http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll salvete • 欢 迎 • bienvenue • willkommen • bienvenido Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:07:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A ton of tongue twisters for Tuesday. "Poquito a poquito Paquito empaca poquitas copitas en pocos paquetes." "¡Qué triste estás, Tristán, con tan tétrica trama teatral!" "Bene memini pantomimi minimi et amantium mimi." "Tilia sub tilia filat subtilia fila." "Ob er über Oberammergau, oder aber über Unterammergau, oder ob er überhaupt noch kommt, ist ungewiß!" "Una ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/06/09/tongue-twisters/ Don't ever let me catch you singing like that again, without enthusiasm. You're nothing if you aren't excited by what you're doing.—Frank Sinatra to his son, Frank Jr. http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/06/08/quote-of-the-week-78/ Visual dictionary might be used to start a conversation and give students the vocabulary they need just in time to continue a class discussion. http://www.infovisual.info/index_es.html (SPANISH) http://www.infovisual.info/index_fr.html (FRENCH) http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/06/05/visual-dictionary-in-spanish-and-french/ Come to Judd 126 to see amazing May Projects by our graduating seniors. Andrew Zich and Peter Zich have created a proof-of-concept rubric tool that is way cool. They will be demonstrating the tool regularly between 7 and 9 pm in the World Language Lab (UH207). Check out example uses of ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/06/04/may-project-exhibition-tonight/ I learned about a new site at IALLT that allows teachers to quickly find native speakers in many languages to either speak with or correct the writing of second language learners. I haven't used this yet myself, but I'm looking forward to it. This kind of a real-time access to ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/06/03/mixxer/ A quick reflection on the IALLT conference. I was really impressed with the congeniality and originality coming out of this year's IALLT sessions. These are instructional technology professionals who are consistently hunting for that "sweet spot" where technology and pedagogy enhance one another. Most of the suggestions I heard from fellow ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/06/02/iallt-day-4/ This morning, I attended a great workshop about an experimental distance learning language class that was simulated around starting a non-profit to serve the local immigrant hispanic community. Great ideas and very inspiring! I love the idea of creating entire syllabi around meaningful, longer-term projects. Then I saw some wonderful videos ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/05/29/iallt-day-3/ The DiLL presentation went great today. One of my big take-aways was the idea that language labs/learning spaces, just like classrooms, are moving away from being teacher-centered professional development corners to being student-centered. The Language Center will be a Language Resource Center where STUDENTS can come and get the resources ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/05/28/iallt-day-2/ This morning, we had a great discussion with six other language lab coordinators about various language resource center designs. It was great to see how different schools have approached this problem working withing their own unique constraints. I wish I could post some of the photos, layouts, and materials I ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/05/27/iallt-workshops-language-lab-desig-camtasia/ Today, I'll be popping in and out of Second Life for the SLanguages 2009 Conference. I haven't completely given up on the idea of language learning in virtual worlds, although the students I talk to seem to think that it's a really bad* idea. I like the idea of learning ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/05/08/slanguages-2009/ There are a ton of sites out there where you can list your favorite books, books you'd like to read, books you are reading, books you have read, etc. etc. For now, I'm going simple with the google books option. Their search is fast and easy. Here's my online compilation ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/05/07/google-books/ Please join Information Systems for Basement Bash II this TODAY (Friday, May 1), from 2:30-4:00 PM. Not only will IS kick off the Garage Sale, where we will have details, documents, and display models available of the desktop and laptop computers for sale, but you'll also have a chance to play ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/05/01/basement-bash-ii/ Personally, I go in and out of using twitter, depending on how busy I am. Other people I know thrive on it; they love to be the first to know what's up, what's hot, what's not. I usually just surf for interesting links. I am less inclined to track people's ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/04/30/twitter-reaches-critical-mass/ Lab owes a big thank you to Wayne Brasler and the myriad students who have helped him write and publish the Midway through the years. The maroon-bound volumes of Midways gone by, currently stored in Judd 014, are probably our single best source of Lab's history. I found a photograph ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/04/29/the-past-revisited/ Flicker has some great sequences that are only 5 photos long, which could be used for telling stories and generating conversation. Another site has made it easy for users to design their own sequence of five cards from creative commons photos. http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/04/28/flickr-stories/ I found a site that might help our language students preparing for the AP exams next week. These tips on cramming might be particularly appropriate. ;) http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/04/27/test-taking-tips/ This just in from the LLTI listserv. I know our teachers are always looking for rights-free images, so this site should be a big help. Another place to look is in the Creative Commons area in Flickr. CAPL (Culturally Authentic Pictorial Lexicon) is a "free, online, non-commercial visual glossary comprised of ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/04/22/capl/ I could watch TED all day. http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/04/15/the-work-of-a-lexicographer/ Check out this interesting video by Steven Pinker (TED). http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/04/14/lacademie-francaise-thought-language-etc/ Skype for the iPhone was released March 30th. One review here. I tried it over the weekend and I thought it worked rather well. There will likely come a time (5 years hence? 