In keeping with our mission to promote the teaching and learning of the languages and cultures of Central Asia, CeLCAR’s primary focus is the development of high-quality language learning materials that make these less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) more accessible to both teachers and students.
Our research-based resources, including textbooks and supplementary materials, are developed under the direction of CeLCAR’s Language Instruction Specialist, Amber Kennedy Kent, and are grounded in best practices in second language acquisition. Addtinally, all of our materials are designed to intentionally integrate authentic cultural content, much of which is collected directly from the Central Asian region, in order to support performance and proficiency-based language learning.
Furthermore, in August 2023, CeLCAR released a step-by-step instructional textbook, Designing Effective Language Learning Materials for Less Commonly Taught Languages: A Research-Based Guide, published by Georgetown University Press. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience developing language learning materials for less commonly taught languages (LCTLs), this book serves as a clear and accessible roadmap for both novice and experienced instructors and curriculum developers seeking to design effective and authentic language materials.