Transcript for Language Learning Through iEARN International Projects

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!