Bilingual Programs 2016

[combustiblecake]

Hi everyone,

I used to be a frequent member of these boards during my last two years of college. I graduated in May 2015, and a lot has happened since then. I'm currently in the south of France, studying for the GRE, as my scores weren't hot (V:150, Q: 143, AW: 4.0). To be fair, I didn't study due to my heavy course load. My main interest is bilingual programs (mostly Spanish, but can also confidently work with French clients!) since this is the population I would like to work on. It looks like more and more schools are looking into opening bilingual programs, so the list seems to change every year. I'm applying during the 2016-2017 cycle. Any other users here interested in this field? What bilingual programs are you applying to?

I'm thinking: Indiana University, University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Arizona & University of New Mexico. 

I'm also curious for those who are interested in technology integration in therapy sessions. Anybody here also does coding? Or made any apps for SLPs/clients with language disorders?

[alexagrace]

Hi there!

I currently go to the University of Arizona and I'm in the bilingual program. I'm also working in a neurolinguistics lab here at the University of Arizona and I had a minor in French, so it sounds like we have at least a little bit in common!  (Also is your icon from xxxHolic?)

Do you have any specific questions about the program? This year, it's sort of being revamped so I might not have all the answers for you, but I can do my best!

I'm really interested in what you mentioned about technology integration in therapy though (I'm assuming that you don't mean AAC either, right?), I wish that I had the coding knowledge to do something like that. I think a lot of the professors here would be interested in that. I would often suggest various iPad applications to use for therapeutic purposes, such as creating narratives with drag-and-drop pictures and whatnot, but nothing like making an app myself!

[combustiblecake]

@alexagrace Tbh, I honestly thought nobody would ever get the reference... there's very few geeky SLPs out there!

 

How's the bilingual program? Are the clinical placements good, do you have both young and old bilingual clients? Is it only Spanish? 

Neurolinguistics is actually one of the research topics I'm wanting to follow! (I've even considered eventually doing a PhD). May I ask, what topics within that field are available? Bilingual neurolinguistics would be like a dream for me :3

Yeah, I mean creating apps that would be useful for therapy. SLPs, in my view, should be involved in that process especially when children are so involved in technology. I've also read about the communication benefits of Minecraft and how there are servers for autism populations to play/communicate in. I find this really interesting as well

 

I hope I haven't overwhelmed you with questions!

[alexagrace]

@waitwhichgaby

Haha, tell me about it! Sometimes it can be a bit of a bummer to not have many similar interests among the other people in my cohort, but it's something that I've just had to get used to... /sigh It can be especially hard, because I always have spent a lot of time in online communities and I often hear people giving online friendships and time spent online a bad rap. </3

 

At the University of Arizona, I'd say that the bilingual program is still very much in development. It was run by a separate professor in the years prior to us, and they just hired someone new this year. Right now, I'm on the bilingual evaluation team and it's been a great (and challenging!) experience. So far, all but one of the evaluated clients have been children. That said, I know that we do have both adult and child bilingual clients!

To get the certificate, you must accumulate at least 75 contact hours with culturally and linguistically diverse populations. However, it's not yet been made clear whether those hours must be delivered, in part or in whole, in a language other than English. That's one of the big kinks that I think will be worked out over the next year, and should be smoothed out by the time you would apply.  In addition to the 75 hours, it involves taking the department's class on Bilingualism, a phonetics/phonology course in another language at the graduate level, and an elective course outside of the department related to bilingualism and/or multiculturalism. Dr. Fabiano-Smith, who teaches the bilingualism class, is amazing!

I should note that the clinic will try to prioritize giving bilingual clients to those enrolled in the bilingual program. However, there is no specific placement other than bilingual evaluation that is all bilingual clients. (I hope what I said makes sense...haha!) 

Going to your neurolinguistics question...I'm not quite sure! My instructor in my lab is actually leaving this May, so it won't be there anymore, unfortunately. </3 Dr. Fabiano is the only professor at the UA that studies bilingual populations, but her focus is on phonological disorders and I think, researching and advocating for policy change? Which is very much needed in Arizona, let me tell you, haha.

