field of Israeli innovation.

The files for this course include a syllabus and a file that can be added directly to a course/learning management system. It was developed within Canvas, but has been successfully uploaded to D2L as well.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Canvas Course File (IMSCC)

Course 2: Gender and Identity in Israeli Culture

This course discusses profiles and perspectives of gender identity, current events and ethical issues related to gender in Israel. It examines the stories of men and women of different ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds, experiences of members of the LGBT community and relevant themes that appear in Israeli music and fiction. The course materials stem from a wide range of content sources and cover the skill sets of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

The course is designed to provide comprehensive additional exposure to intermediate Hebrew students and allow them to move to an advanced-low proficiency level. Its focus is on content and task-based learning; that is, authentic materials, real- life communication tasks in digital and face-to-face contexts and linguistic experiences in the field of gender and identity in Israel.

The files for this course include a syllabus and a file that can be added directly to a course/learning management system. It was developed within Canvas, but has been successfully uploaded to D2L as well.

Gender and Identity in Israeli Culture – Canvas Course File (IMSCC)

Course 3: Ethics, Religion, and Medicine

Unlike the United States, Israeli politics are intertwined with religion. This can be problematic when it comes into play with medical and ethical issues. This course deals with medical issues that have ethical questions in play and how all of this works in the Israeli religious state that is guided by religious parties and political coalitions.

The course investigates issues such as parenthood, organ donations, LGBTQ issues, and genetics and compares them to the situation in the United States. There are many moral and ethical issues that are guided by Judaism, rather than by science and social justice.

The file below is a combination syllabus and lesson plan document. (There is no pre-made course shell for this course.)

Course 4: Multiculturalism in Israel

The course focuses on various aspects of multiculturalism in Israel. It is designed to enable students to attain the ACTFL advanced low-advanced mid proficiency level in Hebrew. Students will be able to follow the main story of the clips, understand the underlying message and most supporting details across major time frames in descriptive informational texts, including texts about the following topics:

1. Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
2. Holocaust survivors
3. Minorities in Israel including foreign workers
4. The history of the conflict in Gaza

The file below is a combination syllabus and lesson plan document. (There is no pre-made course shell for this course.)

Supplemental Materials

Reading curriculum: The Journey to the Best Place on Earth (and Back)

This is a reading curriculum designed for the third semester of Hebrew course and intended to supplement regular Hebrew curriculum of college level Hebrew courses. It is based on the graphic novel The Journey to the Best Place on Earth (and Back) written by Adi Barokas. The materials developed in this curriculum cover the entire academic semester and are aimed at Intermediate Low/High language levels based on ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

The file below contains different lesson plans. (There is no pre-made course shell for this course.)

Basic Hindi is an online, interactive, theme-based textbook for the true beginner of Hindi language. It promotes communicative, linguistic, and cultural competence. It has mixture of pedagogical approaches to fit all types of learning and teaching philosophies/styles to achieve intermediate low to mid ACTFL proficiency level within a semester.

Hindi with Mansi Bajaj (Yale University). The resources on this website can be easily modified / adapted to teach other South Asian and less commonly taught languages. Additionally, most of these can be easily turned into projects. 

Hindi Modules

• Module 1: Wedding Traditions (Intermediate High)
  • This module discusses the wedding traditions in India under the following topics: Matrimonial alliances, Date finalization, Reserving a marriage hall, Wedding invitations, Wedding procession, Wedding ceremony and Post-wedding rituals. The module content aims to enrich students with cultural information and to grow their skills in Hindi to higher proficiency levels.
• Module 2: Health (Advanced)
  • This module discusses health-related issues in India under the following topics: Health and lifestyle in the Indian society, Home remedies, and Issues and challenges of public health in India. The module content aims to equip students with language necessary for one to be able to engage with advanced topics of this nature.
• Module 3: Higher Education (Advanced)
  • In this module, students will learn about higher education in India by reading texts and interacting with authentic materials which provide an overview of the culture, history, policies, challenges, and politics which shape the overall structure, goals and practices of higher education in modern-day India. At the end of the module, students will prepare a PBLL (project-based language learning) project.

Basic Khmer. This online interactive theme-based open textbook is for beginner learners of the Khmer language. This book aims to provide a practical introduction to speaking, listening, and reading. By the end of this course, students will be at the B1 level of the Common Framework for Language and at the low intermediate level on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scales.

Intermediate Khmer. This online textbook has nine chapters covering listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar, with interactive activities using H5P for prompt feedback. Each chapter offers a chapter summary that includes a list of functional expressions and a grammar summary and a practice section offers exercises and activities for students to continue practicing the target language or the chapter’s topic. This online interactive theme-based textbook is designed for students at an intermediate level. Upon completion of this course, students will achieve a B2 level on the Common Framework for Language and a mid-intermediate level on the ACFTL proficiency scales.

Basic Persian is an online, interactive, tech-enhanced, theme-based textbook for the true beginner of Persian language which promotes speaking, listening, reading, writing and cultural skills. Basic Persian promotes communicative, linguistic, and cultural competence. It has a mixture of pedagogical approaches to fit all types of learning and teaching philosophies/styles to achieve intermediate low to mid ACTFL proficiency level within a two-sequence semester.

Bate-Papo: An Introduction to Portuguese. This e-book emphasizes meaningful communicative activities for a classroom setting, focusing on everyday language in Brazilian Portuguese. Some of the book content derived from unrehearsed conversations following a prompt. Bate-Papo has been developed with the collaboration of volunteers and has been written with the goal of facilitating the teaching of Portuguese without the cost of traditional textbooks.

