A Flat World

A Flat World for Language LearnersMaryanne Burgos, Ph.D.

What do we want our language students to learn?

ESL Standards from TESOL
To use English to communicate in social settings
To use English to achieve academically in all content areas
To use English in socially and culturally appropriate ways

Five C’s of Foreign Language Education

Quick Reference
Social language
Academic language
Culture

Optimal Language Learning Environments
What do you think makes for a good language learning environment?

Optimal Environments
1. Have opportunities to interact and negotiate meaning.
2. Interact in the target language with an authentic audience.
3. Are involved in authentic tasks.
Egbert, J &Hanson-Smith, E. CALL Environments

Can computers help?

Historical Development of CMC

Drill and Practice

Email

Can new Internet tools provide an optimal environment?

What are some new Internet tools?

New Internet Tools

Tools are Not Methods

Project-Based Learningfor Language Learners

Websites for Global Collaboration
ePalshttp://www.epals.com/
The Global Schoolhousehttp://www.globalschoolnet.org/index.html
Taking It Globalhttp://takingitglobal.org/
Center for Innovation in Science and Engineering Educationhttp://www.k12science.org/collabprojs.html

What can ePals do for you?
Connect classrooms
Offer ready-to-use projects
Allow networking for teachers, students and parents
Provide safe environment

1. Classroom Match

Negotiation of Meaning
Learning is essentially the result of interaction between learners and others.

Interaction
Learners must be involved in social interaction which is purposeful with a real audience that is actively involved with the learners.

Authentic Tasks
Authentic tasks are those having the same types of cognitive challenges as complicated real-world tasks do.

Designing a Project-Based Project
Connect with a classroom
Start with the goal
Design a plan for the project
Choose your tools
Create a schedule
Monitor progress
Assess the outcome
Evaluate the experience

2. Projects
Participate in ePal Projects

The Way We Arehttp://www.epals.com/projects/info.aspx?DivID=TheWayWeAre_overview

3. Networking
Teacher forums
Student forums
Family Forums
Project Forums
Focus Area Forums

4. Safe Environment

ePals as Optimal Language Learning Environment
Social language
Academic language
Culture

Enjoy a Flatter More ConnectedWorld