 

As for the apps, I think that technology and online communities are a really great means for expanding communication and I feel very strongly about it. I definitely advocate for using it as a means to help clients, but I've kind of found that a lot of professors and classmates have negative preconceptions about social communication and the internet. I admit that I may be biased due to my experience growing up and even now, where social anxiety makes it hard for me to express myself face-to-face and and I've found great comfort in both the extra time and anonymity that the internet has provided for me. If you have any academic papers that you could send my way about this topic, I'd love to read them! 

Anyway, enough rambling...  I hope I addressed at least some of your questions?

[SLPwestcoast]

On March 19, 2016 at 3:48 PM, waitwhichgaby said:

Hi everyone,

I used to be a frequent member of these boards during my last two years of college. I graduated in May 2015, and a lot has happened since then. I'm currently in the south of France, studying for the GRE, as my scores weren't hot (V:150, Q: 143, AW: 4.0). To be fair, I didn't study due to my heavy course load. My main interest is bilingual programs (mostly Spanish, but can also confidently work with French clients!) since this is the population I would like to work on. It looks like more and more schools are looking into opening bilingual programs, so the list seems to change every year. I'm applying during the 2016-2017 cycle. Any other users here interested in this field? What bilingual programs are you applying to?

I'm thinking: Indiana University, University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Arizona & University of New Mexico. 

I'm also curious for those who are interested in technology integration in therapy sessions. Anybody here also does coding? Or made any apps for SLPs/clients with language disorders?

Portland State University has a great bilingual program!  And I think Cal State Long Beach or Fullerton does too.  

[Jolie717]

8 hours ago, SLPwestcoast said:

Portland State University has a great bilingual program!  And I think Cal State Long Beach or Fullerton does too.  

Long Beach does for sure - also University of Oregon is planning to start one next year I believe.  

[luckyclover]

Hi! Just saw this post and felt really excited that there is someone else who's interested in bilingualism and coding/apps as well! I was learning to code for a while but had to put that on hold because of time constraints due to grad school applications/GRE's/school.

There are a lot of programs in New York City offering or starting to offer the bilingual extension program. Teacher's College is well known for it's bilingual extension program and based on their website information, they integrate technology into their treatments (via teletherapy...not sure about using actual apps). Other programs in the area that are starting to offer bilingual extension are Lehman College, Brooklyn College, and Long Island University. If you are interested in working with the Spanish-speaking population, I think NYC will be a great location for you as NYC is very diverse and has a large Latino community. 

How long have you been coding? How have you been learning (e.g. online courses, books, etc.)? And what are you interested in creating?

[julianorts]

On 3/20/2016 at 11:35 PM, alexagrace said:

Hi there!

I currently go to the University of Arizona and I'm in the bilingual program. I'm also working in a neurolinguistics lab here at the University of Arizona and I had a minor in French, so it sounds like we have at least a little bit in common!  (Also is your icon from xxxHolic?)

Do you have any specific questions about the program? This year, it's sort of being revamped so I might not have all the answers for you, but I can do my best!

I'm really interested in what you mentioned about technology integration in therapy though (I'm assuming that you don't mean AAC either, right?), I wish that I had the coding knowledge to do something like that. I think a lot of the professors here would be interested in that. I would often suggest various iPad applications to use for therapeutic purposes, such as creating narratives with drag-and-drop pictures and whatnot, but nothing like making an app myself!

Hey I know this is an old post, but I'm currently (like literally right now) working on my application for University of Arizona. They've been on my list for a while due to their bilingual certificate program and their 3 year track. As I'm doing extra research for my personal statement, I'm realizing something: do you not have to apply separately for the program/prove you are bilingual at all? I can't find any information on separate admission into the program- am I correct or am I missing something? All my other programs that have bilingual programs require a separate application and proof of Spanish proficiency level. Thanks so much!!!

[thespeechblog.com]

I'm at UNM in the bilingual track, and I am loving it. I'd be happy to answer any questions about it!