Danièle Eychenne, a French teacher in Denmark, talked about using authentic materials in the classroom. Danièle teaches in a pilote school - a school without classrooms (Imagine an open space without walls, with students sitting on pillows, sofas or stairs) where the emphasis is put on multiple intelligence and learning styles.
She demonstrated how to teach with authentic resources, based on examples from the textbook she wrote for the Danish market: "Avant Garde".
A fascinating insight with very practical ideas!
Sara Jordan from Ontario in Canada has been producing educational songs to help kids learn since 1990. Motivated by the needs of her own children and her students (she worked with students with special needs), she wrote award winning albums boosting literacy in English, French and Spanish.
Sara demonstrated how you can liven up your classes using educational songs. From the simplest of introductory songs to the conjugation of tricky verbs, she showed how you can keep students on their toes, have them laughing and learning at the same time.
Sara demonstrated how you can liven up your classes using educational songs. From the simplest of introductory songs to the conjugation of tricky verbs, she showed how you can keep students on their toes, have them laughing and learning at the same time.
Julien Colot is the director of a language school in Helsinki. He has been teaching French as a foreign language for eight years and he’s now also involved in teacher training worldwide. In 2001, he started working on a website called “Maison de Quartier” with his French and Finnish colleagues. Since then his site has been nominated and rewarded in many prestigious international ICT competitions.
Julien gave a detailed tour of his website. MaisondeQuartier.com is a virtual French house providing resources for learning and practising French and acting as a gate towards modern French culture. It offers on-line interactive exercises, grammar lessons, as well as a French movie database with trailers, a French music database, a French literature database and various multimedia activities around French language and culture.
Julien gave a detailed tour of his website. MaisondeQuartier.com is a virtual French house providing resources for learning and practising French and acting as a gate towards modern French culture. It offers on-line interactive exercises, grammar lessons, as well as a French movie database with trailers, a French music database, a French literature database and various multimedia activities around French language and culture.
How lucky to have such a friendly and keen audience! Many participants commented on the relaxed atmosphere and how approachable the speakers were. Overall, a very pleasant day for all :)
Participants were given the challenge of writing a song using one of Sara’s music accompaniments. Bemused at first (they weren’t expecting that – LOL), they quickly relaxed when split into groups.
Each group was then required to perform their songs. That was a very enjoyable part of the day. Everyone played the game and the songs were truly remarkable – especially as they were only given 15 minutes to write them!