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LinkedUp

Posted on January 2nd, 2010 Langwitch View Comments

At the end of September I was approached by Zahida Hammond to work with her on an application for one of the new LinkedUp grants that are being funded around the UK, to promote language learning. The idea was to continue to build on work that local 14-19 MFL Networks had begun last year, creating resources and activities for KS4 and KS5 that use new technologies and develop pupils independence.

After much hard work from Zahida, we learnt in November that the application had been successful and now it’s full steam ahead. We have 3 14-19 Networks working together on the project-Stockton, Middlesbrough and Whitley Bay with about 10 members across the network. We will all work on different aspects of the resources and they will all be shared together at the end. The idea is that we will use some technologies that will be new to some colleagues in the groups and also develop activities that encourage pupils to become independent language learners.

I’m very excited about this project and am looking forward to being able to use the resources created through the Networks and also to adapting the activities we create to being used in other topic areas and in other year groups too.

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Wie hilfst du im Haushalt with Learning Zone Broadband Class Clips

Posted on November 28th, 2008 admin View Comments

As a keen member of the MFL Resources group, which is a “must join” for all MFL teachers, I regularly find several extremely useful tips and resources to use with my classes. The other day whilst checking some of the back posts, I came across a message from Helen Meyers who is Assistant Head at the Ashcomb School in Surrey, linking to the BBC Learning Zone’s Broadband Class Clips. They’re available for Primary and Secondary levels and for most subject areas. I was really pleased to find something a bit different that I could use in the classroom. What I particularly like is that next to the video, you get a brief synopsis of the clip (most of which last 3-5 mins) plus key language so that you know which class would be most suited for their use. I also like the ideas given for use (always helpful when lacking motivation!) .

Wanting to try it out straight away I thought about classes and topics that I was doing and came across this clip about household tasks.

It was ideal to introduce the topic of jobs around the home to my top set, without doing a Powerpoint or using some of my great drawings etc…

I showed the clip (pointing out how naff it was with the hair and the dancing and music etc, etc….) and class had to note down the new vocabulary that appears on the screen, adding the English. I also warned them about the song and asked them to just note down the family members and pets (just for an extra bit of listening, really)

It has to be said that they really liked it…specially the dancing for some reason! It was great for them to able to hear real German spoken whilst also getting the new words at a slower pace.

I will definitely be using these Broadband Class Clips again.

If you’re not a member of MFL Resources why not join now – it’s free!!

Click to join mflresources

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A very busy week

Posted on October 27th, 2008 admin View Comments

I think the the next few days will be full of blog posts from me, as I seem to have done so much in a very short space of time. I’ve done so much, met so many people and had such a great time that I really don’t know where to begin. I think maybe, I’ll just go for it and apologise in advance for poor spelling and typing (no surprises there, then) and some rather mixed up time-lines. In no particular order I’m intending to blog about:
- my all new Ning that I set up last Wednesday and changed the name of yesterday
- the Isle of Wight Conference (of course)…hopefully individual posts about various aspects and how much I learnt etc..
- a chance encounter with a trainee life coach (aahhh…bet no-one expected that one – least of all me!)
- going to train MFL PGCE students at Durham University last week and the hazards that brought with it.
So, I’m now going to go and get busy…I even have emails to answer, somewhere!

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Diigo vs Delicious

Posted on April 1st, 2008 admin View Comments

I’ve seen many blog posts recently about jumping on bandwaggons and how useful various tools are and the perceived “dangers” of blogging from a teaching professional’s point of view.
All of this is certainly food for thought and made me consider a number of things.
Firstly, I decided to have a look at Diigo and transfered my bookmarks from Delicious, not really knowing why, I’m afraid.
Then I began to think about the “dangers” of having links that could provide pupils with access to “dodgey” sites (or sites seen as such by parents / colleagues etc…) and this made me think about my Delicious links which, as well as having resources for my pupils also has resources for me and others about Second Life, to my videos I like on You Tube (not always languages relatedbut also no dodgey, it must be said…mainly some Matt Redman stuff- can’t get enough of his wonderful, inspirational music -, but personal to me nonetheless) and realised that Diigo could be a way round this. So I currently have my Delicious bookmarks (modified and reduced) on my pupil blog and Diigo on here. A bit cumbersome I know, but at the end of the day, what’s an extra mouse click when adding something to both. My husband always tells me that I’m indecisive, well, I wouldn’t know about that, but at least I’m happy (for about 30 mins anyway!)

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New Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Posted on February 15th, 2008 admin View Comments

We had an LEA CPD Day today, part of which was dedicated to introducing us to the new KS3 Curriculum for September. I’d hear whisperings about it – generally negative, it must be said! However, having had it presented properly I must say that I’m buzzing with excitement. How great to be able to do topic-based, cross-curricular projects, without the constraints of a prescriptive Programme of Study! It’s what I’ve wanted to be able to do most of my career, I think )
My friend and I couldn’t stop with our ideas of topic based projects that could have cross-curricular links. Just one of ideas was a topic of (say) lifestyles…on a basic level this could include stuff aobut houses etc… but then Daily Routine could involve links with Geography to talk about the routine of a child in the 3rd World (also, in our school’s case link in with our Lesotho Link that we have) and then to work in that past tense it could also be linked with History to discuss lifestyles of the Victorians (for example). They could have a “portfolio” of work..something written, something spoken etc… and Assessment opportunities built in, together with usual AfL and Thinking Skills activities…but how much more motivating for out pupils, instead of working through the text book!!!
I must admit that I’m a little concerned that other colleagues might not be as enthusiastic but I really feel that this is an amazing opportunity and we need to be sure that we don’t let it slip away from us or be watered down in someway!My goodness, the ideas keep flowing but I’m going to keep them to myself (don’t want to give away all my good ideas…only joking)…I don’t want to get carried away and then be disappointed!
Oh, I also hear that there was a wonderful workshop on eTwinning given by someone called Helena Butterfield…can’t imagine it myself somehow (she sounds rubbish to me!). All information and links on my Langwitch Wiki in the Teacher’s Corner )

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Taboo and other fun stuff

Posted on December 19th, 2007 admin View Comments

It being Christmas and everything I thought I’d let my Year 11 class have a bit of fun yesterday. Firstly we did the Wise Guys’ “Schlag mich Baby noch Einmal” from the Sunderland School’s webiste (can’t find it nowon the website), using their YouTube video. It’s so funny when you give out the work sheet and the think “oh yes, another dodgy German song”" then some begin to realise what it is and then the video starts and the penny really starts to drop. The first time through very little blanks got filled in, as they stared in disbelief at the screen )
They must have enjoyed it as they asked on of my colleagues to put it on again when she had them in a science cover today!
Next we played Taboo. I made up some game cards with their words on plus “verbotene Worte” and then “wichtige Vokabeln”. That too seemed to go down well…my group a brilliant boys were still playing when I wanted to move on. I must admit I was worried about how it would go, as sometimes these things fall flat don’t they?
One day to go can’t wait…

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