Advance Materials do use new technology in an old-fashioned way. By that I mean that they provide interactive learning without computers. Their French Verb Cards are similar in many ways to their Magic Verb cards, reviewed earlier on this blog. A “cut-out card and slide” system makes tenses align with a slot in the card and a tense marker – such as “L’année dernière.” This method of learning may particularly appeal to visual and kinaesthetic learners. The physical movement involved leads to more learning impact than gained by just moving things around on a computer screen.
The resource revises 100 French verbs in present, perfect, imperfect and future tenses. This is impressive, though it is a great pity that this resource is only available in French at the moment. Always, always French.
Students would certainly be able to work independently and there is also the possibility that they can revise all tenses in one go, thus gaining a bigger picture of how verbs work. They would certainly be useful to students from GCSE to A2. Unfortunately they’re not cheap. They start at £22.31 per set, including VAT. However, the more sets you buy, the cheaper they get – 30 packs cost just £511.11, and currently Advance Materials are giving away one set free for every six packs purchased. Even so, I can’t help thinking that computer programmes would be cheaper.
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Friday, 13 June 2008
What You Can Do If You Speak a Foreign Language
When you speaking someone else’s language you open up a new level of communication. Other cultures talk about different topics and have other burning issues and concerns. So it goes way beyond just the words, syntax and grammar. Yet the new language can be a way in.
You begin to understand the other nationality’s way of thinking. You begin to see things from their point of view. You have something you can communicate back to your own people.
You might read books in the other languages. Books are rarely translated from foreign languages to English, so English speakers can really be missing out. If you can read fluently in another language, you have so much more literature at your disposal. Films also.
There are so many more people you can communicate with in the world.
Think of a crowded holiday beach and think of the people you might be able to understand. What if you could understand the French, German, Spanish and Dutch? And in addition, more or less wok out what the Portuguese and Italian were saying? With a smattering of Welsh as well. I can do all of that, and it makes a difference. I sometimes think it has made me be neither one thing nor another because I understand a little of many cultures and question my own. Oh, they all have their good and bad points. I can see that. Monoglots often don’t.
You begin to understand the other nationality’s way of thinking. You begin to see things from their point of view. You have something you can communicate back to your own people.
You might read books in the other languages. Books are rarely translated from foreign languages to English, so English speakers can really be missing out. If you can read fluently in another language, you have so much more literature at your disposal. Films also.
There are so many more people you can communicate with in the world.
Think of a crowded holiday beach and think of the people you might be able to understand. What if you could understand the French, German, Spanish and Dutch? And in addition, more or less wok out what the Portuguese and Italian were saying? With a smattering of Welsh as well. I can do all of that, and it makes a difference. I sometimes think it has made me be neither one thing nor another because I understand a little of many cultures and question my own. Oh, they all have their good and bad points. I can see that. Monoglots often don’t.
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Mary Glasgow Magazines
These colourful little magazines have been around for several years and are a great extra resource for language learners and teachers. They supply two German magazines, five French, three Spanish and eight English. Their web site is also fascinating, providing details of magazines, books, interactive software and free downloadable photocopiable worksheets for teachers to use with students. Subscriptions become cheaper the more you buy: for example, one subscription to La Petite Presse, the new publication for 7-11 year olds costs £17.00. Ten or more cost £8.00 each.
The magazines come with accompnaying CDs. They contian articles, fun exerices, core vocbulary and links to useful web sites.
The material covers a variety of levels, particularly in French and English. Do check the web site for details, and also bear in mind that learners can work at a higher level if supported by a teacher. The magazines are useful for individual study or classroom work.
The magazines come with accompnaying CDs. They contian articles, fun exerices, core vocbulary and links to useful web sites.
The material covers a variety of levels, particularly in French and English. Do check the web site for details, and also bear in mind that learners can work at a higher level if supported by a teacher. The magazines are useful for individual study or classroom work.
Friday, 6 June 2008
Punto Y Coma Magazine
AThis is a fabulous resource for reading and listening to Spanish. There is a digital version and a print version. The magazine features current affairs, politics, and society, travel, movies, and music, food and other similar topics. The subscription includes a CD you can listen to. The pack includes glosseries and translations of hundreds of more challenging words. There are also comprehension exercises and exercises which practise the use of grammar and idiom. The web site also has a special section for the teacher.
Even if you can’t afford a subscription or don’t have time to fit in the reading and listening exercises, the web site is worth a look. It is packed with information and some free excerpts which are also beneficial and will help you learn. Actually, however, this resource is very good value for money – just €37.00 annual subscription for the print edition and €20 for the digital version.
This resource would by good for AS and above, but could be used with less experienced learners with some teacher help.
Even if you can’t afford a subscription or don’t have time to fit in the reading and listening exercises, the web site is worth a look. It is packed with information and some free excerpts which are also beneficial and will help you learn. Actually, however, this resource is very good value for money – just €37.00 annual subscription for the print edition and €20 for the digital version.
