Blog 7

Language Learning Challenge Week 3 (conditionnel) 

Week 3 Summary

This week was a bit different, I began with a pronunciation exercise on an app called "French Pronunciation Speaking," this was because it had been pointed out to me earlier in the week that it needed work. As my week was still busy this acted as a replacement for the podcast. 

I then used good old reliable Lingolia and completed the accompanying quiz for 'le conditionnel.'

Next came the 15 sentences, 5 passé compose, 5 l'imparfait and 5 conditionnel. 

Finally, to conclude the week I visited a website called "Soft Schools," I don't understand the name but the quiz was useful for consolidation. 

Week 3 Reflection

I really enjoyed this week in the language learning challenge, perhaps it was because I used some new technologies and changed it up a bit. I won't describe my experience with Lingolia this week because I'm pretty sure that you're aware that I love it, instead the two new technologies will be analyzed, first on the agenda is "French Pronunciation Speaking." During a French class earlier in the week we were given general feedback and it seemed focused on pronunciation, consequently this week I added a speaking component. The technology was easy to use with authentic audio however its downfall was that if you typed in a sentence, often the audio was a jumbled mess. This wasn't an issue with my personal use as I only had need for the pronunciation of single words. The second CALL tool was the website "Soft Schools," this was used as a consolidation tool, I was not wholly confident with the conditionnel so felt the need to reinforce what I'd learnt. This proved to be incredibly useful as after studying the sentences I'd written I achieved a 90% score on the quiz, an improvement on the earlier Lingolia quiz. 

Evaluation of Technologies (Level 3 Chapelle Framework)

French Pronunciation Speaking

Language Learning Potential- 5/10

Learner Fit- 7/10

Meaning Focus- 4/10

Authenticity- 6/10

Positive Impact- 5/10

Practicality- 9/10 

Soft Schools 

Language Learning Potential- 6/10

Learner Fit- 8/10

Meaning Focus- 4/10

Authenticity- 3/10

Positive Impact- 7/10

Practicality- 9/10

Cultural Influence on the Pedagogical Framework (Levy, 2007)

During this weeks SLAT2002 workshop the importance of culture in using new technologies was emphasized, an element of language learning that is often overlooked, and embarrassingly I have overlooked it as well. It is pertinent to the my Language Learning Challenge as next week I am looking to look at a French Website or discussion forum, this is because I've found that a varied approach to technology use keeps me engaged in the challenge and avoids the staleness that so often comes with language learning. According to Levy, there are five facets of the culture concept, culture as elemental, as relative, as group membership, as contested and lastly as individual. I will specifically look at "French Stack Exchange," a website that operates as a collaborative forum and look for the tenses I am trying to learn in order to contextualize it. 

The forum is an asynchronous method of communication, meaning that "there is time to consider features of their own cultural background and those of their partner." (Levy, 2007). As well as this, the example I put forward most commonly demonstrates culture as individual, the forums, this facet of culture has three components, "cultural knowledge varies from person to person and has many different levels, students and teachers are selective in how they represent their cultures and there is the aim of sharing individual experiences and building upon them. I will talk about my experience more thoroughly next week this was just a brief overview. 

I'll see you next week.