Before co-presenting the session Mr McIntosh goes to school at The SSAT Annual Languages Conference this week, I took the opportunity to ask Ewan his thoughts on how we can help MFL teachers to start blogging and podcasting in England, based on the inspiring work currently being carried out in Scotland or in Ewan's words:
'We are good at talking the talk, but can we walk the walk?'
A number of key questions come up during the interview:
- What is the best way to show language teachers the learning benefits of using new technologies?
- How can we break out of our four walled classrooms and join the 21st century?
- What training and do we need to help enthusiastic teachers who want to use blogging and podcasting in their teaching?
- Do we have the support network necessary to get teachers started or do we need an equivalent to the excellent Modern Foreign Languages Environment website
- Are the successes in Scotland attributable to a strong sense of community and can the same outcome be replicated in England?
- What are the future plans of the MFLE?
- Is the National Curriculum in England a straightjacket stifling our creativity?
We also discuss the upcoming Integrating ICT into the MFL classroom - a one day conference and its aim to get the ball rolling in England. Ewan explains the 'gutting moment' he had sitting on the number 44D heading to Addington when he realised he was doublebooked for the conference and therefore had to pull out as keynote speaker two weeks ago. He is reasured nonetheless that the ethos of the conference will be maintained with the line up of speakers that have been persuaded to make the trip down to the Isle of Wight and he encourages colleagues to 'go and play' with some new ideas.
To finish, we suggest our own views on the future picture and what may happen to language teaching if new technologies like blogging and podcasting are not embraced by the English teaching community. Food for thought.
Listen to the whole interview here.
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