Group items tagged

This site presents information on culture and language in different regions of the world as well as videos and audio taken from the authentic regions. Transcripts in English and the target languages are included.

"The CEFR has had a particular influence on language assessment. The following tools are available to assessment providers and other practitioners with an interest in language testing:"

Interesting ideas on creating a world languages e-portfolio using Google Drive.

A website that explains the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and the Diplôme d'Éducation de la Langue Française. 

Tonnes of resources for teacher languages

Short video from Joe Dale talking about his experience using iBooks Author and iTunesU COurse Manager in the context of language teaching.

Interesting article that I just read, answering some computer science questions!

Hey everyone, let's make a change in our language, so that we can make a real change in our schools!

I love the power of making subtle changes in our language. I am going to take this quote and post it in my office- so good to remember going forward. I've been trying to encourage my students (and my own children) to change from saying "have to" to "get" to help them see the opportunity in their everyday actions. While not always successful, it can have a profound effect on the way they see things.

A great map of language learning in the 21st Century with explanations across skills.

Thanks for sharing, Derek! I hope the Ontario Ministry has consulted this document ahead of the much-anticipated release of the new curriculum!

Thoughts about methodology in the modern language classroom.

Pairs native speakers with language learners. Privacy/security concerns?!

This page gives an overview of a framework for 21st century skills and learning. I like how it values all of the academic disciplines and gives links to different sites that focus on broader interdisciplinary themes, innovation skills, information, media, and technology skills, and life and career skills.

Smarter people gesture when they talk - do you? (more proof as to why AIM works for foreign languages)

Great explanation of how to use Google Apps to make interactive "Choose your own adventure" stories.

"Comics began to take a foothold in the classroom about a decade ago when educators realized that visual narrative could be used to engage reluctant and struggling readers. Because comics and graphic novels marry the textual with the visual, they help those who find reading challenging by allowing them to see what the vocabulary they are reading looks like. As well, comics and graphic novels break language up into far more manageable units than a traditional text-based novel. At the same time, visual narratives can be just as complex and engaging, so the student gets the benefit of seeing the story unfold, having the text divided into more manageable units, and making connections between new vocabulary words and the images that represent them."

"Breakout EDU creates ultra-engaging learning games for people of all ages. Games (Breakouts) teach teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, and troubleshooting by presenting participants with challenges that ignite their natural drive to problem-solve. Breakouts are perfect for classrooms, staff trainings, dinner parties, and at home with the family! At the end of a Breakout, your players will be eager for the next! Speciality K-12 Breakouts can be used to teach core academic subjects including math, science, history, language arts and have embedded standards that apply problem solving strategies within a real world OR collaborative context."

"MERLOT is a free and open peer reviewed collection of online teaching and learning materials and faculty-developed services contributed and used by an international education community."

Read how a quantum physicist, who was a guest speaker in a language arts classroom, inspired the imagination and writing of the middle school students.

This is the follow-up activity to Wow Grammar, Such Doge. The students found these two exercise to be stimulating, thought-provoking, and "difficult!". They were very engaged in these tasks.