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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Apr 25, 2008 by World Languages Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
The Modern Foreign Languages Environment is a teacher education resource designed by Learning and Teaching Scotland. It contains best practices in modern language pedagogy as well as image banks, listening exercises and podcasts,useful external links, videos and lesson plans. The site encourages collaboration and contributions making it a growing resource for language teachers worldwide. |
| Learning Goals: |
Teachers will learn new pedagogical approaches to teach languages. |
| Target Student Population: |
All levels of modern language learners |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
None |
| Type of Material: |
collecion of learning resources |
| Recommended Uses: |
Independent use |
| Technical Requirements: |
Internet |
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| Strengths: |
The activities are communicative and varied. There is an ever-growing number of materials to address different learning styles. The podcasts show MFLE's attention to new media and portable technologies that are popular with younger learners. In addition to the podcasts themselves, MFLE contains the pedagogical rationale for using them in the first place. In this way,it is a site that serves faculty members and students.
There are also less-commonly taught language materials including both Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese. Teachers can also find out how to link their classes to Chinese classes, extending the classroom to encourage real-world communication.
There are plays in French and German ready for classroom use. The resource finder is a good search tool to help teachers find what they need quickly. |
| Concerns: |
None |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
Rating:  |
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| Strengths: |
Since there are activities involving all skills-listening, reading, writing and speaking, MFLE presents teachers with a motivating toolkit to engage learners. There are ample uses of new media which serves the needs of digital natives. The plays in French, German and Italian are a novel way to get students interacting in the target language. |
| Concerns: |
None |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
| Rating: |
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| Strengths: |
It is practically arranged and easy to use. The A-Z index is a welcome resource in addition to the search field. The web standards for Learning and Teaching in Scotland are right on the site as well as information on accessibility. |
| Concerns: |
None |
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
None |
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