Robert Blake

PROFILE

Director, Summer Workshop on Technology and E/LE in Salamanca, Spain:  Taller de tecnología ELE

Robert J. Blake (Ph.D. University of Texas) is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Spanish at UC Davis.  He was the founding director of the UC Language Consortium (http://uccllt.ucdavis.edu) from 2000 to 2010, during which time he directed the production of system-wide online courses for Arabic and Punjabi with funding from FIPSE.  He has published widely in Spanish linguistics (diachrony, syntax, and applied linguistics) and computer-assisted language learning (CALL).  In 2008, Georgetown University Press published his book Brave New Digital Classroom; with a second edition released in 2013 and, now, a much revised third edition available in Fall 2019.  He also co-authored a book on applied linguistics, El español y la lingüística aplicada, published by Georgetown University Press in 2016.  He has developed four online first- and second-year Spanish courses regularly offered to students on all the UC campuses.  He teaches courses in History of the Spanish Language, Technology and Foreign Language Learning, Applied Linguistics, and Spanish Syntax.  In Fall 2013, he was a visiting professor at the Universidad de Salamanca as part of their Catedra de altos estudios del español and helped establish a graduate student exchange with the International Center for Spanish at Salamanca.   In 2004, he became a member of the North American Academic of the Spanish Language, making him a corresponding member of the Royal Spanish Academy.  In the department, he has been a member of the graduate committee since 1992 and served as chair twice during the 90´s..  

EDUCATION AND DEGREE(S)

• Ph.D., Hispanic Linguistics, University of Texas, Austin
• M.A., Spanish Literature, Middlebury College
• B.A., Major: Spanish, Minor: Economics, U.C.L.A.

RESEARCH INTEREST(S)

• Spanish linguistics (history and syntax)
• Second Language Acquisition
• Technology and language learning
• Foreign language policy
• Computer-Assisted Language Instruction (CALL) and distance learning
• History of the Spanish language
• Spanish syntax

COURSE(S) TAUGHT

• Spanish 112
• Spanish 115
• Spanish 116
• Spanish 206
• Spanish 207
• Spanish 215

COMMITTEES AND SERVICE

• --Member of the North American Academy of Spanish, since 2004
• --Corresponding Member of the Royal Spanish Academy, since 2004
• Vice President, CALICO, 2012

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

[38] 2016. Blake, Robert J. and Eve Zyzik. El español y la lingüística aplicada. Georgetown, D.C.:  Georgetown University Press.

[37] 2013. Blake, Robert J. Brave New Digital Classroom: Technology and Foreign Language Learning. Georgetown, D.C.:  Georgetown University Press.

[36] 2012. Blake, Robert J. and K. Bilinski Arispe. Individual Factors and Successful Learning in a Hybrid Course. System Journal, 40 (3):  449-465.

[35] 2010. Blake, Robert J. "Best Practices in Online Learning:  Is it for everyone?" In F. Rubio & J. Thoms (eds) Hybrid Language Teaching and Learning:  Exploring Theoretical, Pedagogical and Curricular Issues. Boston: Cengage/Heinle.  10-26.

[34] 2012. Blake, Robert J. and C. Colombi.  La enseñanza del español para hispanohablantes:  Un currículum universitario.  In D. Dumitrescu (ed.).   El español en Estados Unidos: ‘E pluribus unum’? Enfoques multidisciplinarios.  New York: Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española.  290-306.

[33] 2012. Blake, Robert J. and S. Shiri.  Online Arabic Language Learning:  What Happens After?  L2 Journal, 4: 230-246.

[32] 2012. Blake, Robert J. and C. Sanchez Lancis.   De los sos oios tan fuerte mientre lorando:  Un cambio sintáctico examinado a través de un corpus digitalizado.  Scriptum Digital, 1, 137-161.  

[31] 2011. Blake, Robert J.  Homo ludens, los vídeojuegos y las TIC.  Actas del IV congreso de FIAPE IV: La enseñanza del español en un mundo intercultural. Jornadas pedagógicas. Santiago de Campostela, Spain. 

[30] 2011. Blake, Robert J. “Current Trends in Online Language Learning.” Annual Review in Applied Linguistics, 31: 19-35.

[29] 2010. Blake, Robert J.  “The Use of Technology for Second Language Distance Learning.” Modern Language Journal, 93(5):822-837. 

[28] 2009. Blake, Robert J. and G. Lee. “MOCA:  análisis de corpus en línea en un contexto histórico.” In A. Enrique-Arias (ed.),  Diacronía de las lenguas iberorromances:  nuevas perspectivas desde la lingüística de corpus.  Frankfurt/Madrid:  Vervuert/Iberoamericana, 329-343.

[27] 2008. Blake, Robert J., Nicole Wilson, Cristina Pardo Ballester, and María Cetto. “Measuring Oral Proficiency in Distance, Face-to-Face, and Blended Classrooms.” Language Learning and Technology, 12(3):114-127. http://llt.msu.edu/vol12num3/blakeetal/>.

[26] 2008. Blake, Robert J. New Trends in Using Technology in the Foreign-Language Curriculum. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 27, 76-97.

[25] 2008. Blake, Robert J. Brave New Digital Classrooms: Technology and Foreign-Language Learning. Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.

[24] 2008. Blake, Robert J. “Distance Learning for Second and Foreign Language Teaching.” In N. Van Deusen-Scholl and N.H. Hornberger (Eds). Encyclopedia of Language and Education: Second and Foreign Language Education, 2nd edition, vol. 4. Heidelberg: Springer. 365-376.

