Newsletter

Here is my first example of how to engage students in the language learning through the use of technology and authentic materials:
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I have started working at this newsletter, which is currently placed in my CALL projects on Googlegroups, because of my GSL520/GED565: Computer-Assisted Language Learning Online assignment.
We needed to create a Word document for a student newsletter on a teaching/learning/classroom related topic using a table with 2 columns. We have to experiment with colors, fonts, symbols, graphics, and a decorative page border, the use of WordArt, AutoShapes, textboxes with fill colors, and special font effects as appropriate as well as the addition of hyperlinks.
Well, some of those were not new to me, but the challenge was HOW to put them together in a manner that was as clearer as possible in a favourable context for my students.

Choices about

the topic

Thinking about authentic materials I came up with the idea of the introduction of a film. I am a huge fan of using movies with my students to show them real contexts and real language. So, it was quite easy. I first imagined to be a MFL Lecturer (English and Spanish) at Saint Michael's College, then also in charge of the elective monthly activities (I don't really know if there are any, but it could be a suggestion for any language course!...) which correspond to my extracurricular ones at the high school!
Which film would I use to stimulate students? Above all, what sort of planning would motivate them better?
I focused the attention on the language first, and then on its culture. They are related. So why not to propose and make them aware of that connection?!
After dusting off my DVD collection, I picked up Dirty Dancing 2: one of the perfect realia to introduce the language and the culture.
The next step was HOW to relate the two.... the film is about dancing.... so, why not make them try?! Why not make them taste something REAL?! And I came up with a language lesson, a dance class and an appetizer invitation. Besides, dance, music and food are something that always bring people together.
You probably think I am crazy, but I really believe in what I planned out there. There is nothing more involving than tryng after examples. Plus, I have already experienced a language lesson with a "dancing trying"!

the use of it in the classroom

How can you use it as a newsletter?

1) speaking activity: find what - where - when - why - how
2) speaking activity: a guided discussion about differences in the two cultures - American vs Latin
3) writing: describe a graphic
4) writing: create an invitation for an event following a scheme using persuasive language
5) add hyperlinks and audiofiles to a Word document

the use of word game

What more to engage students in the language and meaning?

First, I put an hyperlink to the word salsa to have them to look it up in the online dictionary.

Then, I came up with word puns. There are three in the subtitle.... can you find them?

the use of colours

I started experimenting from the two-people-dancing clip art I chose. Three colours: purple, black and red. I have to admit that it was not easy to associate purple and red... I made the purple background lighter, and this time it seemed to work better. I also chose a read background to have a link with the dress. However red was too much, so I decided to shade it and making it white in the middle.

Highlitghing is also important. I put colour on the key words. Bright yellow?! Yes, I need it as a contrast to red.

What about the hyperlinks? If you notice they are two colours, one is bright light blue for topic relation such as trailer and music; the other is dark red for college links such as E-mail and course name.

The contrast is in the textboxes and title as well with bright yellow, purple and light pink and dark white. Yellow is linked to the yellow highlighting, of course!

the use of Wordart and Autoshapes

This is very fun... even if it takes time to get to the right decision, especially with the title!!! I concluded that the shades were what suited my goal best.

As I had two people... why not making them "talking"?!

the use of graphics

Graphs are always time consuming if not experimented often. Mine was like that, but so rewarding in the end. Of course, the best part was the colouring... the tones are a bit lighter than the others.

Why a graphic?! Students need to see and have some kind of proofs.... Ok, I make it up, but the purpose was to make it REAL.