About L2TReC
The University of Utah’s Second Language Teaching and Research Center (L2TReC) is housed in the College of Humanities under the direction of Professor Devin Jenkins. The Center was approved by the Board of Regents on July 18, 2014.
L2TReC’s primary activities are in three areas: research, pedagogy, and outreach. It profiles the university’s unique strengths in foreign language education, coordinates with the Utah State Board of Education’s (USBE) foreign language initiatives, and provides a focal point for research in Second Language Acquisition (SLA). It works collaboratively with many other units on campus (e.g., Department of World Languages and Culture, Department of Linguistics, Asia Center, Latin American Studies, Middle East Center, and College of Education), with institutions of higher education around the state, and with K-12 via the USBE.
The Center hosts events and workshops on SLA research, curriculum development and assessment, and is a resource for the university and the community on foreign language education.
L2TReC brings together faculty researchers from across campus whose work shares a second language acquisition focus. It also sponsors student research on language acquisition and language teaching. The Center plays a prominent role in supporting the state-wide, legislatively funded dual immersion project in Utah, by promoting immersion research, educating pre- and in-service teachers, and assisting with immersion curriculum development.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides undergraduate students and faculty members the opportunity to work together on research or creative projects.
The ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview, or OPI, is a live 30 to 45-minute telephonic conversation between a trained, certified ACTFL tester and the candidate. The OPIc is an Internet-delivered test which provides valid and reliable oral proficiency testing on a large scale.