Modern Languages and WebCT

1. Modern Languages and WebCT Roger Hewitt Faculty of Arts University of Manchester 19 February 2003

2. Case Studies • TANDEM • Reciprocal language learning for British and European undergraduates • ITALRETE • Web based communications for students of Italian preparing for and undertaking a period of study in Italy

3. Pedagogical Themes • TANDEM • Foreign language development and cross-cultural learning through computer mediated communication • ITALRETE • Peer support

4. VLEs at Manchester • ELEN (1999 – 2001) • Extended Learning Environment Network • TLTP3 funded project • Teknical Virtual campus • WebCT (2001 – date) • Version 3.1 • Updating Summer 2003 to 3.8 Campus Edition

5. TANDEM • British students studying French, Spanish, Italian, German • European students at Manchester as part of Erasmus exchange programme • Wide range of departments • 18 this semester: Physics, Engineering, Medicine, History, linguistics • 20 credit elective module

6. Reciprocal learning • Student’s partner adopts role of “knower” as well as “mentor” • Meetings at beginning and end of each semester • Some optional workshops • Little face to face contact between staff and students

7. Uses of WebCT • To enhance the sense of course cohesion and develop a sense of course community • Photographs • Biographies written by partner • To provide a central meeting point and • To provide a space for administrative information and notices • Calendar

8. Photos and biographies

9. Uses of WebCT • To provide a space where students can discuss issues and share experiences of cultural adjustment • Virtual seminar

10. Virtual Seminar

11. Virtual Seminar • …I think that this is a really realistic incident and I fully understand what he felt at that moment. I wouldn’t say that I felt loneley now, but the arrival in Manchester was nothing easy… • …the most difficult thing was to understand people and when you don’t you feel so lost especially when you ask them to repeat 300 times the same thing and they don’t make any efforts to repeat slower or in a more understandable way for a foreigner… • …my flatmates did care […] started speaking more slowly, using words I could understand… • …I know what it is to feel uncomfortable in a pub […] you do not understand because of the music or whatever…

12. Uses of WebCT • To provide a space where students can discuss aspects of the target cultures (systems and behaviours) with members of those cultures

13. Some themes • US war on terror • Turkey in the EU • Role of religion in society • Firefighters’ strike • Use of offensive language • Exploring national stereotypes • Top up fees • Earthquakes • Cultural adjustment

14. British students and alcohol • Why do English students drink so much? Maybe the reason is the liberty to do it. Especially students, who are in their first year, tend to drink a lot. This behaviour remains me of summer camp. Most English students are away from home and from their parents for the first time in their life. Another point is, that English students are not able to entertain themselves. I have the feeling they do not know, what to do with their time. Every kind of entertainment is artificial in Manchester and the students live in their one little world that’s why they become bored. And I hear very often ‘I am so bored, let’s drink!’. That’s is very pity, when people do not know what to do with their time and their life.

15. British students and alcohol • I completely agree with Peggy. Last year I was in hall and it was on very few occasions that I found myself saying "Let's have a quite drink to relax" it was more like "I've finished an essay, let's get hammered!". The only times that I didn't drink last year was when I was recovering from the night before. But it's not because we need alcohol. Our bodies are not born more needy for a drink purely because we are British! No, it's definitely because we rely on it for entertainment and I think this is really sad!

16. Uses of WebCT • To provide a space where students can discuss aspects of their target languages (systems and strategies for learning) with native speakers of those languages and with other learners

17. Discussion boards

18. Strategies for learning • Hy guys!! I agree with all of you!!I have been in Canada for 4 months and there I found a strategy to improve my english.When I am in a foreign country I use to have a pocket dictionary,a pen and a TELEPHONE BOOK in my bag!!The telephone book is divided in alphabetical order,thus either when I find or I hear a new word I can immediately check how to write it,which is its meaning and copy it in my telephone book.It could seem inconvenient and boring but it works!!!

