modern languages and webct roger hewitt faculty of arts university of manchester 19 february 2003
TRANSCRIPT
Modern Languages and WebCT
Roger Hewitt
Faculty of Arts
University of Manchester19 February 2003
Case Studies TANDEM
Reciprocal language learning for British and European undergraduates
ITALRETE Web based communications for students of
Italian preparing for and undertaking a period of study in Italy
Pedagogical Themes TANDEM
Foreign language development and cross-cultural learning through computer mediated communication
ITALRETE Peer support
VLEs at Manchester
ELEN (1999 – 2001) Extended Learning Environment Network TLTP3 funded project Teknical Virtual campus
WebCT (2001 – date) Version 3.1 Updating Summer 2003 to 3.8 Campus Edition
TANDEM British students studying French,
Spanish, Italian, German European students at Manchester as
part of Erasmus exchange programme Wide range of departments
18 this semester: Physics, Engineering, Medicine, History, linguistics
20 credit elective module
Reciprocal learning Student’s partner adopts role of
“knower” as well as “mentor” Meetings at beginning and end of each
semester Some optional workshops Little face to face contact between staff
and students
Uses of WebCT To enhance the sense of course cohesion
and develop a sense of course community Photographs Biographies written by partner
To provide a central meeting point and To provide a space for administrative
information and notices Calendar
Photos and biographies
Uses of WebCT To provide a space where students can
discuss issues and share experiences of cultural adjustment Virtual seminar
Virtual Seminar
Virtual Seminar …I think that this is a really realistic incident and I fully
understand what he felt at that moment. I wouldn’t say that I felt loneley now, but the arrival in Manchester was nothing easy…
…the most difficult thing was to understand people and when you don’t you feel so lost especially when you ask them to repeat 300 times the same thing and they don’t make any efforts to repeat slower or in a more understandable way for a foreigner…
…my flatmates did care […] started speaking more slowly, using words I could understand…
…I know what it is to feel uncomfortable in a pub […] you do not understand because of the music or whatever…
Uses of WebCT To provide a space where students can
discuss aspects of the target cultures (systems and behaviours) with members of those cultures
Some themes US war on terror Turkey in the EU Role of religion in society Firefighters’ strike Use of offensive language Exploring national stereotypes Top up fees Earthquakes Cultural adjustment
British students and alcohol Why do English students drink so much? Maybe the reason is
the liberty to do it. Especially students, who are in their first year, tend to drink a lot. This behaviour remains me of summer camp. Most English students are away from home and from their parents for the first time in their life. Another point is, that English students are not able to entertain themselves. I have the feeling they do not know, what to do with their time. Every kind of entertainment is artificial in Manchester and the students live in their one little world that’s why they become bored. And I hear very often ‘I am so bored, let’s drink!’. That’s is very pity, when people do not know what to do with their time and their life.
British students and alcohol I completely agree with Peggy. Last year I was in hall and it was
on very few occasions that I found myself saying "Let's have a quite drink to relax" it was more like "I've finished an essay, let's get hammered!". The only times that I didn't drink last year was when I was recovering from the night before. But it's not because we need alcohol. Our bodies are not born more needy for a drink purely because we are British! No, it's definitely because we rely on it for entertainment and I think this is really
sad!
Uses of WebCT To provide a space where students can
discuss aspects of their target languages (systems and strategies for learning) with native speakers of those languages and with other learners
Discussion boards
Strategies for learning Hy guys!! I agree with all of you!!I have been in Canada for 4
months and there I found a strategy to improve my english.When I am in a foreign country I use to have a pocket dictionary,a pen and a TELEPHONE BOOK in my bag!!The telephone book is divided in alphabetical order,thus either when I find or I hear a new word I can immediately check how to write it,which is its meaning and copy it in my telephone book.It could
seem inconvenient and boring but it works!!!
Uses of WebCT To offer students opportunities for
further learning and language reference through links to external sites British National Corpus BBC, Newspapers etc
To hold course documents Exam question Key codes
Student comments Less confident students have an
opportunity to participate which might be inhibited in a “class full of people”
More time to prepare and reflect on contributions
Student comments Lack of pressure/anxiety
Learners are under neither time pressure to respond nor the pressure of making a mistake or looking foolish
Length and breadth of entries are not restricted
Individual styles are allowed to flourish
Student comments Democratic
No teacher intervention in the seminar All contributions from the students “I felt encouraged to contribute and
pose questions that I would not have done in a conventional seminar”
“The interaction is more personal and evokes more interest than in typical language learning situations”
Future Developments Revamping the site Changing appearance Evaluation form Extent of moderation
ITALRETE Support for year abroad students
involving three cohorts 2nd year preparing for year abroad 3rd year in Italy 4th year returned to Manchester
Italrete Front Page
Information Learning objectives Links to
Italian Universities Language Schools Italian search engines Newspapers, Cyber Cafe locations
Peer support Advice from students to students
about all aspects of the year abroad, collated and published as a document
Exchange of information between students through discussion groups and chat rooms
Advice from students
Advice from students
Advice from students
Advice from students
Italrete News
Planning ahead I'm in Sicily at the moment, just thought i'd say that that's probably one
of the best things about Messina is that accommodation is really easy and living in halls is one of the easiest ways to make friends, it's kind of like being in Owen's park but on a much smaller scale, it also means that you don't have to worry about bills or the hot water or gas running out which tends to happen a lot here and you don't have problems with italian landlords either. Anyway any questions, and i'll be happy to answer, good luck
Life's much quieter here than in Manchester, but it's up to you to change the way you think and adapt yourself to a different lifestyle, the first few weeks I absolutely hated it, but now I don't want to come home for Christmas, wherever you go you'll have a brilliant time, but do think about it carefully before you go, try to find out as much as possible about each place.
Planning ahead Can anyone tell me which unis to go to to be near mountains? Of
course this is not how I will choose where to go, I do have some comon sense in me, but it would be nice to have something to do on weekends. I've also promised my family they can come skiing while I'm there.
Bergamo is definitely the best place to go for cheap skiing and boarding- the nearest good slopes are at Foppolo, only an hour and s half's bus ride away
I do know there are some resorts near Rome and near Genova, but you'll get the best snow and longest seasons up North. here are some websites you might find useful: http://www.foppolo.com http://www.cervinia.it http://www.val-gardena.com
Accommodation Thanx to the wonderful people at Ryanair.com, I have managed to get
a return flight to Bologna (Forli - the only draw back!) for just 2p, and so will be visiting the city Jan 15-18, to have a look at the uni and check out the city…
A standard second class train ticket from Forli to Bologna will cost you about 4 quid. There isn't a better way unless you have transport of your own lined up. As for accommodation, try the tourist office in piazza maggiore, they haven't failed to find accommodation of a suitable level and price yet …
oh, and for restaurants, try the osteria dell'orso on (or just off) via mascarella, two pasta dishes to choose from and loads of wierd and wonderful starters...i reccommend the cheese and honey and nuts on toast …
Chat Room Chat room has not been used. Reasons?
Difficult to find a time when more than a small group can and might want to get online
e-mail, mobile phones and text messaging mean students do not see real time communication over the web as being especially useful.
However, I do not plan yet to give up on the chat room.
Future Developments First year with 3 cohorts using the
same system Previously ELEN or ELEN/WebCT
Full evaluation If successful, introduction into
other European language departments