Mary Beth Raycraft Boston University

1. Project Startup:An innovative approach to developing communicative and global competence in the foreign language classroom (and beyond!) Mary Beth Raycraft Boston University

2. Boston University: 33,000 undergrads enrolled in 10 undergraduate schools • College of Arts and Science • Pardee School of Global Studies • College of Communication • College of Fine Arts • School of Hospitality • School of Engineering • Questrom School of Management • School of Education • School of Rehabilitative Medicine • College of General Studies

3. BU’s 28 languages American Sign Language African Languages: Amharic, Hausa, Igbo, Kinyarwanda, Pular, Swahili,Twi, Wolof, Xhosa, Zulu Classical Studies: Ancient and Modern Greek, Latin Modern Languages: Arabic, Chinese, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Russian, Turkish Romance Studies: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese

4. Outline • Description of 5th-semester course “French for the Professions” which incorporates the dynamic theme of the “start-up” • Suggestions for ways to integrate this theme into beginning and intermediate classes with sample activities • Ideas for better connecting with language departments and offices across campus to get the word out that “ language goes with everything”

5. French for the Professions (5th semester course) Weeks 1-4 Faire des affaires dans le monde francophone Doing business in the francophone world Focus on geography, stereotypes, business/cultural customs associated with France, Quebec and francophone Africa Guest speaker: Business executive who works in a French company in Boston

6. “Paris à tout prix” dir. ReemKherici, 2013

7. Weeks 5-8À la recherche d’un stageLooking for an internship Students explore internship opportunities via web postings and prepare : • an initial description of a company or organization that interests them • a culturally appropriate curriculum vitae • A cover letter • a mock interview script and presentation • a thank you letter

9. Guest speakers: • Coordinator of Paris Internship Program from BU Study Abroad • Center for Career Services Team does an interactive presentation regarding students’ past, current and future engagement on campus and beyond

10. “Ressourceshumaines”dir. Laurent Cantet, 2001

12. Weeks 10-14: la startup

13. Definition of startup: • a new business venture • a business working to solve a problem where the solution is not obvious and success is not guaranteed • a state of mind

14. Exploring the real world of startups • Brainstorming about connections between the startup idea and the culture • Exploring geographic, economic social, cultural factors as well as business practices in specific countries/regions • Investigating the successes and challenges of the company : via the startup website, articles in the press, youtube clips, startup competitions

15. Guest speaker: Professor from School of Management specializing in entrepreneurship • Presentation regarding the concept of the startup ecosystem and all of its components • Discussion of startup activity in Boston and other cities around the world • Suggestions for identifying and analyzing a specific startup as a focus for oral presentation/final paper • Suggestions for contacting startup founders/teams and exploring the BU startup lab

16. Boomalang: “Match.com meets Skype”

17. From idea to success

18. Accountants Attorneys Bus. Services Advisors Target Family Alumni Investors Incubators Mentors Angels Angel Groups You Accelerators Govt. Grants Competitions Universities

19. Startup hubs around the world: Business Insider’s list of the 20 hottest startup cities includes: • Barcelona • Beijing • Berlin • Mexico City • Montreal • Moscow • Paris • Sao Paulo • Tel Aviv

20. Paris startup: consumer-focused

21. Cameroun medical startup: Cardiopad

22. Arthur Zang, Inventor of Cardiopad

23. Quebec consumer startup: Sécuri-marche

24. “Dans l’oeil du dragon”

25. Regional Startup Events in France:

26. In Francophone Africa:

27. In Quebec:

28. Social Enterprise on a Global Scale: Kiva.org

29. Kiva Loan Cycle

30. Individual and group projects • Email message/interview with the founder/director of the chosen startup or Kiva entrepreneur • Research paper on the startup company with bibliography, including email correspondence with founder/startup team • Group presentation focusing on factors influencing startup culture in a particular region or country • Shark tank-style individual oral presentation/pitch to investors

31. Suggested startup activities for elementary or intermediate language classes • create a list of the top five startups in a region and discuss their similarities and differences • work on individual or small group presentations focusing on a specific startup • report on a “startup weekend” event or competition • do an email or skype interview with astartup founder • explore projects seeking funding: kiva.org

32. Reaching out across campus: Invited speakers • Center for Career Development in-class workshop in English regarding career exploration • Study Abroad representative presented an overview of study/internship abroad opportunities in francophone countries • School of Management entrepreneurship specialist presentation on the startup phenomenon and startup initiatives at Boston University and in the Boston area

33. Events: “Language goes with everything” Careers and foreign language alumni panel • Featured alums who are using language skills in Arabic, French, Japanese, Spanish and Wolof in their careers

35. Centralized foreign language website offering “one-stop shopping”

36. Language Learning at BU webpage: • All language departments • Language Center • Placement test information • Peer Tutoring/Language Link • Study Abroad • Globally Speaking Mini-Courses • Language Residences • Community Service Opportunities

37. Globally Speaking: Offering free 6-week mini language courses to students, faculty and staff

39. Global Café during summer orientation • Inviting incoming first-year and transfer students to meet faculty, ask questions about courses, study /internship abroad opportunities, meet leaders of student groups in an international setting with music an food

40. Fall Language Fair • Featuring representatives from all languages, student performances, international food, and a restaurant gift card giveaway

41. Language Fair

42. Future projects • Plans to collaborate with Study Abroad to do two alumni panels • internships abroad • programs for recent graduates to teach English abroad (TAPIF, Auxiliares, JET) • More collaboration with other undergraduate schools – School of Hospitality, School of Engineering in order to develop more specialized language courses that would appeal to those students • Exploring the possibility of embedding a mini Study Abroad trip within specific language courses. For example, weeklong-trip to Quebec for ‘French for the Professions”

43. Conclusions • The startup phenomenon stands at the nexus of different geographic, cultural, economic, and social factors and provides a dynamic way for students to explore language and culture. • Inviting guest speakers from other schools on campus allows for a fruitful intersection of ideas and sets the foundation for future collaborations. • Exposing students to campus resources, in particular Study Abroad and Career Services, allows them to better connect what they are doing in class with broader interests and career goals

44. Recommended websites: • www.kiva.org (Global social enterprise) • www.maddyness.com (French startup newsletter) • www.startupwestafrica.org (West African startups) • www.builtinmtl.com (Montreal startups) • www.barcinno.com (Barcelona startups) • www.eu-startups.com (European startups) • www.startupnoodle.com (Beijing startups) • www.techinasia.com (Japan startups)

45. Thanks! • Questions? • Suggestions?