Dear Jiancheng,
To bring you up to date, Zhao
Chunmei (Karen), editor here at the FLTRP complex, has been diligently
translating my current suggestions for implementing the pilot study. I will
send you what we have so far, sometime later next week. My reasons for
commissioning her were: (1) To save you time having to do it before you talk to
colleagues who don’t speak English, and (2) to get someone here at FLTRP to fully
understand my overall intentions. I have also asked the house to issue a Letter
of Intent (that they will publish and disseminate the findings) and also, under
separate cover, give me an agreement to act as my agent for distributing each
year’s new learning corpora.
Unfortunately, my room here
at the FLTRP hotel does not have Internet access so I am at the mercy of
kindness at the research offices. However, I do get to access emails sent to tests@mindspring.com.
Jiancheng, my main reasons
for contacting you today are (1) to get a firm commitment that you wish to be
the first to research whether “E:P:N classrooms and the use of C-tests” do,
indeed, increase both student motivation and (English) language production, and
(2) whether you wish to have a second university in on the pilot. If so, please
comment as to whether that second university should be here in
Feng Lili in
I have not as yet contacted
anyone here at BFSU with decision-making power, though Grace Shuhua (graceshuhua@sina.com) would like me to.
The obvious reason: once you confirm your leadership intent, it should be up to
you to decide whom we invite into the first round of data collection. One
advantage of having more than one university to start with, is that (1) we role
model the communicative approach, and (2) on completion of Phase One, each simply
needs to bring in only one other (whom they are willing to help get started) to
continue with phases 2, 3, and 4 in order to have a meaningful study to share
with the world.
In fact, let’s try to do everything
in multiples of three from the start. That’s how the universe has done it ever
since its evolution into complex forms. In its macrocosmic form it is in utter
chaos, but at the atomic level, it has managed to role model expertly how to
create stability . . . and not through forced sameness, but through balanced
diversity.
If research turns out to
prove that the laws of physics do not extend into the realms of language-learning
and psychology, we have lost nothing. However, if the research turns out
positive, we have provided a new vehicle for implementing the communicative
approach that will lend itself to virtually all levels of task-based activities
in all institutions and at all levels of learning. If you have doubts, look at
the group picture. Don’t you stand out as the best man to spearhead such a
project? I certainly think so! J
In earnest, on anything of
this magnitude, one needs to follow one’s higher instincts. I did. And I am now
committed to this project for life (as the leader’s best “right hand”).
To success!
Kore via, (heartily yours)
Joe
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