May 2009 Archives
The Newcastle strand of Routes into Languages North East is launching their web-based learning platform www.universed.co.uk. Universed was developed alongside http://linguacast.ncl.ac.uk for pupils and teachers in schools to supplement their learning with rich resources.
Much of the content is produced in the North East and all content is overseen, before it goes live on the site. It spans teen-focused content and links to existing mainstream web-educational sites. This language learning podcasting site is of a style that will attract young users and be big enough to encourage habitual use.
Universed is a cross-platform initiative with on-line social networking and user-generated content. This celebration of culture and diversity combines photographs, videos, audio files, bookmarks and blogs and other resources, from all across the globe; perfect for helping with GCSE homework, or just exploring the diversity of languages and cultures.
From June 2009 Universed will be hosted by ictGateshead.
Have you got a partner school abroad? We have just set up our first two links abroad - one in France and one in the Ivory Coast. We're hoping to use these links to practise the French we've been learning as well as find out about life in different countries and cultures! It's all very exciting...
We managed to find our partner schools through the Global Gateway ( www.globalgateway.org.uk ). It was easy to register, and then we just had to write to 4 or 5 schools to express our interest in pairing up with them.
So far all we've exchanged is some emails and photos, but eventually we might be able to do things like videoconferencing and even exchanges!
If you've set up a link already, leave us a comment to give us some tips!
Just a quick summary of MFL training coming up...
Primary NQT MFL Training - 4 June (all day) - contact Alan Sergison
Training for Unit 4 of the Pathfinder Scheme - 8 July (pm) - contact Catherine Barrett
And don't forget the MFL Showcase on 24 June!!!
