Online teaching and learning resources are an essential component of curriculum development across all key learning areas. They can facilitate, enhance and extend students' language learning experience.
Objectives
Languages Online assists LOTE teachers to enrich and extend their programs by:
- providing an additional authentic language model
- using multi media and interactivity to appeal to a greater variety of student learning styles
- assisting teachers to build students' confidence in the mixed-ability classroom
- promoting opportunities for individual learning and cooperative pair work.
Languages Online provides opportunities for students to work towards achieving the standards across a number
of domains outlined in the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.
Flexible access
The Languages Online ready to play activities are designed for flexible access. Students can start at the first topic and work their way through, or they can select topics in any order.
Each topic is self-contained; its focus is a specific set of new vocabulary. Each topic includes:
- activities that introduce and model the new vocabulary;
- a number of matching and recognition games to reinforce the key vocabulary.
These include games such as memory, crosswords, naughts and crosses;
- progression to use of key vocabulary in context;
- activities which focus on correct sentence structure and word order;
- opportunities for reading short texts, such as descriptions and letters;
- revision games.
The early sections are aimed at students at beginner level. The topics become gradually more challenging as each may include some vocabulary and structures from preceding sections.
An effective ICT resource in the LOTE classroom
Languages Online provides rich and engaging audiovisual cues for language which is recycled in a
range of activities. Interactivity offers students the opportunity to directly manipulate words and
pictures in fun and meaningful tasks, thus enhancing their comprehension of vocabulary and sentence structure.
Students can explore the language using their visual/spatial intelligence.
Students enjoy online learning as a non-threatening and rewarding way to work with the language at their own pace.
Languages Online presents a non-judgmental environment which encourages students' language use without the perceived
'risk-taking' in front of peers or the teacher. On-screen interactions pave the way for more confident use of the language
face to face with classmates. These activities also offer an additional authentic language model in the classroom.
Types of activities
Languages Online contains the following:
- 220 online activities per language (French, German, Indonesian and Italian)
- 190 corresponding printable worksheets per language
- answers and translations for all online and print activities
- regular revision activities
- online and printable assessment tasks
- progress tracking sheets
Online Activities
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The online interactive materials provide a variety of activities and exercises that promote students' active involvement and purposeful communication through individual learning and cooperative pair work.
The following list represents a sample of activities and exercises provided online:
- listening and/or reading for specific information (drag and drop)
- listening and typing a response to a question
- listening to a tongue twister or rhyme and repeating out loud
- listening to/singing a song
- playing word games
- completing a puzzle
- completing a cloze exercise
- matching vocabulary with picture items
- counting and typing
- listening and answering true or false
- completing word searches
- completing a maths activity
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In this online task students must fill
the butterflies with the correct colour.
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Printable Activities
For each topic there are worksheets in PDF format which complement the online activities.
The tasks help students practise speaking, reading and writing using the key vocabulary of the topic.
Activities include games, surveys, dialogues and basic grammatical exercises. In later sections there
are research tasks which direct students to websites in order to find out answers to questions, and
suggestions for oral presentations on cultural topics.
Answers and Translations
All activities have been translated into English. These translations can be viewed in the following ways:
- A complete translation of each online and print activity can be viewed on the Translation and Answers pages that are linked to each Section index page. A printable version of this page is also available (in PDF format).
- In Sections 1 - 24 the English translation of text that appears on screen can also be viewed by holding the mouse over the text. When the mouse moves away from the text the English pop-up will disappear.
- In Sections 25 - 33 most activities have a drop-down 'Glossary' that lists the key vocabulary used in the activity and the English translation.
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In this print activity the student composes and reads out a description to another student, who must listen and then colour the drawings appropriately.
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Using activities in the classrooms
Languages Online offers students a different and fun learning environment in which they can work at their own pace. It is as flexible as you need it to be.
Student-centred learning
Students benefit from working in a variety of settings: on their own, in pairs or in small groups.
They can choose their own pace and starting points and can repeat activities as they like.
Students can engage more with the LOTE by taking charge of their own learning.
Flexibility
If you have access to only a few computers, you could set up learning posts where small groups can rotate between the online activities, the printable worksheets, an activity from a textbook or other complementary activities.
Reinforcement of language
Languages Online is a fun way for students to practise the vocabulary taught in the classroom in a range of contexts and in a non-threatening environment.
