[etni] Fw: Interesting program for teacher trainees - especially from the south!
- From: "Ask Etni" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2006 08:27:12 +0200
----- Original Message -----
From: Adele Raemer and Laurie Levy - raemer@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Interesting program for teacher trainees - especially from the
south!
A colleague of mine is running a project that looks very interesting. If you
are a teacher trainee, (especially from the south – although not necessarily
exclusively) or a first or second year teacher, read on!
Enjoy!
Adele
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Student Teacher,
Would you like to take part in a short international online project for
English teachers and trainee teachers? Maybe? Then read on! If you are
interested, contact Pete Smith on p.smith@xxxxxxxxxx or on +44 1908 509257
or Xavière Hassan at x.p.hassan@xxxxxxxxxx for further information.
EngLine is a two-part project giving you, as a teacher of English, an
opportunity to immerse yourself (virtually) in an English-speaking culture,
and to reflect on your values and attitudes towards the ‘Self’ and the
‘Other’. The first part is carried out in a simulation globale online, while
the second is in a text Forum to discuss associated cultural issues and
topics. The research interest concerns the design of teaching materials for
online teaching & learning, the use and effectiveness of the Lyceum
software, and the investigation of intercultural communication and identity.
As a participant in the simulation, you will discuss and develop a virtual
secondary school, choose a realistic but fictional identity to adopt during
the project, and then interact with the other participants on activities,
situations and tasks related to the virtual school. You will keep a journal
of your thoughts and feelings, and complete 2 short questionnaires about
different aspects of the simulation – including what you think about 1) the
effectiveness of online language learning/teaching, 2) the use of the
simulation globale in language learning/teaching, 3) the role of your own
personality and cultural understandings 4) and how online discussion might
influence your representations of the ‘Self’ and the ‘Other’. We will offer
you support, and a special website, for all these activities.
Aims
Investigate the use of the Lyceum program (see explanation below) in
language learning/teaching
Investigate the effectiveness of audiographic conferencing (communicating
over the internet using and voice)
Encourage intercultural dialogue between trainee teachers of English
Introduce the methodology of online simulations globales to trainee teachers
of English
Lyceum
Lyceum is the Open University’s in-house web conferencing programme. It
combines multi-point voice conferencing, electronic whiteboard for text,
document, and image display and editing, and instant messaging (text chat)
on one screen. It is not available commercially, and is largely used by The
Open University for language tutorials online, so that students can gather
in real time as in a traditional classroom, regardless of where they are in
the world.
Simulation globale
Simulation globale is a French term for an integrated, holistic, extended
role play where fictional characters interact in a fictional place (a town,
a school, a company) and deal with simulated real-life situations – such as
organising and holding a meeting, dealing with a noisy neighbour, planning a
motorway, or anything depending on the interests and lives of the
participants, and following a particular scenario. The approach was adopted
for communicative language teaching as it allows realistic language practice
in situations similar to those met in real life. It allows a task based
approach or a problem-solving approach to be used, can be conducted
face-to-face or online, and allows the use of realia such as brochures,
images, text, recordings, film as springboards and support materials. Its
advantages to language learning include its learner-centredness, integrated
approach to language (including socio-cultural dimensions), flexibility and
adaptability to local situations, and it puts the emphasis on participant
interaction.
EngLine timetable
April/May
Synchronous (real time) online sessions using Lyceum early evening hours –
around 18:00.
Tuesday 11th April – Briefing & familiarisation (S1)
Thursday 27th April – Creating the space (S2)
Thursday 4th May – Creating an identity (S3)
Thursday 11th May – Interaction 1 (S4)
Thursday 18th May – Interaction 2 (S5)
Thursday 25th May – Wrap up (S6)
Asynchronous (in your own time) sessions deadline dates
Tuesday 25th April (A1)
Tuesday 2nd May (A2)
Tuesday 9th May (A3)
Tuesday 16th May (A4)
Minimum requirements
Basic computer skills in surfing the web.
Internet connection (preferably broadband, but dialup is possible as well)
with browser.
Research team
Xavière Hassan is Head of French in the Department of Languages at the Open
University in England. Her research interests are intercultural
communication, online language learning, and Systematic Reviews in evidence
based education. She speaks French, English, Hebrew, and a little Russian.
Pete Smith is a lecturer in French at the Open University, England, with 20
years experience in English Language Teaching outside the UK. His research
is in evidence based education, systematic reviews, online language
learning, and studies of effectiveness. He speaks English, French, Arabic,
Spanish, Turkish, and a little Hebrew and Russian.
Jo Sapir is a lecturer in EFL at Barnet College, England and is a qualified
teacher in the British and Israeli education systems. Her research interests
include cultural studies, memory & vocabulary learning, academic English,
study skills and she has an MA (by computer conferencing) in TESOL. She
speaks English, Hebrew and some French and German.
What’s in it for you? Well, experiment with an exciting online language
teaching approach, meet with other trainee teachers for professional
exchanges, practice your written and spoken English online, discuss and
explore English speaking culture, and have fun!
Interested? We hope so! We think the time involved for you is about 6 hours
online and 6 hours offline between April 25th and May 16th with a feedback
session in June.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Pete, Xavière, Jo
Milton Keynes, England
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