Time

Course of the class

Activity

Media/Material

Objectives

7 min

Opening oft he lesson

Brainstorm – English speaking countries

blackboard

Activation of previous (geographical) knowledge

5 min

Working phase

Listening to podcard about Wellington

PC, internet, headphones, podcast

Listening comprehension

7 min

- “ -

Answering the questions of Activity 1

Activity 1 of the podcard

Extracting information

15 min

Research

Work in pairs: Where and what is Wellington? Geography, cultural aspects, sports, nature, language, …

PC, internet, notes

Extracting important information, practicing research

10 min

Conclusion of lesson

Presenting results

Whiteboard, final result will be send to each pupil via email as final “Ergebnissicherung”

Presentation skills, speaking in class

Homework:

Complete Activity 2

(crossword of slangwords), check them in an online glossary

http://www.chemistry.co.nz/kiwi.htm

PC, headphones, internet

Getting in touch with slang words

Well, we all had to think of two questions we wanted to ask Mr. Schouler. I would like to present mine right here:

In what way do parents react to the use of new media in school? I seriously had some doubts and were thinking that parents  – at least partly – would have a rather critical attitude towards the use of new media in school. But Mr. Schouler’s answer disagreed with my thoughts. He said, parents support the contact with internet, computers, whiteboards and whatever more the new media resources offer at this school  100% positive. Due to their opinion it is very important that their children learn to handle these electronic devices in order to have a better preparation for their further education.

Because of the fact that pupils might have a bigger knowledge of new media than teachers of an older generation I had a certain question for Mr. Schuler:  Do pupils try to cheat or have there been a lot of cases of plagiarism? Do teachers detect these attempts? A case Mr. Schouler has obviously been confronted with a few times – sure, there had been attempts and there still will be. But usually, you as a teacher will immediately realise when a pupil hands in something he has not written him/herself. Additionally, there exists a software to  called “EVE” which is able to find whole sentences in the www. Older collegues who might not be able to handle this special software or else, mostly use thze opportunity to approach younger collegues to ask them for help in case of  suspicion of plagiarism.

I’d like to comment on group #2′s poster they created to fulfil task #5. Well, I chose this poster because it has a real clear structure due to it’s schedule-type appearance. But after choosing it I was asking myself: there’s something missing, isn’t it? Indeed, the question to which the poster answers does not appear on top on the poster or at its end … just hope it’s not on the back, that wouldn’t make a lot of sense, wouldn’t it? Consequently, this is the point I’d seriously like to critizise about this poster.

However, I like how the group provides a clear overview about the different types of skills and the questions “how?”, “where ?” , “when?” and “where?”. In this manner they could even safe space to include and example which made it more easy to comprehend. The unitary of the little papers’ colours clearly distinguish the skills from each other, which didn’t work out for group #1 which had to deal with the same task. First I thought I rather favour their poster, but the different colours confused me while reading it.

I guess there are always two sides which need to be regarded. There is teacher’s side which  means that he/she has the possibility to use new media to present contents in class. In this case I talk about a PC, including internet connection and, let’s say, a projector in class, which arouses the possibility to show a big diversity of material, such as audio- and video files. In my opinion it is a very useful tool to teach a foreign language, which I will discuss later on. But a teacher should be aware of how to use these technical devices. Just to name one example, a course at university, titled “Beobachten im Unterricht” is based on watching video  sequences of different teaching lessons(1st two sessions) – the class then has to discuss about what they have observed, consequently, the whole unit would be lost if there has no video been shown. Well, of course the preceding occured. The teacher did not know how to handle her PC, how the volume would appear in class, the different formats, … the session was lost indeed.

Cases like this confirm what I tried to mention before, first of all the skills on the teacher’s side have to be strengthened; he/she learn how to handle these devices in order to ensure that pupils can benefit from their use.

The well-planned application in class – whereby we switch to the pupil’s side -  especially in foreign language education, offers the learner a way to simplify his/her process of learning. By having the opportunity to watch and listen to tasks or movies, native speakers, … new media approaches more learner-channels (auditory, visual) than just studying from a book. And because of its broadness there are many topics to choose from which catches the inerest of the leaner more easily than a rather boring exercise book with its old stories about the Pearsons and the Bennetts (Green Line, Klett Verlag), hence, more motivation for learning a foreign language may appear.

Besides vocabulary training software and other exercices which can be done in virtual sessions at the learner’s desk at home, there is the internet withs its rapidness of communaction to shorten the distance between the learner and the origin of the taught language.  Uncountable pieces of information about e.g. English-speaking countries can be found; you could also even check on Google Maps where the Bennetts and the Pearsons live. Via email contact or the vast existence of web 2.0-formats it is easy to communicate with exchange students or other friends from abroad. E.g., pupils could see each other on a webcam and practice their language by talking, chatting, mailing and exchanging files.

I am, for my part, very excited what kind of possibilities there are and how to apply new media in class wisely and how to guide learners in a certain direction, a profitable direction for the process of aquiring a new language.

On the one hand I really regret to depend on my computer but on the other hand I just want the bloody IT-guy to drop by my house and FINALLY get the damn line fixed again so that I have all the conveniences I’m usually used to with my connection to the internet!

I’m just scared that I feel seriously lost without this connection.

I finally got the course “New Media in Second Language Education” which will lead to more action in this blog as it is involved in some of the tasks we have to fulfill this semester.

Happy reading!

Nobody is really interested in reading other people’s boring diaries! That’s why I’ll just post what I’m going to do this summer.

In August it’s WACKEN-time again! For me and some of my friends this means being busy working on the biggest Heavy Metal festival on earth.

I have been working there for six times now and the festival is growing bigger and bigger. Our tasks mainly involve to exchange tickets for wristbands, selling merch, newspapers (1st festival-newspaper ever published!) and programs. Moreover, we just talk; talkand provide as much information as possible because all visitors want to know everything at all times. E. g., due to wheather sitiuations like last year – all areas floaded by rain – not all procedures can be carried out as they have been planned originally.

Basicly, the ten days we spend on the employee camping area is nothing else than a huge party. We are situated close to the two main stages where bands like Cannibal Corpse, Children of Bodom, Iron Maiden, … are performing their gigs. The combination of music and over 50.000 fans from all over the world create a fantastic atmosphere. Drinking met, beer, and enjoying the music is Wacken’s first commandment everybody follows substantially.

This is exactly where I intend to combat with the prejudices about the image of metal fans. They might appear scary but represent the most peaceful crowd ever. Although I do not fancy the music in total, I would consider to visit this festival just to have an amazing time with my friends and foreign metal heads!

Come along to share some headbanging time with us!

2008 is sold out though, try it on ebay or next year!

this is my first time to post something on a blog  – which is MY OWN blog  – wow!If this isn’t a catchy headline!?