UROP Project
second language acquisition, language teaching, psycholinguistics
Research Mentor: raflemming@fsu.edu Rachel Flemming, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Modern Languages and Linguistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: raflemming@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Modern Languages and Linguistics, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: raflemming@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to All
Spanish
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Linguistics
Psychology
Education
Statistics
Communication Science & Disorders
International Affairs
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 2-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to All
Spanish
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Linguistics
Psychology
Education
Statistics
Communication Science & Disorders
International Affairs
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 2-10,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Not participating in the Roundtable
Project Description
This project explores the effect of second language instruction methods on language acquisition outcomes. In particular, it compares the effects of input-based instruction (listening/reading) and output-based instruction (speaking/writing) on the acquisition of a particular grammar form in Spanish (direct object pronouns). Critically, the effectiveness of these methods will be assessed using four different tasks designed to get at changes in the mental representation of this grammatical form in the learner's cognitive system. A secondary research question is whether the learner's proficiency level at the time of treatment affects the outcomes of these instructional interventions. This project will help to inform second language instructional methods so that classroom-based learning can become more effective. This is a dissertation research project.Research Tasks: - Materials development (final stages, piloting programs, checking for errors, etc.)
- Participant recruitment and scheduling
- Data collection in lab (collecting consent forms, running subjects treatment programs (language learning modules), data collection (automated programs or simple assessments, depending on abilities)
- Data cleaning and statistical analysis
- Updating literature review (post 2023)
- Proofreading publication drafts
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Communication (required)
Interpersonal skills (required)
General computer literacy (required)
Proofreading (required)
Spanish (recommended, but not necessary for most tasks)
Excel (recommended)
Mentoring Philosophy
The overarching objective of my mentorship philosophy is to foster curiosity and investment by inviting my mentees into my area of expertise and share the knowledge and skills I have been able to obtain. Where my experience and knowledge are limited, I encourage mentees to learn with me, helping them to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. I recognize that not all mentees will share my enthusiasm for linguistics, but I believe the skills mentees can gain from this type of work will be applicable to a broad range of research-intensive fields.To help students develop these skills, I strive to identify their own research goals and to tailor their tasks to build competence and confidence in these areas. My role involves engaging them in critical thinking, prompting them to question assumptions and analyze research relevant to their field and beyond. It is also to help them learn how to plan out and implement large projects. I emphasize the importance of mastering goal-setting, communication, effective writing, editing, and basic statistical analysis. These skills are crucial across disciplines and can significantly enhance a mentee’s versatility and career prospects.
I enjoy sharing insights from my research experience and encouraging questions about the research process. My hope is that mentees perceive us as collaborators and feel assured of my investment in their research journey. By integrating communication, openness, and curiosity into my mentorship, I aim to empower mentees to develop their potential and find fulfillment in their professional pursuits.