Modern Language Collection

Main Objectives:

To bring together second language research and teaching materials for the range of programs offered at all levels of instruction in the province of Ontario.

To provide a comprehensive database for the teaching and research work of the Modern Language Centre, as well as to provide information about and access to the research and learning materials developed in the MLC.

Who can borrow?

Please see the Circulation page under Borrower categories.

Where is the Modern Language Collection?

This Special Collection is situated on the east side of the second floor of the library.

Please note that some titles related to the study of second languages are located in other areas of the OISE Library. For example:

• Language curriculum guidelines are interfiled with other curriculum guidelines by subject and province, on the 3rd floor;
• Reference sources are housed in the reference section for in-house consultation, on the ground floor;
• Second-language journals are shelved alphabetically by title with the OISE journal collection, on the ground floor and at the concourse level.
• Videos for language teaching and professional development are shelved with the OISE video collection, on the ground floor; and
• Second-language education software is grouped with other educational software materials.

Always check the Call Number and Location columns of a record in order to easily find the material you need.

Search tips

All items in the Modern Language Collection are searchable in the University of Toronto's online catalogue. The location of each title is indicated by the call number followed immediately by OISE/UT MLC.

To find items located in the Modern Language Collection: Perform a default keyword search (containing, in any field) and add the code mlc to your search.
Example: code switching and mlc

Definite/indefinite articles in titles: Omit leading articles when searching, even for languages other than English.
Example: for Le petit prince, type petit prince. For The Handmaid’s Tale, type handmaids tale.

Accented & non-keyboard characters: Use the unaccented or nearest keyboard character(s).
Examples: é is replaced by e, ç is replaced by c.

To find materials in different media: Perform a default keyword search (containing, in any field) and add the applicable word from this list: videorecording, theses, dvd, game, kit, electronic resource, chart
Example: teacher training and dvd

Holdings

Languages:
The main languages represented in the Modern Language Collection are French (for core, extended and immersion programs), English (for English as a Second Language programs), Spanish, German and Italian.
The collection was developed to support both the theory and practice of second language teaching. Hence it consists of materials that support theory and praxis.

Theoretical materials:

• Second language acquisition;
• Theory, methodology and organization of second and minority language teaching;
• Testing and evaluation; and
• Language policy and planning.

Practical materials::

• Several languages represented;
• Multiple entry points (primary, secondary, university and adult education);
• Various levels of proficiency (beginner, intermediate and advanced);
• Various methods and approaches (e.g.: communicative, cooperative, content-based);
• Available in different categories and media (e.g.: readers, tests, multimedia courses, conversation manuals).
• Targeting specific skills (writing, oral, aural); and
• For specific purposes (e.g.: academic, workplace)

A Sampling of Information Sources

Periodical Indexes:
ERIC. The ERIC database contains bibliographic records of journal articles, research reports, conference papers, and teaching guides related to the practice of education. The ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics contributes the entries on all aspects of second-language instruction and learning in commonly and uncommonly taught languages.

Language Teaching. The International Abstracting Journal for Language Teachers and Applied Linguists. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
In addition to about 130 abstracts, each quarterly issue features a state-of-the-art survey article on an important aspect of language learning or teaching, followed by a very complete bibliography.

Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts (LLBA).
Bibliographic citations and nonevaluative abstracts of the world's literature in linguistics and related disciplines, dating back to 1974.

Series:
The ACTFL Foreign Language Education Series. Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook Company.
The ACTFL Review has been published annually since 1968 in conjunction with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign languages. Each volume focusses on a key issue affecting the foreign language teaching profession, e.g., national standards, definitions of proficiency, the role of media.

Annual Review of Applied Linguistics. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Published annually since 1980, each issue of ARAL is thematic, covering topics such as language policy, multiculturalism and language teaching technology by means of critical summaries, overviews and bibliographies.

Dictionaries:
Johnson, K. & Johnson H. (1998). The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Applied Linguistics for Language Teaching. Oxford: Blackwell.

Richards, J.C., Platt, J. & Platt, H. Longman. (1992). Dictionary of Language Teaching & Applied Linguistics. Harlow, Essex: Longman.

Encyclopedias and Handbooks:

Baker, C. (Ed.). (1998). Encyclopedia of Bilingualism and Bilingual Education. Clevedon, Avon: Multilingual Matters.

Corson, D. (Ed.). (1998). Encyclopedia of Language and Education. Norwell, MA: Kluwer Academic. 8 vol.

Language policy and political issues in education

Literacy

Oral discourse and education

Second language education

Bilingual education

Knowledge about language

Language testing and assessment

Research methods in language and education

Crystal, D. (1997). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Davies, A. & Elder, C. (Eds). (2004). The Handbook of Applied Linguistics. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Hinkel, E. (2005). Handbook of Research in Second Language Teaching. Mahwah, N.J.: L. Erlbaum Associates.

Kaplan, R.B. (2002). The Oxford Handbook of Applied Linguistics. New York: Oxford University Press.

Mesthrie, R. (Ed.). (2001). Concise Encyclopedia of Sociolinguistics. New York: Elsevier.

Spolsky, B. (Ed.). (1999). Concise Encylopedia of Educational Linguistics.Oxford: Elsevier.

Web Sites:
There are hundreds of web sites for second-language educators and learners. Two useful examples are:

Modern Language Centre, OISE/UT

Dave's ESL Café on the Web

For further information, please contact:
Mariana Jardim at 416-978-1948, or by email at: mariana.jardim@utoronto.ca