Technology in the introductory foreign language classroom

Hello,

I am a new Spanish 1 & 2 teacher at a technology-focused school. I have seen several other forums for how to include technology in upper-level foreign language classroom, but my students aren't quite ready to blog or skype in Spanish yet. I was wondering if anyone has any resources/suggestions for how to make basic grammar and vocabulary instruction more high-tech?

(Any games, spelling tools, manipulatives, etc.?)

¡Gracias!

-Megan L

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Permalink Reply by Donna CasaGrande on August 2, 2010 at 6:44pm

BBC has some good resources:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryspanish/ (younger students)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/spanish/ (older students)

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Permalink Reply by Alline Sada on August 2, 2010 at 9:27pm

Hi Meghan!

I'm the Technology Coodinator for a private tri-lingual school in Mexico, hopefully this can help you out:

Directory of Educational Resources on the Web
http://www.alline.org (Find Foreign Language & Multiculturalism", at the bottom of the "Curriculum" column)

Also visit my Spanish Department's Links at:
http://www.engrade.com

If you need kids for ePals or Wikis, I got 1,500 Mexican students who need to practice English and German!!

Good Luck!

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Permalink Reply by Megan Langford on August 3, 2010 at 7:29am

Wow! Thanks for the help. I will get back to you about the ePals. I think that might be a great idea for my class.

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Permalink Reply by Marina Petrovic on August 3, 2010 at 1:19am

Hi Megan,

I also have this problem with students who are not advanced enough to use blogs and live online conference tools. I oranize online collaboration for them within vyew, so it is safe and easily adjustable. I have a friend of mine from Argentina who creates online learning games for Spanish students, so you two could get in touch via our www.vyewe.rs group and exchange ideas!
Hope this helps!
cheers,
Marina

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Permalink Reply by Megan Langford on August 3, 2010 at 7:37am

Thanks everyone for getting back to me!

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Permalink Reply by Colleen Young on August 3, 2010 at 11:19am

Could they write simple stories with Storybird? Or perhaps you could write stories for them!

I have some links on this page including a Wiki by some MFL teachers.

You could just find some appropriate art work and give the vocabulary perhaps?

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Permalink Reply by Alline Sada on August 15, 2010 at 10:13pm

Hi Meghan!
Just noticed I gave you the wrong Engrade account :S

Try this one!!
http://www.engrade.com/ameliavillarreal

Another idea is building simple vocabulary web games on kubbu, like the parts of the body and other nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.