/ UNIVERSITY OF KENT LINGUA NETWORK Anthony Manning Director Centre for English & World Languages LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

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 Agenda

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

/ UNIVERSITY OF KENT LINGUA NETWORK Anthony Manning Director Centre for English & World Languages