Fundamentals of Domain Analysis Research:
An Evidence-Based Approach to Develop LSP Assessments and Curricula
Summer Mini-Course: May 26-July 3, 2025
Online meetings: Wednesdays, 11am-12:30pm
LSP courses prepare language learners to function in a wide variety of real-world professional domains. Designing an effective course requires that the specific knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) needed to function in the domain are identified and defined. In this mini-course, you will learn how to conduct domain analysis research that results in the development of key KSAs and an accompanying design blueprint for a given proficiency level. This matrix will form the basis upon which you create assessments and ultimately reverse design an aligned curriculum. Limited to 15 participants.
Taught fully online; Weekly synchronous sessions Wednesdays, 11:00am-12:30pm CDT
- Identify different domain components and evaluate their importance, relevance, and role in the target domain
- Write specific, measurable, attainable, and realistic research questions for each domain component
- Develop appropriate data collection methods, tools, and protocols
- Develop data analysis strategies, tools, and procedures for each data set
- Learn how to develop a language knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) matrix for a given proficiency level
- Learn how to use the KSA matrix to write domain-specific target functions for each language skill at a given proficiency level
Cost & Cancellation Policies
- Registration: $1,000
- Graduate students can register $750; contact languages@uchicago.edu with proof of graduate student status for discount code.
Cancellation policy:
- 14 days or more before course begins: full refund. Between 13 to five days before course begins: 90% refund. Less than five days before course begins: no refund.
Target Audience
Participants will be Languages for Specific Purposes scholars & educators who want to design and develop evidence-based, research-driven courses and programs in any specific purpose area* in any language.
*A specific purpose area is anything that falls outside of general first- and second-year language education, for which ACTFL and CEFR have already provided evidence-based standards, proficiency levels, tests, etc.
About the Instructor
Darcy Lear has a PhD in foreign and second language education from the Ohio State University and an MA in Spanish literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She regularly teaches, publishes, and presents in her specialty area of languages for specific purposes. Courses developed for the University of Chicago include an intermediate survey course, Spanish for the Professions (SPAN 20304), and a course for the law school, Spanish for Public Interest Law in the U.S. (the latter with support from the University of Chicago Language Center to conduct domain analysis research, write tests, and develop the curriculum). Her books include the pedagogical guide Integrating Career Preparation into Language Courses from Georgetown University Press and the introductory Spanish textbook Conéctate (with Grant Goodall) from McGraw-Hill Education.
Questions?
If you have any questions about our mini-courses, contact languages@uchicago.edu.