[23] 2007. Blake, Robert J. and Claire Kramsch. “Perspectives Volume: National Language Educational Policy.” In B. Lafford & R. Salaberry (Eds). The Modern Language Journal , 91 (2). 247-283.

[22] 2007. Blake, Robert J. and Ann Delforge. “Online language learning: The case of Spanish Without Walls .” In B. Lafford & R. Salaberry (Eds). The Art of Teaching Spanish: Second Language Acquisition from Research to Praxis. Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. 127-147.

[21] 2006. Blake, Robert J. “Two Heads Better Than One: C[omputer] M[ediated] C[ommunication] for the L2 Curriculum.” Randall Donaldson and Margaret A. Haggstrom (eds). Changing Language Education Through CALL. London: Routledge. 229-248.

[20] 2005. Blake, Robert. "The pronunciation of h- and f- in bilingual Spanish/Arabic treaties from the 13th c." In Roger Wright (Ed.). Studies on Ibero-Romance Linguistics dedicated to Ralph Penny. London, Támesis. 75-83.

[19] 2003. Blake, Robert with Eve Zyzik. “Who’s Helping Whom: Learner/Heritage-Speakers’ Networked Discussion in Spanish.” Applied Linguistics 24(4): 519-544.

[18] 2002. Blake, Robert, María Victoria González Pagani, Alicia Ramos, and Martha Marks. Al corriente, 4th ed. San Francisco: McGraw-Hill, Inc. [Internet lessons]

[17] 2002. Blake, Robert and Máximo Torreblanca. "La apócope de la -e en la época medieval." Actas del V Congreso de la Asociaciónde la Historia de la Lengua Española . Madrid: Gredos., 431-442.

[16] 2002. Blake, Robert and Javier Blasco. Tesoros: A Multimedia-Based Course. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

[15] 2001. Blake, Robert. "La enseñanza de ELE en el suroeste de los EE.UU." II Congreso internacional de la lengua española, December 2001 <http://cvc.cervantes.es/obref/congresos/valladolid/ponencias/activo_del_espanol/1_la_industria_del_espanol/blake_r.htm>

[14] 2001. "What Language Professionals Need to Know about Technology." Chairing the Foreign Language and Literature Department, Part 2. ADFL Bulletin , Spring 2001, Vol 32 (3): 93-99.

[13] 1999. Blake, Robert, Adam Karp, Jill Pellettieri, and Eva Barela. "La evaluación de la comunicación sincrónica por Internet: el caso RTA, un programa de "chat". REALE 11: 9-22.

[12] 2001. Blake, Robert, Javier Blasco and César Hernández. Tesoros CD-ROM: A Multi-media-based Course . Boecillo, Valladolid: Boecillo Editorial Multimedia (BeM) and New York: McGraw-Hill Publishers, Inc. [reviewed in CALICO Journal]

[11] 2000. Blake, Robert. "Computer Mediated Communication: A Window on L2 Spanish Interlanguage." Language Learning and Technology. Vol 4, No. 1, 120-136.

[10] 1999. Blake, Robert, David Fahy, and Richard Walters. "Implementing Chat Software in the Foreign-Language Curriculum: The Case of RTA." In David Brown (ed.) Computer Enhanced Learning in 50 Colleges, Boston, Massachusetts: Anker Publishing Co., pp. 254-257.

[9] 1999. Blake, Robert J., "Nuevos Destinos: A CD-ROM for Advanced Beginning Spanish." CALICO 17 (1): 9-24.

[8] 1999. Blake, Robert J., D. Ranson, and R. Wright (eds.), Essays in Hispanic Linguistics Dedicated to Paul M. Lloyd. Newark, Delaware: Juan de la Cuesta.

[7] 1998. Blake, Robert J. "Las Glosas de San Millán de Silos en su contexto sociolingüístico." In Claudio García Turza, Fabián González Bachiller, Javier Mangado Martínez (eds.), Actas del IV Congreso de la Asociación de la Lengua Española, vol. II. Logroño: Universidad de La Rioja. 925-932.

[6] 1998. Blake, Robert J., Nuevos Destinos: CD-ROM for Learning Spanish. Boston, Massachusetts: McGraw-Hill Publishing, WGBH, Annenberg/CPBProject. [Reviewed in CALICO Journal]

[5] 1998. Blake, Robert J., and Alicia Ramos. Al corriente: curso intermedio del español, 3rd ed. San Francisco: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

[4] 1998. Blake, Robert J., Nuevos Destinos: Constructing a CD-ROM Interface for Teaching Spanish. In Keith Cameron (Ed.) Multimedia CALL: Theory and Practice. Exeter: Elm Bank, 303-307.

[3] 1998. Blake, Robert J. "The Role of Technology in Second Language Learning (Chapter9)." Heidi Byrnes (ed.) Learning Foreign and Second Languages. New York: Modern Language Association. 209-237.

[2] 1995. Blake, Robert J., "El latín notarial de un escriba bilingüe o "bígrafo"del XIII." Actas del primer congreso del latín medieval. Universidad de León. 463-468.

[1] 1994. Blake, Robert J. "¿Cuándo se puede reconocer los cognados españoles/ingleses?" Revista de Estudios de Adquisición de la Lengua Española. Madrid: Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. 15-24.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Spanish 112, 115, 116, 206, 207, 215 (technology)

CURRENT PROJECTS

Summer Workshop on Technology and E/LE in Salamanca, Spain:  Taller de tecnología ELE