What can we help you with?
Why the LSRC?
Language Resources
Resources for All Languages
Dictionaries
American Sign Language Resources
Arabic Language Resources
Dictionaries
News
Additional Resources
- Arabic Grammar Videos – Lang Media
- Arabic Alphabet – Arab Academy
- Arabic Resources including resources for Al-kitaab and Alif Baa from UW-M
Chinese Language Resources
Dictionaries
News
Additional Resources
Classical Studies Language Resources
Dictionaries
Additional Resources
French Language Resources
Dictionaries
- Dictionnaire Electronique des Synonymes (DES)
- Dictionnaire de français Littré
- Le Dictionnaire
- Dictionnaire de la langue française
News
Additional Resources
Ortholud (Grammar Activities for Beginners)
French Learner Grammar
German
Dictionaries
News
Additional Resources
Russian
Dictionaries
News
Additional Resources
- The Russian Dictionary Tree – Cornell University
- Russian: An Online Interactive Reference Grammar
Spanish
Dictionaries
- The Free Dictionary by Farlex
- Word Reference – Spanish
- Real Academia Española
- Origen de las Palabras (Diccionario Etimológico)
- Linguee Spanish-English
News
Additional Resources
Reservations
Laptop Cart
Instructors can reserve room the MacBook laptop cart for use in their classroom by clicking the reservation button below and filling out the form.
iPad Cart
Instructors can reserve room the iPad cart for use in their classroom by clicking the reservation button below and filling out the form.
Virtual Reality Cart
Instructors can reserve room the Virtual Reality cart for use in their classroom by clicking the reservation button below and filling out the form.
One Button Studio (3228B)
Instructors and students can the One Button Studio by clicking the reservation button below and filling out the form.
Note: Instructor reservations may take priority over student reservations if there is a conflict in reservation times. In this case, we will strive to offer an alternative space for those whose reservation was bumped. In any case, you will be notified via email.
Conference Room Reservation (3142B)
Instructors and students can reserve room 3142B by clicking the reservation button below and filling out the form.
Note: Instructor reservations may take priority over student reservations if there is a conflict in reservation times. In this case, we will strive to offer an alternative space for those whose reservation was bumped. In any case, you will be notified via email.
Checkout policies
STUDENT CHECKOUT POLICIES
Students can check out materials (books, films, CDs) and limited technology equipment. Standard checkout for students is 24 hrs for technology and 7 days for books, films, or CDs. Because of the potential demand for technology equipment checkout, checkout periods for more than 24 hours must be approved by the LSRC director. Items may be recalled by the LSRC director at any time with a 24-hour return notice if another person has requested the item.
When students checkout an item they will be required to fill out a checkout form which requires students to provide their name and ISU ID and a signature. The form is an agreement between the student and the LSRC that the student will return the borrowed item back to the LSRC on the date listed on the form. Failure to return items on time will result in a late fee charged to the student’s university bill. In addition, if the item or items are not returned in working condition or are not returned at all the student authorizes the LSRC to charge the estimated value of the item as listed on the agreement form to the student’s university bill.
Currently the LSRC does not allow students to check out laptops or iPads for use outside the LSRC. In addition, items placed on reserve by faculty cannot be checked out for use outside of the the LSRC. Students can request to use these items or any other item within the LSRC in exchange for their ISU ID card. Items used within the LSRC (3142 Pearson) do not require students to sign a checkout form. When the student is done using the item in the LSRC, they can return the item to the front desk in exchange for their ID card.
Questions regarding these policies may be directed to the LSRC Director, Jacob E. Larsen.
FACULTY CHECKOUT POLICIES
Faculty can check out any materials or equipment. Standard checkout is 1 day for technology and a week for materials (books, CDs, films). Faculty may request to check out technology equipment for a semester, however these requests must be approved by the LSRC director in advance. In general, books and films may not be checked to faculty for longer than a week without prior approval from the LSRC director. Any items checked out for an extended period of time may be recalled by the LSRC at any time if another faculty member has requested the item.
Faculty agree by checking out an item that the item will be returned on time and in working condition. Failure to return items on time will result in a warning. Multiple warnings can result in loss of checkout privileges. Items not returned in working condition or lost items will be replaced at the faculty member’s expense.
Faculty who have placed items on reserve may request to borrow the item for use in class without having to checkout the item. Items on reserve may only be removed from the LSRC during the time they will be used in class and must be returned to reserve at the end of the class period unless approved in advance by the LSRC director.
Questions regarding these policies may be directed to the LSRC Director, Jacob E. Larsen.
Work in the LSRC
We are currently 8 undergraduate student assistants (SAs), one Graduate Assistant (GA), and one Director in the Language Studies Resource Center (LSRC) in the Department of World Languages and Cultures (WLC) who manage a large library of books, movies, audio and technology resources that are used to support the instructors and students in the department. We are looking for three new student assistants to join our team.
