ICT Resources for LOTE
Why use ICT in the teaching of LOTE?
The Languages for Victoria's Future Report, which was the instigator for the creation of the Centres of Excellence, also produced a range of findings in regard to the use of ICT in the teaching of languages. The following is an extract from the report outlining the role of ICT in LOTE.
"There was a recognition that ICT and online resources were a valuable complement to face-to-face teaching of languages by schools. The further development and utilisation of ICT represents an important opportunity to enrich and provide innovative languages programs, but not to replace face-to-face teaching. This included languages websites, the delivery of languages through videoconferencing, chat-rooms for languages teachers and a help-line with mother tongue consultants.
In addition, the use of ICT can be an important vehicle for engaging students in language learning, particularly in the Middle and Later Years of schooling and for boys, who may be more interested in the use of technology. The clusters to be established through the Innovation and Access to Excellence in the Middle Years initiative provide an opportunity to use ICT in an innovative way to improve the provision of languages and other KLAs in country Victoria. In addition the Centres of Excellence in Languages will need to develop innovative approaches to using ICT, online and multimedia materials and act as lighthouse schools, which promote the use of ICT among languages teachers in other schools and skill them in its most effective use. In light of the innovative initiatives in ICT already underway at the VSL, in L&TID and in a number of schools, Victoria is well placed to position itself to take a leading edge in the development of high quality ICT materials in languages."
As the focus of the Berwick Secondary College LOTE Centre of Excellence is the embedding of ICT in the teaching of languages, it was decided that it was imperative that we share our discoveries with LOTE teachers across the state. One of the best ways of doing this in an effective manner is through this website. From this page you will find links to a wide range of ICT resources for use in the classrom.
ICT Resources already available on the Web
Victorian School of Languages
- Year-long online courses for Years 7 and 11 in German and for Year 10 in Indonesian as well as other languages.
- Range of Professional Development on incorporating ICT in the language classroom.
- Visit them: Victorian School of Languages
The Learning and Teaching Innovation Division (L&TID) of DE&T
- Languages Online
Online learning materials for primary students in Years 3–6 in Indonesian, French, German and Italian. These activities would also be appropriate at some level for Yr 7 & 8's who have had no exposure to languages in Primary School. The Languages Online site is also developing materials that generate you own activities. Available for download are a number of game generators, that allow teachers and students to create their own online language games.
- Where's English?
A multimedia resource which has been developed primarily to support newly arrived ESL students in the middle years, who are unable to access an intensive English language program. It is also suitable for ESL students in English language schools and centres.
The Learning Federation
Innovative multimedia resources for use in the teaching of French, Indonesian, Chinese, German, Greek, Italian and Japanese. These are provided FREE to all schools in Australia. Department of Education schools in Victoria can access the objects from the Digilearn Site (you will need your edumail login to access). Teachers from all other schools can find out how to access them here: The Learning Federation.