Week 3: Language Learning Online

This is an example of an in-class and in-course activity and program I have used in the past. LiveMocha. It's pretty cool. I would take a look at it if you are a language teacher. I'm open for comments and discussion. I'm always trying to improve...

Share Fair Activity Worksheet

 §  Target language: Spanish

§  Target student (age, level): Ages 15-18, Levels 1-4

§  Topic/Theme: Topic was having the students make plans with a native speaker to meet for coffee and discuss planning a surprise birthday party for their mutual friend.

§  Skill focus: The focus was primarily on conversational Spanish that would increase the student’s ability to improve lexical Spanish, syntactical Spanish, and phonology of Spanish.

§  Objective: Indiana Standards 3 and 4: COMMUNICATION: Learners interpret and present information to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics (presentational).

 

§  Time: 45 minutes total (5 minutes to plan a meeting place and time with native speaker; 40 minutes at a coffee shop speaking and listening with native speaker to plan the birthday party)

§  Software/Web address: www.livemocha.com

§  Procedure for the activity: The activity will require the student to listen to a simulated conversation with a native speaker of any given Hispanic country and the student must respond orally in context with the questions and conversation being observed. The students have the entire 45 minute class to complete this activity. This will allow them time to re-record themselves if they catch errors in speech.

§  Assessment (how will you know that students have learned?): I receive oral feedback from native speakers and teachers that work with LiveMocha who give the students ratings based on a grading rubric and overall impressions of the student’s ability to communicate in Spanish.