/ UNIVERSITY OF KENT LINGUA NETWORK

1. Anthony Manning DirectorCentre for English & World Languages / UNIVERSITY OF KENTLINGUA NETWORK LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

2. Agenda • Arrival and welcome drinks • KLN aims - Update from last session • Session focus- Learning Outside the Classroom • Group discussion - Learning Outside the Classroom • Plans for next session

3. What is the Kent Lingua Network ? • We provide: • A venture to encourage networking within the field of language teaching in the Kent region • An informal opportunity to meet colleagues in the field of language teaching and to discuss related issues • An opportunity to share relevant areas of expertise • An organic forum – Please tell us what you want to discuss next time

4. Why are UoK & CEWL promoting this venture? • We provide: • UoK’s Internationalisation Strategy • UoK as the UK’s European University • A wish to foster links in areas of shared practice • Develop a community of interconnected stakeholders in the sector given new levels of national policy- e.g. UKBA initiatives • To get to know our neighbours

5. Learning Outside the Classroom • Case Study 1 - Language Exchange Scheme: • Online mechanism to bring students with reciprocal language learning needs together • Aims to provide an informal language learning opportunity • Students register then search for a language learning partner • Easy access for Kent students • Safe environment- campus based

6. Learning Outside the Classroom • Why do we need it? • Learning in the classroom is just the tip of the iceberg • To promote international communication amongst student groups • To encourage engagement with the wider community • To practise language in real contexts • To make the most of the resources on campus and beyond

7. Learning Outside the Classroom • Case Study 2 – Mandarin Exchange Evening • Collaboration with ABACUS society • Mechanism for students and native speakers to meet and socialise • Opportunities for networking and language use in a realistic context with peers • Fun activities and games devised by students for students

8. Learning Outside the Classroom • Case Study 3 – Reflective Journal • Key feature of many UG University Programmes • Aims to stimulate independent learning skills • Focused on positive an negative incidents during study on the International Foundation programme • Complete once a week • Used a wiki on Moodle • Assessed using criteria drawn from Gibb’s learning cycle

9. Learning Outside the Classroom • Case Study 4 – Event Design Project • Students asked to design a welcome event for in-coming students on a Pre-sessional course • Aims were to extend use of language outside the confines traditional English for Academic Purposes and to include an interactive social element, using language outside the classroom • Classes divided into groups and pitched their event to a panel Dragon’s Den style • The winning team then recruited support sub teams from the wider student body so that all students were involved • The event was finally included as part of induction of new students

10. Learning Outside the Classroom • Case Study 5 – Clubs & Societies Activity • Students asked to join a University club or society outside their existing area of experience • Aims were to foster international integration on campus and to offer opportunities for language use, in a manner which could feed in to students’ development of skills in English for Academic Purposes • Students completed a presentation and a 1000 word report

11. Plans for next session • Topic selection: • Motivation within the classroom • New uses of IT • Another topic? • Volunteers for next time

12. Anthony Manning DirectorCentre for English & World Languages / UNIVERSITY OF KENTLINGUA NETWORK