Toward a Systems Approach in the Preparation of Spanish Teachers

Abstract

TO RELATE some of developments which one of foremost figures in 'application of a systems approach in foreign language education, Bela Banathy, defines a as deliberately designed entties, comprised of parts, which are interrelated and designed to interact in order to attain predetermined purposes.p' Thus a systems approach to teacher preparation involves entities such as college department of foreign languages and literatures, college of education, state department of education, professional societies (state and local), high schools and/or elementary schools, each cooperating in such a way so as to attain their predetermined purpose: preparation of a teacher to teach foreign languages effectively or to use today's jargon, able to manage learning in such a way as to induce students to learn foreign languages. The term system has been employed since World War II when industries became increasingly concerned with research and development in production of new products and improvement of existing ones. It is possible, although often objectionable to some, to compare undergraduate students in teacher preparation as new products which can be molded into an adequate product and in-service teachers as an example of an existing product in need of improvement. We may not like to think of college or university as a system, but we have all heard of the diploma mill and students do perceive college or university as some which they must enter, be ground around in, and pushed out other end-a raw product refined by system, churned around and dropped into society and foreign language class, hopefully prepared to do a job. As Banathy has pointed out, is product oriented, its products being educated man and knowledge produced through research.'2 Education can therefore be conceived of as a system. Students come from society (and t e home) into elementary educatio , and/or teacher training, through graduate education, and then may be turned b ck into society, for action for fi st time. All other options for leaving education and returning to outside world full time are possible, with return possibility at any level also available. E ucation as a functions within t realm of society. On other hand, education is composed of smaller elements or ubsystems such as elementary education, secondary education, teacher training, college or university education and adult or advanced professional education. Educated citizens represent output of educational system. The of education and each individual subsystem receive a feedback of information concerning their product in form of success or failure of learner in their society situation.