19. Uses of WebCT • To offer students opportunities for further learning and language reference through links to external sites • British National Corpus • BBC, Newspapers etc • To hold course documents • Exam question • Key codes

20. Student comments • Less confident students have an opportunity to participate which might be inhibited in a “class full of people” • More time to prepare and reflect on contributions

21. Student comments • Lack of pressure/anxiety • Learners are under neither time pressure to respond nor the pressure of making a mistake or looking foolish • Length and breadth of entries are not restricted • Individual styles are allowed to flourish

22. Student comments • Democratic • No teacher intervention in the seminar • All contributions from the students • “I felt encouraged to contribute and pose questions that I would not have done in a conventional seminar” • “The interaction is more personal and evokes more interest than in typical language learning situations”

23. Future Developments • Revamping the site • Changing appearance • Evaluation form • Extent of moderation

24. ITALRETE • Support for year abroad students involving three cohorts • 2nd year preparing for year abroad • 3rd year in Italy • 4th year returned to Manchester

25. Italrete Front Page

26. Information • Learning objectives • Links to • Italian Universities • Language Schools • Italian search engines • Newspapers, Cyber Cafe locations

27. Peer support • Advice from students to students about all aspects of the year abroad, collated and published as a document • Exchange of information between students through discussion groups and chat rooms

28. Advice from students

29. Advice from students

30. Advice from students

31. Advice from students

32. Italrete News

33. Planning ahead • I'm in Sicily at the moment, just thought i'd say that that's probably one of the best things about Messina is that accommodation is really easy and living in halls is one of the easiest ways to make friends, it's kind of like being in Owen's park but on a much smaller scale, it also means that you don't have to worry about bills or the hot water or gas running out which tends to happen a lot here and you don't have problems with italian landlords either. Anyway any questions, and i'll be happy to answer, good luck • Life's much quieter here than in Manchester, but it's up to you to change the way you think and adapt yourself to a different lifestyle, the first few weeks I absolutely hated it, but now I don't want to come home for Christmas, wherever you go you'll have a brilliant time, but do think about it carefully before you go, try to find out as much as possible about each place.

34. Planning ahead • Can anyone tell me which unis to go to to be near mountains? Of course this is not how I will choose where to go, I do have some comon sense in me, but it would be nice to have something to do on weekends. I've also promised my family they can come skiing while I'm there. • Bergamo is definitely the best place to go for cheap skiing and boarding- the nearest good slopes are at Foppolo, only an hour and s half's bus ride away • I do know there are some resorts near Rome and near Genova, but you'll get the best snow and longest seasons up North. here are some websites you might find useful: http://www.foppolo.comhttp://www.cervinia.ithttp://www.val-gardena.com

35. Accommodation • Thanx to the wonderful people at Ryanair.com, I have managed to get a return flight to Bologna (Forli - the only draw back!) for just 2p, and so will be visiting the city Jan 15-18, to have a look at the uni and check out the city… • A standard second class train ticket from Forli to Bologna will cost you about 4 quid. There isn't a better way unless you have transport of your own lined up. As for accommodation, try the tourist office in piazza maggiore, they haven't failed to find accommodation of a suitable level and price yet … • oh, and for restaurants, try the osteria dell'orso on (or just off) via mascarella, two pasta dishes to choose from and loads of wierd and wonderful starters...i reccommend the cheese and honey and nuts on toast …

36. Chat Room • Chat room has not been used. • Reasons? • Difficult to find a time when more than a small group can and might want to get online • e-mail, mobile phones and text messaging mean students do not see real time communication over the web as being especially useful. • However, I do not plan yet to give up on the chat room.

37. Future Developments • First year with 3 cohorts using the same system • Previously ELEN or ELEN/WebCT • Full evaluation • If successful, introduction into other European language departments

38. Contacts • TANDEM • John.Morley@man.ac.uk • Sandra.Truscott@man.ac.uk • ITALRETE • Clive.Griffiths@man.ac.uk • roger.hewitt@man.ac.uk