When the Night Comes… Bridging the GAP: Blogging in German Rita M. Niemann Centre for Language Studies

Bridging the GAP in AY2010/11 GAP: German for Academic Purposes –39 Students under the SEP Language Preparation Programme –Semester 4 –2 lectures & 1 tutorial per week

Bridging the GAP in AY2010/11 Course Goals: Prepare students for exchange semester at a partner university in a German speaking country in terms of: –Language –Culture –Academic environment

Bridging the GAP in AY2010/11 Resources: –Textbook –Exercise book –e- daf (Electronic Self-access Centre for German learning students; since August 2001)e- daf –Course BlogCourse Blog

Blogging in German Blog Goals: Bridge ‘the gap’ –Language: FOUR skills Reading Writing Listening Speaking

Blogging in German Blog Goals: Bridge ‘the gap’ –Information: Academic environment German culture(s) & society Settling in …

Blogging in German Advantages of a Course Blog: –Interactive –Participatory –Mobile: anytime & anywhere –Multimedia: text, audio & video –Secure & controlled Environment

Blogging in German Advantages of a Course Blog: –Productive: (Un)Rehearsed Learner Language –Written text: concrete tasks & comments –Spoken language: audio & video recordings –Receptive: Authentic Language

Blogging in German Advantages of a Course Blog: –Learner support Links to online dictionaries, grammar notes, verb conjugation tables, vocabulary cards and further exercises & materials Comments and feedback from other students & teacher

AY2009/2010, Sem II My first Blog –XCHANGE: D&CH –LAG3203 German for Academic Purposes

AY2010/2011, Sem I My second Blog –HörenSagen: Ein Blog zum Mitmachen –LAG3201 German3

Students’ Feedback Weakness: 1. Lecture sessions too short for the content that needed to be covered. Either lengthen session or reduce breath of content. 2. Make more lecture groups if possible, lecture size too big, less individual participation. Strength: 1. Blog created for interactive purposes.

Students’ Feedback The use of different media in learning German is really helpful and good! […] Students were constantly exposed to German culture (music, food, movies, literature, etc.), which makes the students interested in more than just the language and encourages them to pursue further lessons.

Students’ Feedback Learning materials are sufficient to complement the learning. Also, it was good to have the German blog. Podcasts were all creatively used to maximize the learning experience. Some more interaction perhaps? E.g. with fellow students or SEP students.

Blogging in German Plans for AY1011, Sem II: GAP –Inform students about studies and life in Germany & Switzerland Matriculation Health insurance Registration Bank account Hostel living Time table

Blogging in German Plans for AY1011, Sem II: GAP –Engange students in active participation 3-4 compulsory homework assignments –Voicethread –Audacity –Short Essay (comments) 1-2 automatization sound file(s) per chapter (listen and react) 6 podcasts with tasks, handout and answer key

Blogging in German Plans for AY1011, Sem II: GAP –Engange students in active participation Authentic audio files with a variety of meaningful listening tasks (bottom-up/top- down) with handout, transcripts and answer keys Authentic video files with additional information Authentic written texts with meaningful tasks

Blogging in German Plans for AY1011, Sem II: GAP –Provide students with rich German language environment At least 1 video/audio per chapter (music, news, informative clips) At least 1 relevant written text per week (open for comments)

Blogging in German Plans for AY1011, Sem II: GAP –Create a strong sense of communuity & ownership Allow students enrolled in the module to upload content (author rights) Involve NUS students currently studying in Germany and Switzerland in discussions (by registration) Involve German speaking exchange students at NUS in discussions (by registration)

AY2010/2011, Sem II My current Blog –GAP –LAG32302 German for Academic Purposes

Useful Tools Voicethread: “Manipulating” learning objectsVoicethread Login required. Users: Teacher/ Learners

Useful Tools Audacity: Audio editorAudacity Free download. Users: Teacher/ Learners

Useful Tools Cobocards: Collaborative learningCobocards Login required. Users: Teacher/ Learners

Useful Tools Wordle: Beautiful Word CloudsWordle No login required. User: Teacher

Useful Tools Awesome Highlighter:Awesome Highlighter No login required. Users: Teacher/ Learners

When the Night Comes… Most students are online … … and so am I!

When the Night Comes… … try these links: