Language Learning Through iEARN International Projects

Duration: 4 minutes and 28 seconds

Country: United States

Language: English

License: CC - Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives

Genre: Instructional

Producer: iEARN-USA

Views: 120 (6 embedded)

Posted by: egragert on Feb 25, 2010

Teachers and students around the world are using online collaborative project work as part of courses to learn languages. Students interact with native speakers about local and global issues, writing with authentic peer audiences. Teachers report heightened interest in learning a new language as a result of and to prepare for this interaction.

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Bring the World into Your Classroom
Learning a second language can be a challenge for many
both for adults and younger students
For quite a long time
language classes were associated with
grammar drilling and vocabulary memorizing.
Now, language teaching professionals agree
that students should practice speaking and listening
in real life situations
and read and write for authentic purposes
But how can speaking and writing
be really authentic if the teacher seems
to be the only person around who uses the language?
Fortunately, with Internet technology it is now possible
to connect students in one country
with their peers in another
so they can communicate for real.
Let's look at some sample projects
offered through the International Education and Resource Network.
Why Online Collaboration?
First, it allows students to join a global community
Teddy Bear
In the Teddy Bear Project, kids from one class
send a teddy bear or another soft toy
to their partners in another country
When the teddy bear arrives
it starts sending back weekly notes
about what it has seen
and done.
Japanese teacher from Seattle Hiromi Pingry
in her second and third grade kids
exchange teddy bears with their partners from Japan
Before I never thought of sending homework
writing something in Japanese as homework.
But they don't mind to do it at all
because they know somebody is reading it
and they are responding to them
I was so impressed
with the second-graders
don't mind anything to work hard
it takes a long time
And they're happy to do it.
Second, Online collaboration is motivating
In the Side by Side Project
students draw their elongated self portraits
and possibly include symbols of their past, present and future
The portraits can then be displayed
in the school gallery or e-mailed to the partner class
with short descriptions from the young painters.
Boku wa momo ga dai suki desu (I like peaches very much).
Third, Online collaboration has a positive impact on students' achievements
Brent Copen of Columbia University surveyed 72 teachers who involved their students in at least one iEARN project.
He questioned them about the impact
of online collaboration on students' attitudes and achievements
through the iEARN network
He found that 88% said that their students
showed improvement in their academic
skills and performance
either somewhat or very much.
98% said students' improved their knowledge
about other cultures, countries or languages.
According to Brent Copen's report
teachers and students consistently described
iEARN as a meaningful learning community.
One teacher from Russia said iEARN is
not so much about technology
as it is about building an online family.
What is iEARN?
And it is quite a big family!
The International Education and Resource Nework
supports over 20,000 teachers
and more than 2 million students in 115 countries
who collaborate through the Internet
on projects designed to make a difference in the world.
Students and teachers can communicate
through the iEARN forums that provide a safe
password protected environment.
iEARN resources are available in about 30 languages
This means the projects are possible in any language
from which partner classes are found.
To guide you through the process
of project implementation
iEARN offers a number of online professional development courses
that include, of course, the teaching of foreign and second languages
During the 9-week course
you will learn how to use modern information and communications technologies
in language teaching
and review some projects
that involve students from all over the world.
With the iEARN network
you can really open up
the whole world to your students.
Instead of teaching about other cultures
you will teach with other cultures.
And you can be sure your students
will like it.
Join us now - iEARN!