1. Technology support for language learning The example of two self-access media centres Daniela Zambaldi

2. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Background South Tyrol: 69% of population is German speaking, 27% Italian and 4% Ladin speaking 3 linguistic groups = 3 cultural departments (support to minority cultures and languages) German and Italian = compulsory for civil servants

3. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Office for bilingualism and foreign languages 70s: first services aimed at promoting German as a second language 80s: Office for bilingualism -> Office for bilingualism and foreign languages Goals: –Promotion of German as second language –Promotion of the knowledge of other cultures and languages

4. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Means of language promotion DIRECT: to schools/associations: Advisory service + workshops Teacher development resources to private individuals: Advisory service Study and work experiences Local events and initiatives Self-access media centres INDIRECT : to schools/associations and private individuals: Financial support

5. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Multilingual Centre Bolzano Started in 1979 to support teachers of German as second language Today: more than 10 languages services (all free): –Loan of about 15,000 multimedia items –Self-access points with online resources –Language and multimedia advisory service –Other initiatives

6. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Multimedia Language Centre Merano Set up in 2002 Multimedia self-access centre (no books) Services (all free): –Loan of about 4,000 multimedia items –Self-access points with online resources –Language and multimedia advisory service –Other initiatives

7. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Technology - why? extra-school = entertainment “cyber generation”= multi-modal communication and multitasking self-use autonomy interactivity flexibility digital world = multilingual curiosity

8. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Technology – what? Language courses – non-formal activity (cd-rom, dvd-rom, USB stick, audio cd, podcast, internet) “Free time” resources – informal activity (audiobooks, music, films, online newspapers and magazines, podcasts, videogames, satellite TV…) www.provincia.bz.it/centromultilingue

9. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Technology – how? At home On site With the support of our personnel: –Individually –In groups (workshops)

10. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Language and technology workshops Podcast a language Suoni-Stimmen-Sounds (audiobooks) When languages meet the game: edutainment videogames for language learning (Merano, December 15th-17th)

11. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Summing up: New media can foster independent learning BUT: Independent learning has to be supported by an advisory service

12. Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages - Bolzano Summing up: An independent learning and media centre will therefore include: –resources and a learning environment –advisory services and learning strategies –additional supporting services

13. Beyond language teaching towards language advising We cannot teach a language, we can only provide the conditions. Von Humboldt

14. Questions? Daniela Zambaldi Multilingual Centre Bolzano Daniela.Zambaldi@provincia.bz.it www.provincia.bz.it/centromultilingue Thank you!