District Administration - February 2009 - (Page 33)

Hello Ni Hao Bonjour answer questions. Students pair off and use the microphones to record conversations on topics that Reynolds assigns, and the resulting recordings can be graded. IPods represent a very promising instructional approach. A teacher can have students listen to a variety of podcasts, including authentic podcasts in the target language, Abbott says. Students who have access to iPods at home can listen at their own pace and more easily engage in learning outside of class. “It’s making language learning more of a 24/7 endeavor instead of just doing that during class time,” she says. Producing Video Beyond audio, video is helpful and motivating for tech- and media-savvy students. Teacher Gabriella Stetz of the Township High School District 214, near Chicago, has employed video in her class for seven years. Groups of her language students at John Hersey High School have used video cameras to shoot commercials for real products, such as Coca-Cola, in their target languages. The assignment is fun and provides good practice of their vocabulary and grammar skills. Students edit their footage with iMovie, an Apple software program. Students also use iMovie to insert English subtitles in videos. The subtitles allow students in the school’s French, Spanish and German classes to meet and look at each other’s commercials, Stetz says. Students can then vote on their favorite commercials. Stetz’s students are excited about using the technology. “Foreign language has become an elective class, and we are always fighting to keep up our enrollment,” Stetz says. “Having this project is one way to get them excited and willing to go to the next level.” Stetz believes that teachers shouldn’t fear exploring creative ways to use technology in the classroom. “I think we have a responsibility in any content area to incorporate technology into our lessons,” she says. DA Kevin Butler is a contributing writer for District Administration. www.DistrictAdministration.com LANGUAGE. WHO WANTS SECONDS? The Sony lab has exponentially changed the opportunity our students have to speak in class. The result is that we now have a chance to create language ‘speakers’ and not just students who can read and write the language. Edward A. Salina, Jr., Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent for Administration Roslyn Public Schools www.SANSINC.com or contact us at INFO@SANSINC.com Digital PC Comparative Recorder Instructional Control Software ©2009 SANS Inc. Virtuoso and Soloist are trademarks of Sony Electronics Inc. SANS products incorporate SANS and Sony technology. Hola Ciao Guten Tag Resources ACS Direct www.ascdirect-usa.com Apple Education Products www.apple.com/education/products Berlitz www.berlitz.com Blogger www.blogger.com Class Chatter www.classchatter.com ePals www.epals.com iMovie www.apple.com/ilife/imovie Languagelab (Second Life) www.languagelab.com Myngle www.myngle.com Photo Story 3 www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/mediaadvice/0098 .mspx Rosetta Stone www.rosettastone.com SANS www.sansinc.com Skype www.skype.com Tell Me More www.tellmemorestore.com February 2009 33 http://www.SANSINC.com http://www.SANSINC.com http://www.languagelab.com http://www.ascdirect-usa.com http://www.myngle.com http://www.apple.com/education/products http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/mediaadvice/0098.mspx http://www.berlitz.com http://www.blogger.com http://www.rosettastone.com http://www.sansinc.com http://www.classchatter.com http://www.skype.com http://www.epals.com http://www.tellmemorestore.com http://www.apple.com/ilife/imovie http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of District Administration - February 2009

District Administration - February 2009 Contents Advertiser Index Editor's Letter News Update Security Curriculum Crisis Response Supervisor's Opinion The Rise of the Virtual Teacher Speaking Their Language Alternate Transportation Routes Opinion The Aftermath of the New 403(b) Regulations How Well Does This Web Site Work? Problem Solution New Products Product Focus Professional Opinion

District Administration - February 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.