“By itself, technology is not the answer”
Steven starts the session by reading out a chunk of an interview with Madonna that was translated into Hungarian from English, the original lost, and translated back into English all via the wonders of machine translation… Hilarious!
Steven Fawkes
Pragmatic uses for teaching and learning languages
Word processing (1990)
- Cloze tests
- Reorder sentences
- Cut and paste to change sense
- Sequencing
- Drafting and redrafting
- Adding high frequency words
- Correct errors, style, tone
All still useful even though technology has moved on greatly.
NESTA Futurelab 2002
- Government policy 2002 heading towards less formal classroom teaching of language and rather more self-directed, distributed learning
- Language teaching methodolies appear too narrow to allow best advantage of technology to be taken
- Networking with other Learners
- Better use of multi language options
- Software which can graded written production
- Materials allow the language content to changed easily
Joe Dale (live via webcam from Australia) - Technology (social media in particular) as a CPD tool
MFLTwitterati
A group of 500+ twitterers who go by the hashtag #mfltwitterati
Don’t know where to get started? Try one of Joe’s lists, follow a few people, say hello, be welcomed warmly!
Joe’s list of MFLTwitterati and WorldTwitters. NB lists are limited to 500, but there are many more of us than that!
Flashmeets
Flashmeets are online web chats involving up to 25 people. They are organised on Twitter, with people signing up via the wiki. Anyone can speak, you just wait for it to be your turn. Joe usually chairs and sets the agenda, they can be great fun! You can also watch re-runs of your favourite meetings by clicking on the link after the event.
MFL Times
The MFL Times is an online newspaper, pulling together the best snippets from the MFLTwitterati’s feeds. You can read the paper for a snapshot of what we are all talking about.
MFL Show and Tell
These follow the TeachMeet model, so anyone can sign up for a slot to present their best resources. The last one was held in Cramlington, with many of the Twitterati travelling from all over the country (and flying in!). These are great fun, great (usually free) CPD. Even better still, #MFLSAT then led on to #MFLSATnight and #MFLSundaymorning get-togethers!
MFL Twitterati Dropbox
The Twitterati have four Dropboxes, with thousands of resources being shared. Anyone can add resources if they are a member and all members can see, adapt and use all resources in there. For more details, see the following people…
- Generic dropbox @amandasalt
- French @rubiales62
- Spanish @amandasalt
- German @Reesiepie
- If you have any issues or notice any files doing strange things, I’m quite happy to provide assistance too @misstdunne.
Please, please, please read the file named ‘Read Me First – User Guide’ in all Dropboxes, it explains quite a few things!
MFL Digital Stories
Set up by Jackie Berry @rubiales62, showcasing lots of stories
MFL Storybirds
Set up by Fiona Joyce @wizenedcrone, showcasing Storybirds generated from all over the country
Follow Joe Dale's adventures Down Under #jddownunder
Miles Berry, chairman of NAACE
Will classrooms change from the Victorian model of teachers imparting knowledge, or will this be the same by LW2032? (1 person disagrees with Gove)
Never since the Reformation has one organisation controlled access to information (Google)
Moore’s Law – computing power doubles every year
As knowledge continues to grow and evolve, access to what is neeed is more important
Amazing automatic translation technologies: Google Goggles, WordLens, Google Translate now evendoes voice regognition on phone – “Talk to the phone, ‘cos the tourist ain’t listening!”
What are the implications to having access to this sort of quality of translation?
Are we fast approaching Douglas Adams' creating becoming a reality?
When the calculator became common place, the teaching of Maths was not stopped. It is important to teach the skills to use these things effectively - you have to know about stuff to use it properly!
The challenge of setting a Google Translate proof homework!
Helen Myers
How ICT can contribute to MFL teaching
Presentation
Authentic resources, current resources
Use videos, songs, etc.
Presentation – personalised and customised
Can create personalised content and upload it for students to use HelenMFL on YouTube
Practice (not spectacular – highly effective)
TaskMagic to create many resources
“ICT disguises the hard graft needed for learning MFL”
Vocab Express
BBC Languages – aimed at adults, but does this not make it more attractive to students?
Professional Community
Yahoo group MFL Resources
Personal linguistic and cultural updating
Skype - talk to people across the globe
Second Life - Helen arranges to meet up with French people during lessons, talks with them and students watch interactions with real French people
Joe Dale is @joedale on Twitter, but I don’t need to tell you that!
Steven Fawkes is @StevenFawkes
Helen Myers is @HelenMyers
