Center for Language Acquisition at the Pennsylvania State University

Gil Watz Programs


Gil Watz Research Fellowship
The Center offers two $5,000 Research Fellowships for graduate students pursuing work in applied linguistics as it relates to second language learning and teaching in the classroom setting. For the academic years 2003-2004, 2004-2005 the Fellowships are earmarked for the following two projects:

 

  1. Dynamic Assessment – a new approach to classroom language assessment based on Vygotsky’s notion of the Zone of Proximal Development. The project is designed to develop a guide for teachers on how they can implement this new assessment procedure in their own language classes.
  2. Concept-based Approach to Grammar Teaching – based on Vygotsky’s theory of concepts, this project is designed develop a guide for language teachers on how to present grammar to their students as on the basis of meaning rather than form.

 

Gil Watz Dissertation Fellowship
The Center for Language Acquisition in conjunction with the College of the Liberal Arts will provide up to five dissertation fellowships per academic year for doctoral students working on a dissertation in applied linguistics. The fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis and will carry a research stipend of $1,000 to be used to support the student’s dissertation research. If the student is a TA or RA, the student’s home unit will receive release funds in the amount of $4,000 from the College to cover teaching or research responsibilities during the academic semester for which the fellowship is awarded. If a recipient opts to accept the award during the summer, in lieu of release funds provided to the student’s unit, the student will receive a stipend of $3,000 from the College in addition to $750.00 in research support from the Center.

Procedures:

  1. Applicants must be ABD.
  2. Applicants must submit a summary of dissertation proposal.
  3. Applications must include a statement indicating why research support is required and what the fund will be used for.
  4. Please indicate whether the fellowship is for the fall or spring semester or for the summer.
  5. A current CV must be included.

 

Note the following application deadlines:
Spring semester: October 15 or closest working day prior to this date.
Summer: February 15 or closest working day prior to this date.
Fall: March 15 or closest working day prior to this date.

Fellowship recipients are required to submit a two page report outlining the research conducted during the fellowship semester and they are expected to make at least one public presentation at Penn State on their dissertation research. This can be in a variety of venues including the LALS Round Table.
Submit application materials to Center for Language Acquisition, 305 Sparks Building. Direct questions to J. P. Lantolf, Director of the Center for Language Acquisition, 304 Sparks Bldg, JPL7@PSU.EDU.

 

Gil Watz Visiting Scholars Program
The program provides an opportunity for applied linguistics scholars at institutions outside of Penn State to spend up to a maximum of one semester in residence at Penn State in order to pursue research projects, to interact with our graduate students and faculty formally through workshops and lectures as well as informally through one-on-one and small group format. The program provides a stipend for travel and lodging and a modest honorarium for workshops and lectures. Those interested in applying to this program should contact Jim Lantolf, Director of the Center for Language Acquisition at JPL7@PSU.EDU. Currently, the program is funded through the 2004-05 academic year.










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