10 years hence?) when powerful wifi networks are free and ubiquitous. And gadgets like the iPhones or ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/04/14/skype-on-the-iphone/ CTBYL is an online game in Spanish and English to figure out what kind of job you would need and where you would need to live to make a comfortable living. It also tries to help you pick a job you are good at. The game is simple and would ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/04/02/could-this-be-your-life/ I wonder how long before the computerized voices that are now on Mac and PC (and the new iPod shuffle) become a standard of all mobile devices and are regularly used to interpret speakers of other languages. In some ways, it's already here. But when this capability is standard like ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/03/13/voice-over-talk-of-the-language-world/ The National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center features some theme-based units in Spanish and French that look interesting. Sadly, their New Visions in Action project has been discontinued, but via the old site I found a link to the Annenberg Media's learner.org with some video training for Foreign Language teachers. ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/03/12/k-12-foreign-language-resource-center/ Just a reminder to students that the World Language Lab has 2 seats of Final Cut Pro and the complete suite of Adobe CS3 products installed on all of the computers in the lab. These are great tools worth learning. Students are encouraged to stop by and work with this ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/03/10/adobe-cs3-final-cut-pro/ The University of Oregon has some great lesson plan ideas linking interesting content with new vocabulary. What I like about these topics is that teachers can easily come up with provocative and timely questions that will make students want to stretch their output skills so they can say what they ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/03/04/mosaic/ Today, I'm at the McCormick Convention Center in downtown Chicago presenting at the National Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference. Diane Jackson and I are talking about how to save paper by using DiLL, or the Digital Language Learning Lab. Here's the little blurb: Most of our presentation materials are here ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/27/nais-presentation/ After months of preparation, the ArtsFest student committee presents over 90 interesting workshops to the High School community. See a complete list of workshop descriptions here. In lieu of their normal classes, High Schoolers will be wandering from room to room (in a scheduled fashion, of course) learning, supporting, and applauding ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/26/artsfest-today/ If you are a 6th, 7th, or 8th grader, or have the distinct pleasure of knowing a 6th, 7th, or 8th grader, let them know about this new After School class I'll be offering April 2 - June 4 on Thursday afternoons in the Lab. Download the flyer or visit ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/25/mediaworldspring2009/ Frau Zemil found a nice German radio station, called Lilipuz. Click on hören to open the stream in iTunes. And if you ever needed a good reason for studying german, here is a fun article and two top 10 lists compiled from the Goethe Institut: List 1 & List 2. http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/20/german-radio-and-more/ The Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 has a nice page on translation and interpreting careers. The latest wage data is here, though this represents translators who are employed full-time and not the majority who are self-employed. "Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to increase 24 percent over the 2006-16 decade, ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/19/translation-as-a-career/ Chris Durban has made a name for herself writing the Onionskin, a column of translation mishaps around the world. I thought this one was interesting--a legal mistake that got one shop owner off the hook. See this page for more examples. Language loophole gets Hong Kong fishmonger off the hook "The legal ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/17/lost-in-translation/ If you haven't spent time on the exploritorium site lately, DO IT. It's like a Dorling Kindersley book on steroids. I could spend hours there. Their sites almost always begin with an engaging experience that creates a context for new information. Check out their online magazine on the Evolution of Language. http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/13/the-exploratorium-on-language/ So I've had my iPhone just long enough to start appreciating how it could change my life and potentially my everyday learning behavior. I'd sum it up in one--no wait--two words: CONNECTED and MORE EFFICIENT. When I have an idea now and no paper, I just tap it into my ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/12/the-iphone-2-weeks-later/ The latest and the greatest from the filmmaking club: stop motion in 20 frames or less using web cams. Example 1. Example 2. Example 3. http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/10/adolescent-delight/ If you ever doubted the vitality of the English language, doubt no more. We have another Kleenex, folks. Another Xerox. Another Coke. It's called Twitter and we tweeple will never be the same. http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/04/twanglage/ Are you having the over-quota blues? Here is some great advice from our system admins to keep your email light and fluffy. To lower quota usage, try: (1) removing attachments from messages (i.e. save photos to your computer), (2) deleting messages that have attachments, (3) emptying the trash if it is stored on the ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/02/03/email-quota/ I've just downloaded two classes from buenoentonces.com for my iPhone and I'm very impressed. Each class session starts with a story (TPRS-style) that creates a believable context for introducing new vocabulary concepts, grammar concepts, and pronunciation tips. The interface makes it easy for the learner to pause the dialogue and ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/01/30/great-iphone-app-for-learning-spanish/ GigOM has a nice summary of streaming links. Let's hope that the Internet can hold up under the pressure! We'll miss the Obama girls... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/01/20/where-to-watch-the-inauguration/ to listen to music in french? to listen to music in german? to listen to music in spanish? to listen to music in chinese? to listen to music from Chicago? to listen to music that sounds like Allison (the Mexican band)? http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/01/16/did-you-ever-get-the-urge/ calendarsthatwork.com is a great site for creating custom calendars on the fly. Make a few modifications online and then export as a Word document. Doctor it up in word, and voilà you've got yourself a nice-looking calendar to share with friends, students, parents, committees, etc. Click here to see the ... http://blogs.ucls.uchicago.edu/wll/2009/01/15/speaking-of-calendars/