The LSRC acts as the prime learning materials resource for faculty and students in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. In addition, we help departmental IT support address faculty and student classroom technology issues. Our SAs quickly get to know faculty, students, and staff in the department and are very valued for their skills and service. We offer a calm and quiet, interesting, multicultural, and professional work environment with the opportunity for professional and personal development. You will have the opportunity to learn and practice a variety of skills such as customer service, technology troubleshooting, faculty support, and library cataloging. Yearly performance evaluations focus on skills development and how to best transition and present skills learned at the LSRC to your post-graduation life.
NOTE: We are currently hiring for four student assistant positions to start in Fall 2021. Interested candidates should submit the two application documents at the end of this page by March 24th, 2021.
Successful candidates will be friendly, open and curious individuals who like to work with people and who have an interest in languages and cultures and learning new skills. Applicants who possess one or more of the following skills and abilities will have an advantage:
- Knows one or more languages and/or cultures besides English – particularly Chinese, French, German, Russian, Spanish, and American Sign Language
- Is a student of Anthropology
- Has an interest in language learning or linguistics
- Has experience with computer hardware and software, such as technology troubleshooting and super user proficiency with both Mac and Windows PC computers, as well as mobile devices
We value attention to detail and an organized approach to handling tasks and duties. Due to the training we need to provide applicants with and the skills that are best acquired over a period of time, we prefer applicants who are able to work a minimum of 5 hours per week up to a maximum of around 10-12 hours, depending on need, during regular semesters. A reduced number of summer hours may also be available as the LSRC stays open during the summer.
Applicants who are hired will be expected to undergo 8-12 hours of paid training before the end of the Spring 2021 semester. A full work schedule with 5 – 10 hours of work per week will start with the beginning of the Fall 2021 semester.
If you are a good team player, organized, detail oriented and dedicated, we invite you to apply.
Typical work tasks:
- Tracking and cataloging learning materials including books, movies, and equipment.
- Assisting patrons with technology troubleshooting, including smart TVs, projectors, software applications, printing and scanning
- Assisting patrons with reserving materials, equipment, and facilities, including conference rooms
- Familiarizing yourself with a selection of LSRC materials in order to provide informed suggestions for LSRC patrons for viewing and reading materials
- Manually tracking daily activities within the LSRC
- Educational technology project work including research and equipment evaluation and recommendations
- Faculty and student assistance and educational technology training
- Educational technology hardware and software research
- Other duties as assigned
Other potential projects and work tasks may involve working with the LSRC Director and other student assistants on organizing student events and managing project communication with faculty and/or students.
For more information about the LSRC, visit our website: https://language.iastate.edu/lsrc/.
To apply, please download and fill out the forms below, then email them to the LSRC Director, Dr. Jacob E. Larsen at jlarsen@iastate.edu.
LSRC Student Assistant Application Part 1 – Qualifications
LSRC Student Assistant Application Part 2 – Availability chart
Vision
The Language Studies Resource Center (LSRC) embraces the University’s and Department’s common goal of developing culturally informed and linguistically competent global citizens. In order to do so, the LSRC will commit efforts to support and improve the learning and teaching of languages, literatures, and cultures at ISU. Such efforts will be informed by research in applied linguistics, language learning pedagogy and instructional technology. It will be supported by the creation of flexible learning environments that enhance learning through social interaction and the integration of relevant technologies.
Mission
The mission of the Center is to provide students and faculty with the specific resources and services that will improve the quality of their language learning and teaching experiences online, in the ISU classroom, and in the LSRC facilities. The LSRC will fulfill its mission by:
- validating language learning across the curriculum and raising awareness of the complexity and value of language studies;
- promoting awareness of the centrality of the study of languages, literatures, and cultures in the achievement of the university and department’s common goal of developing culturally informed global citizens;
- providing resources, expertise and support for the learning and teaching of world languages, literatures, and cultures;
- supporting the meaningful integration of technology into world language learning and teaching;
- facilitating faculty development and research in the area of technology integration;
- functioning as an extension of the classroom;
- functioning as an incubator for innovative technology-enhanced instructional projects;
- interacting and collaborating with other campus units.
STANDARD HOURS
Fall and Spring Semester:
Monday – Thursday: 8am – 8pm
Friday: 8am – 5pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 12pm – 5pm
Summer Semester:
Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm
Closed Saturday and Sunday
HOLIDAY HOURS
In general, the LSRC is closed during Winter Break, Spring Break and all University Holidays. The hours above list any exceptions.
DIRECTOR
Jacob E. Larsen
3142A Pearson Hall
505 Morrill Rd
Ames, IA 50011
515-294-1551
jlarsen@iastate.edu