Feb

26

Doodle for Google

February 26, 2008 | 1 Comment

Google is hosting a competition for students to customize the Google logo. As world language educators, you could have your students enter this contest, focusing on language, culture, global understanding, etc. Why should you consider this? There is great power in being able to generate meaning through visual representation – it requires critical thinking and [...]

Feb

25

Social Networking comes to Language Learning

February 25, 2008 | 1 Comment

Live Mocha has launched – this website combines social networking with language learning. Here you can indicate what language you speak as well as what language(s) you would like to learn. There are synchronous and asynchronous opportunities, the ability to track your progress through various courses, and native speakers who are willing to interact with [...]

Feb

21

UN Declares 2008 International Year of Languages

February 21, 2008 | 1 Comment

the United Nations declared 2008 the International Year of Languages. The February 2008 UNESCO Courier focuses on world languages and culture with several interesting articles.
“The first instrument of a people’s genius is its language,” said the French writer Stendhal. Literacy, learning, social integration….Everything transits through language, which embodies national, cultural and sometimes religious identity [...]

Feb

15

NFLRC at Iowa State receives StarTalk Grant!

February 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment

The National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center at Iowa State University received a StarTalk grant for a special professional development institute for Chinese teachers to take place during the summer of 2008, Mentoring and Leadership for K-12 Chinese Teachers.
In this 10-day summer institute, K-12 Chinese teachers will explore key concepts and principles related to [...]