Reflection Requirements
About
The SLA Grant requires all of its recipients to engage in thoughtful reflection about their language learning experiences. The CSLC has designed these exercises to enhance intercultural learning and support our students who want to develop more meaningful connections with their target language and culture.
If you are awarded an SLA grant and choose to accept it, you have a choice regarding how to fulfill this requirement. The same content is covered in both options, so please consider which works best for your personal learning style and your other time commitments.
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During your time abroad
- You will be invited to enroll in a 0-credit Canvas course to complete 8 modules that connect intercultural learning exercises or ideas to your current experience. Each module culminates in a short (one page) writing assignment.
- Weekly time commitments are more demanding for students who are abroad for a shorter amount of time.
- You must have access to Okta and internet while abroad in order to access Canvas.
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Upon your return to campus
- You must register for a 1-credit S/U SLA post-entry course which meets weekly with other SLA recipients. Through discussion, you and your peers will connect the same intercultural learning exercises and ideas to your past summer experience. Reflective writing assignments (one page each) are due every other week (8 assignments in one semester).
- Weekly time commitments are less demanding for students who choose this option since the same content is covered over a longer length of time.
- You must be physically present and enrolled at Main Campus in South Bend in the fall semester following your SLA summer.
Previous Recipients' Writings
Before 2024, SLA recipients were required to write public-facing blogs throughout their summer experiences. These are still useful for prospective students and can be accessed here.
Beginning in 2024, SLA recipients' reflective writings are privately submitted so that students can be more introspective and genuine without fear of judgement. If the CSLC wants to make public any of these reflections, the SLA participant/author will first need to give their permission to do so.