This resource would by good for AS and above, but could be used with less experienced learners with some teacher help.
Monday, 2 June 2008
A Healthy Attitude towards Language Learning
When I was a full time language teacher, every stay in a foreign country was a linguistic adventure. Now that I am mainly someone who teaches something else, earns my living through an activity which is not related to foreign languages. I do remain interested in them, if not fascinated. However, the game has become a little different. It is now just a matter of communication.
Take the situation I’m in in this hotel. This is my last day. However, my lift is not coming until 5.00 p.m. They’ve arranged that I should keep the room until four. However, they weren’t sure last night whether it was possible. I had to check again after breakfast.
The head reception clerk, who speaks immaculate English, was on duty. Normally he is so taken aback if you speak Spanish to him that it is actually less efficient. Today, for some reason he spoke to me first in Spanish. It was my turn to be taken aback. I wasn’t expecting it so I didn’t start concentrating until half way through. I got the gist of it. He would have to check their bookings. By this time, he realised his mistake and spoke to me in English. Then there was an intense, complex exchange between him and a colleague as they tried to juggle rooms. Now I was concentrating and following the details. They probably didn’t realise. And thinking about it, even a language non-expert would have understood the gist of what was going on. In that situation, anyway, is there any need to know the detail? The outcome is what matters.
It worked in the end. By making some rearrangements, they can allow me to have the room for one more night.
I guess language expert or not, whoever was in that situation would have communicated one way or another, and I’m guessing that is so even if the reception people didn’t speak such good English. The point is that the need to communicate is there. You drop all your inhibitions about whether or not you can speak the language. That, in the end, is the greatest aid to language learning.
Take the situation I’m in in this hotel. This is my last day. However, my lift is not coming until 5.00 p.m. They’ve arranged that I should keep the room until four. However, they weren’t sure last night whether it was possible. I had to check again after breakfast.
The head reception clerk, who speaks immaculate English, was on duty. Normally he is so taken aback if you speak Spanish to him that it is actually less efficient. Today, for some reason he spoke to me first in Spanish. It was my turn to be taken aback. I wasn’t expecting it so I didn’t start concentrating until half way through. I got the gist of it. He would have to check their bookings. By this time, he realised his mistake and spoke to me in English. Then there was an intense, complex exchange between him and a colleague as they tried to juggle rooms. Now I was concentrating and following the details. They probably didn’t realise. And thinking about it, even a language non-expert would have understood the gist of what was going on. In that situation, anyway, is there any need to know the detail? The outcome is what matters.
It worked in the end. By making some rearrangements, they can allow me to have the room for one more night.
I guess language expert or not, whoever was in that situation would have communicated one way or another, and I’m guessing that is so even if the reception people didn’t speak such good English. The point is that the need to communicate is there. You drop all your inhibitions about whether or not you can speak the language. That, in the end, is the greatest aid to language learning.
Language in Action
Well, here I am then, In Spain. I’m being shown around the Nerja region by a Norwegian. I’m actually staying in a hotel in Nerja. It is very near our Belgian butcher, and not far away from the opera-singing greengrocer who has now probably retired. I must investigate later. I am sitting on my balcony writing this. It is cool in the breeze, but not cold. I can see that beautiful turquoise blue sea. It is so quiet here compared with what I am used to. Then again, it is only 2.20 in the afternoon. Do they have a siesta even at this time of the year?
My Norwegian speaks impeccable English. I don’t have to speak slowly or over pronounce words so that he understands. I can speak at full speed.
The man in the hotel also speaks English fluently, though I suspect that it is only hotel English that he speaks. They never used to do that. They used t use gesture and intonation and waving of arms, but the Spanish can do it better than most. They make you understand.
And even in these circumstances, my Spanish is useful. It’s good to respond spontaneously to a friendly “Hola”, to eavesdrop on the conversations going on at reception and to understand the notices in the hotel. Curiously, the last to be given each time is the English. German, French and Spanish come first.
I’m quite enjoying being secret fluent speaker. I can understand more than I think they can. Yet I don’t have to make the effort to speak. It’s a rather good position to be in, actually.
My Norwegian speaks impeccable English. I don’t have to speak slowly or over pronounce words so that he understands. I can speak at full speed.
The man in the hotel also speaks English fluently, though I suspect that it is only hotel English that he speaks. They never used to do that. They used t use gesture and intonation and waving of arms, but the Spanish can do it better than most. They make you understand.
And even in these circumstances, my Spanish is useful. It’s good to respond spontaneously to a friendly “Hola”, to eavesdrop on the conversations going on at reception and to understand the notices in the hotel. Curiously, the last to be given each time is the English. German, French and Spanish come first.
I’m quite enjoying being secret fluent speaker. I can understand more than I think they can. Yet I don’t have to make the effort to speak. It’s a rather good position to be in, actually.
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