Português para principiantes. A time-tested text which can be used in conjunction with a variety of approaches to the teaching of beginning Portuguese. This media-rich text is designed to provide learners with a solid grammatical basis for using Brazilian Portuguese as well as regular opportunities to practice and improve their ability to read, speak, and understand the Portuguese language as it is used in contemporary Brazil.

Plural: Português pluricêntrico. Designed for Portuguese learners in US Higher Education, Plural: Português Pluricêntrico introduces the language by exploring contemporary issues in Portuguese-speaking communities based on social justice pedagogy, pluricentric perspective, and project-based learning.

Diverse Russian: A Multicultural Exploration. This textbook invites students to explore the diverse Russian-speaking communities across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and North America. It highlights the rich cultures and histories of Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Indigenous populations of Russia, the Baltic states, Georgia (Sakartvelo), and Russian-speaking communities in the United States. Supported by the Less Commonly Taught and Indigenous Languages Partnership and funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, this OER textbook provides a unique, immersive experience that seamlessly integrates cultural understanding with practical language skills.

Module 1: Political and  Social Issues (Intermediate): Teacher Version and Student Version. This module focuses on speaking, writing, and communicating about politics, history, and other social issues in the context of East Africa. The six units which are covered in this module are: Geography, History, Politics, Economics, Weather, and Education in East Africa. The teacher version is basically a guide on how the teacher should implement the lessons and assess learners’ performance. Take a look at this sample syllabus that shows how this module’s materials can be implemented in a 16 week course.

Module 2: Family, Community, Traditions (Intermediate): Teacher Version and Student Version.This module is designed to help students develop the ability to talk and write about a variety of issues related to family and community in East Africa and their own communities. The module has six units: Childhood memories, Oral traditions among Swahili speakers, Moving to the city, Renting an apartment, Weddings in East Africa, and East African holidays.

Module 3: Religion (Advanced Low). This module uses the general topic of religion in East Africa to give students the opportunities and skills needed to achieve Advanced Low Proficiency on the ACTFL scale.

Module 4: Job Preparation (Advanced Low). This module is designed to enable students to attain the Advanced Low proficiency level of ACTFL in Swahili. Students will learn to talk and write about the future plans, desired professions and research plans. In focusing on these important issues, this module also encourages students to use a variety of technologies. This module has five units: Higher education in East Africa, Choosing an academic major, Life in university, Scientific Research, and the Job market.

Module 5: Preparation for Study Abroad (Intermediate High): Teacher Version. This module is intended as part of the preparation for study abroad. Several aspects of East African cultures are discussed in order to familiarize the student with life in the region and with the language that is used in the appropriate contexts. It exposes the student to images, texts, conversations, vocabulary, grammar, and situations that they will likely encounter in their East African sojourn. The module is organized into six units: Homestays, Shopping, Phone services, Travelling, Entertainment, and Campus Life.

Module 6: Gender & Sexuality (Advanced Mid). This module, Jinsia na Mapenzi Afrika ya Mashariki (Gender and Sexuality in East Africa), is designed to help you reach the Advanced Mid level of Swahili proficiency on the ACTFL scale.

Basic Tamil is an online, interactive, and tech-enhanced textbook that promotes speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural skills.

Her Şey bir Merhaba ile Başlar! The lessons integrate reading, listening and viewing comprehension, writing and speaking practice, grammar, vocabulary, and cultural activities. Dozens of audio and video clips of Turkish speakers describing their lives, their culture, and their country support and enhance these activities. This textbook was developed for intermediate level Turkish language courses.

Basic Vietnamese. This is an interactive textbook for true novice and low-novice learners, aiming to help students reach Novice high or Intermediate low proficiency according to ACTFL standards. With 15 chapters and nine pronunciation sections, the book covers essential grammar, vocabulary, and cultural insights. Engaging multimedia materials and interactive activities, designed with native speakers, provide an authentic learning experience. Through a combination of pedagogical approaches, students develop well-rounded language skills for everyday situations.

Intermediate Vietnamese: A Task-based Journey. This open-source Intermediate Vietnamese textbook is task-based, with a focus on authentic materials and tasks necessary for the students in real life. The textbook is designed following the Task-Based Language Teaching principles with a focus on using authentic materials to maximize opportunities for learner proficiency development. Tasks of various modes of communication are organized and sequenced through topics and themes. As for the structure of the material, the textbook is a loosely sequenced set of task-based materials which allow instructors to adapt easily to their specific teaching contexts.

Advanced Vietnamese. This textbook is designed for students at the Intermediate mid to High levels, language enthusiasts, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Vietnamese language and culture. Immerse yourself in the richness of the Vietnamese language by exploring both the Northern and Southern dialects. This dual-dialect approach mirrors the media representation and presence of Vietnamese in various contexts, providing you with a holistic understanding of the language as it is spoken and used in real-life situations.

The project team created an OER textbook called Ես ու դուն (“You and I”) that mirrors C. Karamanoukian’s recently published book on Beginning Armenian that will help students reach the designated level or advance even further. The pilot website is yes-oo-toon.github.io and will move to armeniantogether.com after the pilot period.

Proficiency-based Yoruba Dictionary. This dictionary project aims to redesign the structure of the Yoruba dictionary based on learners’ proficiency level. Also, the proficiency-driven dictionary is contextualized with audiovisuals and supported with tools for pronouncing Yoruba tonal words.

Basic Urdu is a theme-based, interactive open-source online textbook for the true novice learners of the Urdu language. The book uses mixed pedagogical approaches to language teaching to match diverse teaching and learning styles. It aims to help learners achieve intermediate low to mid-proficiency levels set by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).