Technology for language learning

>> Already enrolled? Log in here

Course outline

This six-week 100% online course is designed for in-service language teachers. Its principal objective is to show teachers how to get their learners to use technology for creative, collaborative, shared, digital project work.

It is our belief that it is not really the teacher but the learners that should be using 21st century technology and the focus of the course is on this: getting the learners to use technology to create and discuss things.

The course is entitled "Technology for language learning", not for "language teaching"; we will not be teaching you how to create PowerPoint presentations to show your learners, or how to create "interactive" grammar and vocabulary exercises for them to merely click their way through.

Who is the course for?

The course will be of most interest to teachers:

who teach face-to-face (but are possibly setting work to be done online, outside class hours)
who teach ages 13+ and at levels pre-intermediate to advanced, doing general English courses; however, much of what is proposed on the course is adaptable for younger learners and more specific contexts (such as Business English)
whose learners have a computer and internet access at home and/or at the centre where they teach

Participants should be familiar with such things as Word, sending emails and using the Internet, but no greater technological expertise than that is necessary. If you have limited experience and confidence with technology, don't worry, the course will show you that you too can use technology successfully with language learners.

Technological support is provided as and when required.

The course is not suitable for anyone without any experience of teaching a foreign language.

Course content

The course includes six modules and the presentation of a final project. The six modules are:

Using technology in the 21st century language classroom
Blogs and blogging in the language classroom
Social networks: Edmodo and Facebook
Audio and video: Podcasting and YouTube
Using technology for digital projectwork (including digital storytelling and webquests)
Digital coursebooks and interactive whiteboards

Access to digital coursebooks and interactive whiteboards is not necessary and nor is familiarity with any of the things mentioned above.

Course start dates

The start dates for this six-week course are as follows:

January 23rd—March 4th, 2012
April 16th—May 27th, 2012
October 22nd—December 2nd, 2012

Please note that each weekly module has a strict deadline (Sunday) for work to be completed. It is not possible to start this course "late".

Note that the course will not begin unless there is a minimum of 10 participants.

Length & time commitment

Assignments include a limited amount of reading; creating a number of small projects (the sort of thing we propose you then get your learners to do); setting up a blog; participation in forum discussions; and the proposal of a final piece of project work that could be done with the sort of learners you teach.

There is no requirement for the final project to actually be done with your learners, though we do suggest you experiment with some of the things the course proposes with your own learners.

For some of the tasks, you will have to work with a partner and/or small group, though this will not require you to be online together in real time. For other tasks, you can choose whether to work individually or with a partner/small group.

Completing the assignments on the course will require a minimum of 30 hours (5 hours a week).

It should be noted, however, that to explore all the avenues the course will open up, and to learn to use all the tools suggested would require many more hours - though those are also things that could be done in your own time after the course has finished.

Your tutors

The course tutors are all International House Barcelona CELTA and/or DELTA course tutors with many years of teaching and teacher training experience.

Course fees

€275

Certification

Candidates will be awarded an International House Barcelona Online Training Certificate at the end of the course.

Application

To reserve your place on the course, fill in the online payment and application form.

Online teacher training courses from IH Barcelona

Courses currently available:

Technical requirements

See also