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Using
Word™
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Obviously all
the features of word-processing can be used to reinforce language-learning.
Among the activities you can use are:
- redrafting.
- adding accents.
- adding capitals
to nouns in German.
- separating
words fromawordstring thatlooksabitlikethis
- letter/e-mail
writing.
- substituting
parts of a text in bold with alternatives.
- gapped texts
with varying degrees of support : choice of 2 options per space;
1 word per space from a set of words in a box ; words + extra
words in a box; gaps only, no support.
- putting
a set of sentences into a correct sequence. This is useful for
any chronological narrative.
- writing
lists - items for a picnic, adventure holiday, party.
- cutting
and pasting silly sentences to make them correct. e.g I wash
in the garage; I mend my bike in the bathroom
- form-filling;
ID cards (German: Steckbriefe. French: Carte d'identité).
- tabular
data: e.g. school timetables, daily routine, tasks and schedule
at work.
- other 'fact'-based
tables: who, what happened, when, where, why.
- converting
first to third person narratives etc.
- writing
vocabulary lists based on a text.
- finding
and matching vocabulary in a text.
- answering
comprehension questions about a text.
- codes and
ciphers. e.g. convert a text from a 'Wingdings'-type font into
a normal font.
- designing
posters, adverts, letters of complaint etc.
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Using
other packages
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- Excel™
can be used to present the results of class surveys e.g. travel
to school, time taken to get to school, breakfast habits, favourite
games, hobbies, films etc. This should always be followed up by
some written sentences summarising the results.
- Powerpoint
™ can be used to present a topics such as daily routine,
food & drink, leisure, illness and injury, the local area.
Pupils can make up their own presentations. They can also use
Powerpoint to present a grammar point to the rest of the class.
It is also ideal for topics such as: my ideal school; my dream
holiday; my ideal town; my ideal school day; my ideal partner;
alternative school rules; excuses for not doing homework;
- Publisher™
can be used for some of the themes above + posters, invitations,
announcements, etc. Pupils enjoy making displays of celebrities
as consolidation of adjective work. They can do a TV programme
display for work on times, days and opinions.
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Other hardware
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If your school
is fortunate enough to have an interactive whiteboard, get in there
and use it. The motivational results are amazing.
Video cameras
are also very effective. Sketches, presentations and dialogues (with
or without puppets) can be filmed and used for further analysis.
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The Internet
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Used
sensibly, this is also a valuable resource. Set the task up carefully-
don't just give pupils a free rein. Find the site and plan the lesson
as with any other resource. Internet material can be used on-line
or off-line. The offline task is safer and can provide a good alternative
to the textbook. Plenty of reinforcement and consolidation tasks will
enhance the learning process. If you are doing a task on-line, make
sure the site will be accessible and think carefully about lesson
content and learning outcomes. Have a contingency ready in case you
can't get access to the computers or in case the site is down. Jon
Meier's Language Sandwich is recommended. |
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