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LRC
Goethe Institute Collection |
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Resources for the General Public and Ann Arbor Community
Services available in the LRC (2nd Floor MLB): Although the primary mission of the UofM Language Resource Center is to serve, support and promote the study and instruction of foreign languages, cultures, and literatures at all levels within the University of Michigan community, the Main Center of the LRC is one of the many publicly accessible facilities at UofM. We regularly have drop-in visits from local high school students, alumni, faculty and staff from non-language departments, and people in search of additional resources. While a large number of resources are indeed restricted to individuals enrolled in or auditing UofM courses, a surprising amount of material is available to any walk-in user:
- Software : Several software packages are available for any LRC patron to use inside the LRC. [Non-UM visitors must request assistance from Front Desk Staff to log-in to computers.] Software is available for the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English as a Second Language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Kazak, Korean Portuguese, and Spanish. [n.b.: Some do require an accompanying CD to be checked out from the Front Desk.]
- Foreign Language Email, Web Surfing and Word Processing :The Macs and the PCs in the LRC offer a variety of browsers and other applications to send and receive email in foreign languages, surf the web for foreign language content, and type documents in a broad range of foreign languages.
- Audio : A wide variety of audio materials are available for use in the LRC facilities. These include audio materials accompanying texts, books on tape, music, poetry, lectures, and more.
- Video : Although the majority of the LRC large video collection is in closed stacks and restricted to UofM educational use, the LRC does purchase some items with public access/public performance rights. Please check our on-line catalogue or speak with our librarian for more information.
- Magazines, Books, Textbooks, and Self-Study Materials : The LRC maintains a growing collection of foreign language magazines, books, textbooks and self-study materials. These are available for public access within the LRC. Browse our catalogue for more information.Check the Home page "Quick Links" for LRC Collections.
- Satellite Television : The LRC receives over 60 international satellite TV channels in 22 languages and makes available 15 at a time for live viewing at LRC video stations and in our video viewing room. In addition, certain programs can be viewed across campus in public spaces on UMTV. Programming from Al Jazeera(Arabic) to ZeeTV(Hindi) with many, many different types of programs in between! Check the Home page "Quick Links" for Satellite Television
Other LRC Sites
Conversation Partners: find a conversation partner! UofM students and members of the surrounding Ann Arbor community to meet other people interested in foreign language conversation exchange. This exchange assumes willingness of reciprocity. (i.e. “I would like to converse in Russian and can offer English conversation in exchange.”)
LRC Language Information Site: Designed by students for students, this site is a students' guide to selecting a foreign language, learning more about foreign cultures, and providing assistance for studying languages. Comprehensive lists of the 45+ languages (and their home departments) are supplied as well as links to each department. In regard to language references, each language has its own page which includes information about the language, links to courses, study abroad info, culture and language clubs, and a wide variety of resource sites.
Digital Image Collections: “Images of Indonesia” and “Everyday Life in Thailand” are two exciting projects language faculty produced in collaboration with the LRC and the University’s Digital Library. Most photos can be used by the general public, even downloaded! [Watch for the Images of the Philippines – coming soon!!]
Yabla
Authentic French, Spanish, and English: Video Clips From Television, Film and Music! More information...
High School and Middle School Field Trips:
Each year the LRC provides a number of field trip experiences for high school and middle school language students in Southeast Michigan. A typical fieldtrip would be with 30 kids and chaperones who come to UofM for 2-3 hours and have hands-on experience of what it’s like to be a UofM language students. We target activities appropriate to age and language skills. Students can try different software, do video-chats and virtual treasure hunts, interview native speakers, talk to faculty, meet UofM students and learn about study abroad, have a Jeopardy game with vocabulary their working on in their class back at school and more. We can even arrange to have Admissions and Recruiting Officers come to answer questions and share application hints. Many teachers combine a visit to the LRC with other UM and Ann Arbor activities. [Note: Similar tours and hands-on experiences can be available to adult groups and clubs by special request.]
Workshops:
The LRC regularly offers and coordinates workshops on myriad topics to undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. While the target audience for these workshops are members of the UofM community, members of the public (particularly, local teachers and language students) are welcome to attend and participate, as room allows. Sessions are being added all the time. Go to Home and click on either of the workshop buttons “Workshops for Undergraduates” or “Workshops for Faculty and Grad Students”. [Please note: the LRC instructional technology staff is happy to organize teaching with technology workshops for language teachers from local schools and area institutions. Call the LRC Business Office for more information (764-0424).]
Foreign Language Affiliated Course Service
(Audio Cassettes, Audio CD's and Video Cassettes)The LRC, in conjunction with University of Michigan language faculty, have produced supplemental audio and video products that we offer for sale. Some of our products accompany textbooks, and some are stand-alone materials. More Information
Goethe Institute Collection
When the Goethe Institute of Ann Arbor closed it's doors in 1999, it donated it's library to the LRC to continue to offer access to the collection to the public. This small but rich collection is open to anyone in the community that is interested in German language and culture. We provide a shipping service for loans that are outside of the greater Michigan/Ohio area. More Information | Search Catalog
Teleconference Downlinks
The LRC can provide the downlink for your teleconference through UMTV. We also have the capacity to record the downlink for future use.
Schedule Teleconference
Downlink
Schedule Program Downlink
Lab Tours
As a part of the University's mission to provide outreach to the community, the LRC offers tours of our language lab to interested groups. We have entertained a group of local 5th graders, to a group of professors from a chinese university. If interested in arranging a tour, please contact us, (734) 764-0424.