PKforlangwebsites


 * Exploring the Potential of Interactive Websites in Foreign Language Instruction**

Directions: Click Edit, Type your name, Type your comments, Click Save.

For your comments, identify the name of the website and insert a hyperlink if possible. Then explain how you might use this interactive resource to (a) __activate__, (b) __assess__, and/or (c) __build__ **students' prerequisite knowledge for your lesson/unit.**

EXAMPLES FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTER:

Stephanie Quintin- French & Italian
 * Virtual Foreign Language Classroom: This website would be very helpful for **assessing students prerequisite knowledge** because it provides many activities on a wide variety of topics that a teacher could use to see how much his/her students already know about the topic. The activities could also be used to build on their knowledge base. The teacher could have the students complete a few of the exercises after completing a lesson on a designated topic to reinforce the material. The activities are fun and interactive, and even have some pictures for the students to look at and gain some insight from. This website could also be used as a tool for the students to use at home for extra practice, to study from, or to use when struggling with a particular concept.
 * Virtual Picture Books in French for Language Teachers: This website provided a number of different stories and fables written in French, and accompanied by colorful images relating to the stories. They are simple children's stories that a student who is just learning to read in French could easily tackle. These interactive books could be used to **activate and build upon students prerequisite knowledge** by recalling vocabulary they have previously learned while also introducing them to new and unfamiliar words. They can use their knowledge base and try to decipher the meanings of the new words by using context clues from the story, or by looking at the corresponding images. The stories could also be used to lead to a creative assignment where, after reading one or two, the students could then in pairs or groups write their own short story or fable.

Veronica Cidade- Italian & Spanish
 * International Children's Digital Library: This website is a good aid in building student's background knowledge. The website has numerous books written in different languages, there are picture books that students can read and see how the author illustrates the culture and language of the region. This website gives the student the ability to look at a picture book and read it in the language they are learning. The students will be able to read the original language the book was written in and make connections between the story in that language and English. They will also be able to connect the language they are learning in class to the book and pictures. This website could be very helpful in aiding students to better understand the new language by viewing pictures and helping them to learn visually.
 * Digital Dialects: This is a great website for many foreign languages. There are many languages on the main page and once you select the language you would like, there is a new page full of vocabulary, spelling, number, and verb conjugation games. Each option has a different type of interactive game that helps students learn the task and work on their visual and oral skills. The interactive games on the website can help to build and asses the students knowledge of the language they are learning. The interactive games give students the ability to learn one on one with games, they can use pictures and quizzes to learn the language in a fun way. The website gives students the ability to understand the language, culture, and learn the vocabulary. The images help the students learn visually, and the listening games help them hear the language, so that they can pronounce and learn not only how to read and write the language, but also speak the language they are learning.

TYPE YOUR NAME AND RESPONSE, INSERT A HORIZONTAL BAR (8th icon on editing tool bar), THEN CLICK SAVE ON THE TOOL BAR.

Rachel Haddon- French & Spanish
 * BBC Languages: This website is a good for __activating, assessing, and building__ prerequisite knowledge. Within the French section, there is a review of the French alphabet with essential phrases, as well a vocabulary section. By having to review the information, this activates prior knowledge. There are also some activities to practice the vocabulary. From this, a teacher could see how much the students knows vocabulary wise. The teacher could also use the "Test your French" tool which determines how advanced the student is.This site builds upon prerequisite knowledge by offer French slang as well as a link to a French newspaper and audios of native speakers. All of which are very important in moving forward with learning the language.
 * Learn Spanish: This website offer many tutorials in different parts of the Spanish language, such as grammar, vocabulary, verb conjugation, and pronunciation. It addresses the three levels of Spanish learners- beginners, intermediates, and advanced. Depending on which level you choose, you could just be __building__ prerequisite knowledge by just learning the basics and have no foundation or you could be __activating and building__ prerequisite knowledge by reviewing what you previously were taught and then moving up a level or even learning a new verb tense.