Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Word for word

A study by Bob McMurray of the University of Iowa says the rate at which toddlers learn new words is less dependent upon specialized mechanisms than it is upon simpler mechanisms like word repetition and learning a number of words at once—hence the “vocabulary explosion” at about the age of 18 months. Dr. Kathy Burriss, elementary and special education, says, “Infants’ and toddlers’ ability to develop vocabulary and fluency is about quality adult-child interactions; it is not about drilling flash cards or viewing expensive videos. Quality interactions refer to adults using relevant vocabulary and increasingly complex language with children.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2323.
kburriss@mtsu.edu

Bonjour!

Any student whose summer was no more exciting than spending endless hours lying by the pool frying to a crisp can prepare now for an unforgettable summer 2008. There’s no time like the present to register for the annual general education study abroad program in Cherbourg, France, which will run from June 2 to June 27. At this beautiful port town in the Normandy region of northwest France, students will experience the history, art and culture of the area. “With the general education program, a student can spend four weeks in Cherbourg and in Normandy, and they can begin studying French while they’re there if they choose to, but they don’t have to already know any French,” Dr. Anne Sloan, Assistant to the Provost for International Education, says.

Contact Sloan at 615-898-5091
asloan@mtsu.edu
or Jennifer Campbell, Director of International Education and Exchange, at 615-898-5179.
jjcampbe@mtsu.edu

Aw, shoot!

Local law enforcement officials nationwide say they are experiencing delays of two to six months in getting shipments of ammunition because military personnel who have been training to go to Iraq and Afghanistan have been draining ammo supplies nationwide. Carter F. Smith, criminal justice administration, says, “My thought is that they aren’t using the same type of ammunition, but that the manufacturer likely diverted resources for the war. We couldn’t produce enough water for watering our lawns if there was a drought (hypothetically speaking).” Sgt. Matt Young of the Sacramento Police Department says he has seen more delays in the .223 caliber round, which is used in M16s and SWAT officers’ MP5s. Young also says the price of ammo in general has gone up 40 to 50 percent.

Contact Smith at 615-898-2630.
carterfsmith@gmail.com

TR EXTRA

AUDIO AUGMENTATION--Give your kids a wholesome, fun extracurricular activity this school year. Enroll your child in the Youth Culture and Arts Center’s (YCAC) next recording workshop at MTSU. The current enrollment period is in effect through Sept. 7 for the upcoming Sept. 13-Oct. 12 workshop in MTSU’s John Bragg Mass Communication Building. The workshop is for youngsters ages 12-17, and the fee is $125 per student. Classes are taught by Ryan York, a 21-year-old MTSU student and teacher of guitar, bass, and drums lessons at Chambers Guitars and Musical Instruments in Murfreesboro. Ryan will provide instruction in cassette four-track instruction, digital eight-track, computer recording and electronic music. All proceeds will benefit YCAC, a program of Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities (YEAH), a nonprofit organization. Call 615-631-9479 or contact York at bororecording@gmail.com.

DIVERSITY IN THE GALLERY--A variety of faculty-created works—from mixed-media installations, printmaking and sculptures to paintings and graphic-design imagery—is on display now through TODAY in the Todd Gallery as part of the annual fall faculty art exhibition. Each year, one-half of the university’s art faculty members are invited to present new work to the MTSU campus and community at large. “This year’s faculty exhibit contains from 24 to 30 pieces,” says Dr. Lon Nuell, gallery curator. The gallery, which is located on the first floor of MTSU’s Todd Building, is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Admission is free, and the exhibit is open to the public. For more information, call 615-898-5653.