October 30, 2008

Thoughts, Reflections, Stomach Grumblings Regarding EAL Technology/Online Resources

This post has one purpose: to fulfill my CS Professional Development. Well, that's not quite true. I can honestly say I found it quite a worthwhile endeavor to see what resources are currently available to EAL/ESL teachers. You don't want to reinvent the wheel when someone has already gone through all the trouble. From my limited experience already, I know one thing for sure: good lessons can take a lot of time to make.

The EAL Teaching/Student Learning Resources list that I've compiled for the past month showcases a lot of great resources currently available to teachers and students to promote English as an Additional Language -- both in and out of the classroom. The more and more I dug around the Internet, the more I realized that there is A LOT of stuff out there, and A LOT of useful things too. In fact, just today I stumbled upon The English Blog which is literally bursting with useful websites, multimedia, web 2.0 applications and other resources that are all related to EAL instruction. It was one first time in recent memory that I was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of information was out there regarding technology for EAL instruction.

It is apparent that many people are taking a focus at the issue I based my presentation on: Integrating Technology into EAL Instruction. It makes me excited, hopeful perhaps, that there are many creative people out there trying to create meaningful applications and online experiences to help facilitate the need of engaging EAL/ESL instruction. Babbel, which I've discussed in my last post, is a great example of this.

Hmmm, I'm not too sure what else to add for a summary or conclusion. I'm definatley not going to explain everything I've found and listed on my EAL Resources Page, as it's quite self-explanatory and many pages have a lot of overlap as to what they provide. Take a look and let me know what you (genuinely) think about them. Leave a comment. I dare you.

October 22, 2008

Welcome to Babbel-on.

So this post is directed to my Professional Development Project I'm currently working on the topic of resources for integrating technology with EAL learners. It's more difficult that you think. Just like there can be a lot of great things on the Internet, there is also a LOT of mediocre and subpar resources that teachers could fall prey to.

My job, and my rationale for this PD is to do all the hard work and provide to you - my faithful viewer/blogger - the fruits of my labour. And by fruits, I mean on-line EAL resources.

One such resource that I've found is Babbel. Babbel is a Web 2.0 invention, innovation, something-ation that is a step in the right direction towards on-line interactivity and language acquisition. With a combination of interactivity, text, audio, and visuals it makes the whole experience engaging and ... fun! I've been using the website off and on for the past couple weeks to help study for my French class, and it's been very useful (and ... fun!). I reccommend you check it out.

Also, the fine folks at Babbel also contribute to The Babbel Blog, which contrary to almost all other online service blogs: it actually has useful information beyond self-promotion and being an overglorified FAQ website. There is a lot of great information on education, technology, languages, and language acquisition - all wrapped up into a digestable relevant package. For instance, the new post is about at what grade levels did both of the USA vice-president runners speak at during their lastest national debate. Cool stuff... though disturbing/scary that Sarah Palin apparently scored higher.

October 18, 2008

The Disjointed Blog Update

Hello!

Purchased one of the new 13" Macbooks that were premiered this past Tuesday.

I'm excited.

Saw the one and only Niel Young at the MTS Centre on Thursday.

I'm surprised I still have a voice after that concert.

Handed in our groups WestCAST proposal and ENREB submission forms.

I'm crossing my fingers.

Currently working on a educational/legal/social issue paper for School & Society.

It's on Metis Education.

I'm Metis.

So it's relevant.

Three weeks left of classes until our practicum block starts.

They'll be some more updates soon about my professional development plan.

It's on EAL resources available online/software/websites.

I should probably start that soon.

Whoopeee.

October 11, 2008

STOP. Hammerti-- Reflection Time.

Reflection. The 1-million dollar word in Education. The ideology is that the only way to grow as a professional is to continually review, critically think, and reflect on your progress as a teacher. Learn from your mistakes, take the best parts of your success, make new goals, and keep going.

So now that I've presented, the WestCAST proposal is in it's editing/revision stages, and I'm starting to get ramped up for the next wave of assignments... lets reflect.

