The University of Minnesota’s Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) has received its eighth round of funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI Language Resource Centers (LRC) program, totaling more than $750,000 over the next four years.

The purpose of the competitive Title VI LRC grant program is to establish, strengthen and operate centers to improve the nation’s capacity for teaching foreign languages.

CARLA is one of only 16 centers in the country funded by the prestigious program.

During the funded period of 2022–2026, CARLA will launch exciting new projects and build on existing initiatives to improve language teaching, including: 

• Strengthen language teachers’ understanding of multiliteracies pedagogy by creating a database of instructional activities and enactment videos with a special emphasis on less commonly taught languages.
• Carry out a multi-year program of research and materials development to support secondary dual language and immersion education.
• Research student and teacher learning in social justice classrooms.
• Provide professional development to support teacher understanding and application of social justice pedagogies.
• Support and promote equitable access to State Seals of Biliteracy.
• Sponsor the 12th International Language Teacher Education Conference at the U of M in Spring 2024.
• Improve language program evaluation in K-12 and postsecondary institutions.

In addition, CARLA will use the new funding to enhance its extensive website of free resources for language teaching and learning, and expand its internationally-known annual summer institute program and workshop series for language educators.

“We are honored to be able to build on the work that has made CARLA a household name in the language education community in Minnesota and across the nation,” said CARLA Director Kate Paesani. “We are passionate about creating innovative, teacher-friendly resources and professional development programs that meet the needs of 21st century language education. This new cycle of funding will give us the opportunity to extend and deepen the impact of CARLA’s work on K-16 language teachers and their students.”

Associate Vice President and Dean of International Programs Meredith McQuaid sees CARLA’s work as a critical aspect of the University’s commitment to internationalization.

“CARLA’s outstanding work in providing professional development to language teachers supports our goals to internationalize the teaching, research and outreach mission of the University," said McQuaid. "When empowered to do their best work, language teachers can support and deepen our students’ journey to becoming global citizens.”  

About the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, University of Minnesota
CARLA was created in 1993 and is housed in the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance at the University of Minnesota. The Center actively collaborates with faculty and staff from both the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Education and Human Development, and regularly partners with a wide network of state and national organizations and institutions. Learn more at: https://z.umn.edu/CARLA-LRC.