Kuers introduces What If Learning dot com

 

Excerpt:

The site presents teaching examples—for both elementary and secondary classrooms—from a range of subjects: art, cooking, dance, technology, drama, English, environment, geography, history, technology, math, foreign/second language, music, physical education, health, Bible class and science. (There are also categories titled “teacher,” “tests” and “topics.”)

Each example leads off with a question: “What if a grammar lesson challenged selfishness?” “What if success in math depended upon forgiveness?” “What if history could inspire students to love their city?” The site also provides tabs labeled “The Approach,” “Training,” “Big Picture,” and “Information,” where teachers can learn how to apply what they’ve learned in their classrooms.

“The website helps teachers ask key questions and make strategic decisions, not only about what to teach but about how to teach,” said Matt Walhout, Calvin’s dean for research and scholarship. “It relates specific topics like language, history, and math to the overarching Christian principles of faith, hope, and love.”

 

Also see:

Vocre -- translation app

Translate between languages with SpeechTrans Ultimate for iPhone, iPad — from tipb.com by Leanna Lofte

 

SpeechTrans Ultimate is a translating app powered by Nuance. It knows 13 different languages and has speech recognition for many of them. One of the new features is Facebook chat with Speech Input and Voice Translation Output.

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The Rosetta Project is preserving every language ever spoken, on one nano-etched piece of metal — from FastCompany.com by Matthew Battles

 

 

Excerpt:

…the Rosetta Project, takes as its daunting mission the documentation of every human language currently in use; some 7,000 in total, the majority of which are in danger of disappearing without a trace. Directing this ambitious venture is Laura Welcher, a linguist who has specialized in building archival resources for indigenous North American languages. They’re documenting the world’s languages and storing them on one small disc that currently contains 13,000 microetched pages of word lists from 1,500 languages.

 

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exchangealanguage.com -- Improving languages by creating friendships

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From DSC:
First, a word of caution. Due to the content of some of the stations available herein, I would recommend that only those people who are 18 or older visit this site.

 

 

WorldTV.com

Expanding Language by (Online) Degree — from InsideHigherEd.com by Steve Kolowich

Arabic is not a universal language, least of all in Pennsylvania. But by developing a fully online undergraduate degree in Arabic language and culture, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) will soon make Arabic universally available across its 14 colleges and universities — with other online language programs to follow.

The plan comes amid efforts by PASSHE administrators to consolidate resources across the system by cutting programs at some institutions that can be offered online by others. A pending budget proposal by Governor Tom Corbett would cut the system’s funding by more than half in the coming year, and language programs on a number of campuses have already been shuttered.

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Inside SVOX: Google’s 27-language text-to-speech upgrade — from wired.co.uk by Rob Boffard

Now, technicians at SVOX, a Swedish company based in Zurich, has made one of the most lifelike text-to-speech (TTS) systems ever — and they’ve done it in 27 languages.

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Listening-Comprehension-Podcasting — from the Langwitches blog by Silvia Tolisano

 

 

 

 

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Rich Internet Applications for Language Learners -- CLEAR Spring 2011 Newsletter
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In 2006, CLEAR launched its “Rich Internet Applications for Language Learning” initiative. Web-based tools were designed to offer functionality that is beneficial to language learning, while exploring how technology can enhance language teaching. This article discusses the design principles behind the RIA initiative, explains how the tools are intended to be used, and shares some examples of classroom use.

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From DSC:
The article mentions tools such as Wimba (now a part of Bb Collaborate), VoiceThread, and others.

 

Live Internet video for language learning — from Dr. Sarah Elaine Eaton

Web-based video is a hot topic in 21st century language education. The Internet offers a cornucopia of options for language students to include video and television in their target language in order to help them learn the language. Researcher Elizabeth Mejia points out that “video” can mean a variety of things including popular films, documentaries, television advertisements, materials produced by textbook companies to accompany their books and accompany classroom instruction, educational broadcast and amateur videos made by teachers and students.

Middlebury College takes language program online for younger students — from The Journal by Dian Schaffhauser

In a Web 2.0 world the drill and practice that makes up much of the standard fodder for many online language courses seems quaint. But a start-up promises to immerse high school students online in the same way that certain successful programs do face to face through video, audio, and avatars plunked down into foreign settings. Middlebury Interactive Languages is a joint venture announced in April 2010 between renowned language institute Middlebury College and K12, a company that operates online learning programs for K-12 worldwide. In January 2011 the venture launched its first offerings for Spanish and French, which will be available for fall 2011.

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Educators move beyond the hype over Skype — from Digital Directions by Ian Quillen

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Olivia Flick, a 3rd grader at Washington Street Elementary School in Brewer Maine,
shares facts about her state via Skype with students in South Dakota.
—Carl D. Walsh_Digital Directions
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Educators are now using the videoconferencing tool to connect foreign-language students to native speakers, hold virtual field trips and host conversations with scientists and other experts

While conceding the potential for frivolous use of Skype, its advocates say the tool can be particularly valuable for connecting foreign-language students to native speakers, holding virtual field trips, and visiting with real-world subject experts while saving precious funds and preventing logistical headaches. In many cases, teachers are reporting that aspects of video communication actually make teaching and learning more effective than the comparable in-person experiences.

Also see:

Framing a Skype Learning Experience — from Langwitches blog by Silvia Tolisano

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