Extension work
Students can select the topics and activities that offer them a new challenge. Languages Online allows students to continue worthwhile
language practice while the class completes other set work.
Revision
All activities are ideal for revising the most commonly taught themes and topics. Languages Online includes specific revision sections which revisit languages from previous sections.
Homework
Internet access at home and in public libraries means that teachers can make use of the website as a homework task for students. Students are also able to share the site with their parents, thereby providing a link between the home and school environment.
Support for the mixed ability classroom
Students struggling with a particular topic can repeat activities online at their own pace.
New students who are not at the same level can work on their own to catch up with topics already
covered by the rest of the class. Online learning can provide a non-threatening environment for
students who lack confidence in their LOTE skills.
When the LOTE teacher is absent
Students can access the many help and hint functions to complete Languages Online tasks under the supervision of a non-LOTE teacher.
Activities contain built-in support to assist in comprehension of new words.
Assessment
In addition to the assessment task at the end of each unit, all activities can be used as student self-assessment
tasks for a particular topic. The site includes printable tracking sheets, onto which individual or class progress can be
recorded. These can be linked to the overall assessment of a topic.
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“Languages Online is a terrific additional resource. The variety of teaching and learning modes help to keep students interested. It’s an easy and enjoyable way to continually revise basic topics.”
Andrea Strong, Indonesian teacher, Parkdale PS
 Year 5 students tackle an activity in Languages Online
“I use Languages Online for independent learning with my Year 6 kids. They can log on and find the activities themselves while I work with other students.”
Doris Frank, German teacher, Bayswater PS
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Innovation in teaching and learning
Languages Online activities are underpinned by the following Principles of Learning and Teaching.
Students learn best when:
| 1.3 |
the teacher uses strategies that promote students' self-confidence and willingness to take risks with their learning. |
| 1.4 |
the teacher ensures each student experiences success through structured support, the valuing of effort, and recognition of their work. |
| 2.1 |
the teacher encourages and supports students to take responsibility for their learning. |
| 3.1 |
the teacher uses strategies that are flexible and responsive to the values, needs and interests of individual students. |
| 3.2 |
the teacher uses a range of strategies that support the different ways of thinking and learning. |
| 3.3 |
the teacher builds on students' prior experiences, knowledge and skills. |
| 3.4 |
the teacher capitalises on students' experience of a technology rich world. |
| 5.2 |
the teacher ensures that students receive frequent constructive feedback that supports further learning. |
| 5.4 |
the teacher uses assessment practices that encourage reflection and self assessment. |
| 6.3 |
the teacher uses technologies in ways that reflect professional and community practices. |
Assessment
Assessment of student learning in an online environment is part of the overall assessment within the teaching and learning process.
The Languages Online activities lend themselves to a variety of assessment purposes, as outlined in the
Victorian Blueprint for Schools:
- Assessment for learning: teachers can set activities to gauge students' competence in a particular topic, before presenting a unit of work.
- Assessment as learning: As students work through the activities, they can reflect on and monitor their progress, and can better understand the language that they need to revise.
- Assessment of learning: teachers can observe their students' performance as part of overall judgements on student achievement against curriculum standards.
The self-correcting facility of the online activities provides students with immediate feedback on their strengths and weaknesses within each activity.
Teachers can also use the printable worksheets as a way of evaluating their students' understanding of the online activities.
Many activities consolidate/revise language points and form the basis of the summative assessment task for the topics. There are two assessment tasks. They are the last activities in Section 12 and Section 24 (titled 'Test your Italian' etc). Each covers the key language of the previous 12 sections.
These assessment tasks have been designed to be completed online by students. At the end of the assessment task, students will be given a score and a certificate of completion. Corresponding printable assessment tasks are also available and can be accessed through the relevant Section pages. Answers and translations for the assessment tasks are also available.
Progress tracking sheets
These printable sheets are provided to help teachers keep track of students' progress as they work through the online activities.
There are two types of sheets:
- One for the teacher to record the progress of each member of the class
- One for students to record their own progress.
Feedback
Feedback is welcome and assists us in further development. Please send us comments on how you and your students use the site,
which elements work well for you, suggested improvements or any corrections.
Contact the Languages Online team at
languages.online@edumail.vic.gov.au
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Contact: Languages Online Team ()
Created on: Thursday, 18th March, 2004 | Page last updated: Wednesday, July 19th, 2006
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Objectives