Presentation had an overwhelmingly positive reception, which I'm very happy about. Never really know how a topic such as EAL will be received in a Computer Science class. Looks like soon-to-be new teachers will be more conscious to the needs/demands of EAL students in the classroom - something I'm very excited about.

Since the presentation though, and because WestCAST and my CS Professional Development Plan are following the same EAL/Technology theme I've found a few more resources to share and some links to things I wasn't able to share during the presentation. Here we go:


LOTS of EAL Resources from Manitoba Immigration
First website of many I've found for my Professional Development Plan. Lots of things to look at invloving EAL instruction.

Manitoba Labour and Immigration & Manitoba Labour and Immigration: Immigration and Multiculturalism Division
Provincial government websites discussing all the fun gritty details of immigration law, statistics, and other information. Actually, that's a bad summary. There is some worthwhile information on here, if you can avoid the black-and-white legal documents. Take a look if you're curious.

Manitoba Immigration Facts: 2007 Statistical Report (PDF)
This document was used during my CS Presentation. Provides all the immigration statistics for Manitoba in 2007. Really great facts/figures to see how MB immigration influx has increased over the past 10 years.


Over the next few weeks I'll be posting all the links to websites and products I'll be reviewing/demoing for my CS Professional Development Plan. The plan is to find and critically review EAL resources for teachers to integrate technology in the classroom. As well as make connections between the resources and the concepts I've discussed in my presentation last week. Should be fun.

In other news, been keeping busy with the Manitoba Affiliated Schools program. By "keeping busy," I mean gathering letters of reference and other documents so I can teach overseas next year. If your interested in having your first teaching position outside of Canada, I recommend you to check it out. There is no hidden tricks, no hidden fees, and no "the sink is also the bathtub and toilet" horror scenarios you've heard about. It's exciting.

October 08, 2008

CS Methods Presentation is Ready To Go!

Since my laptop hit the ol' dirt, I've had to get creative. I decided to create my presentation using Google Docs. Even though it's a bit bland, I'm happily surprise with the finished product. And you can do cool things like embed the presentations into your website/blog like this:



Enjoy a sneak peek and I'll see you all tomorrow.

October 05, 2008

WestCAST 2009, EAL, and Computer Science

"...One of these things is not like the other, one of these things doesn't belong..."

So you might ask yourself what WestCAST (Western Canadian Association for Student Teaching), EAL (English as an Additional Language) and Computer Science have in common. For myself, it's what I've been doing a lot of work on the past two weeks as I prepare a WestCAST proposal for the upcoming WestCAST 2009 conference in Victoria, BC -- as well as putting together a presentation for Teaching Computer Science in the Senior Years.

The 2-cent version of my presentation is this: What benefits can be made to SLA (Second Language Acquisition) by including technology (i.e. computers, the Internet) in an EAL classroom? How can teacher's plan effective lessons that involve technology for EAL classrooms? What are the strengths and limitations of using this approach to teaching EAL students?

My own presentation is only a small portion of my groups WestCAST proposal -- where we hope to outline a more holistic approach to EAL instruction that involves educating the whole child through technology and the arts. The deadline for our proposal is October 14th, but we feel confident in our research thus far that we'll be accepted. Here's to good luck!

Anyways, the reason I have an invested interest in EAL education is through my involvement with the CTESL (Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Langauge) program at the University of Manitoba. During my first year in the Faculty of Education I enrolled in the introductory EAL course as my elective -- and I loved it. Over this past summer I've taken a few more courses on EAL Grammar Instruction and EAL Content-based Instruction. I have one more course to go (and my 10-hour practicum), then I'll be eligible to teach (and get PAID!) EAL to adults and children.

Right now I'm volunteering at the International Center in downtown Winnipeg, where I teach EAL to immigrant and refugee adults on the weekends. It's a great experience, and I think I'm learning more doing this than in a lot of courses I've taken in the faculty. Nothing beats real-life experience. I hope my enthusiasm for EAL teaching shows in my presentation and proposal.

...In other news, my 5-year-old laptop died this weekend. Not the best thing to have happen when your enrolled in a Teaching Computer Science class. Looks like I'll need to get out the cheque book (or loan... book).