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Sunday, March 30, 2014

The Can-Do Statements in Teacher Education

The Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language

The benefits of learning a foreign language

http://www.newsminer.com/business/the-benefits-of-learning-a-foreign-language/article_d189bc9c-b7e0-11e3-b994-0017a43b2370.html


The research also found that “children who study a foreign language, even when this second language study takes time away from the study of mathematics, outperform students who do not study a foreign language and have more mathematical instruction during the school day.” Learning a second language “is an exercise in cognitive problem solving” and is “directly transferable to the area of mathematical skill development.” What’s more, speaking and writing in a second language requires learning multiple ways to express an idea, which in turn improves people’s ability to communicate more effectively in their native language.
Challenging the brain to memorize and negotiate the meaning of new words, symbols and rules strengthens “mental muscles.” Perception also increases as the brain learns to focus on important information, while excluding what’s irrelevant. According to a recent study in the journal “Neurology” written by Dr. Thomas Bak, being bilingual is an “effective type of mental training” that keeps the brain “nimble” and may delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s by up to six years.
The incentives to learn a second language are compelling. Chris Thomas, manager of GE’s Commercial Leadership Program, says that job applicants who speak more than one language “are attractive and more marketable. There’s a growing need to understand and relate to customers and partners in a language that they are comfortable speaking.”

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Grow Your Email List with OptinMonster


Spring Blog Festival: Introduction

Spring Blog Festival: Introduction: "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity". would quote Albert Einstein. However, ...

HALINA'S LEARNING, TEACHING AND MUCH MORE....: Ex-Yale president to head Coursera MOOC site

HALINA'S LEARNING, TEACHING AND MUCH MORE....: Ex-Yale president to head Coursera MOOC site: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-26731999 Levin said that the move from the established Ivy League to the new world of online le...

Ex-Yale president to head Coursera MOOC site

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-26731999


Levin said that the move from the established Ivy League to the new world of online learning is not
as big a leap as it may seem: “It’s the dissemination of human knowledge. This was traditionally done through published books and articles, but this is a far more immediate and direct way to take what goes on in a Yale or Princeton classroom and make it accessible to a multitude of students.”

He doesn’t believe online learning will replace brick-and-mortar schools but rather holds great promise for audiences who traditionally don’t have access to higher education, including workers over 30 and  people in developing countries.

“This is literally getting to millions of people whose lives are being enriched and whose employment opportunities are being enhanced,” he said.

He has for years had an interest in online education. Yale first became involved in online education in 2000, in a partnership  he helped start with Oxford and Stanford universities, but he said that the technology back then was rudimentary and not able to provide anywhere near the interactive experiences that Coursera now provides. He also helped launch Open Yale Courses in 2007, and supported an initiative to put Yale’s vast museum and library collections online for free use.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

HALINA'S LEARNING, TEACHING AND MUCH MORE....: My Mahara Link

HALINA'S LEARNING, TEACHING AND MUCH MORE....: My Mahara Link: https://mahara.org/view/artefact.php?artefact=364072&view=109685&block=472059

My Mahara Link

My Mahara Page

HALINA'S LEARNING, TEACHING AND MUCH MORE....: YOUR BEST PLACE TO STUDY

HALINA'S LEARNING, TEACHING AND MUCH MORE....: YOUR BEST PLACE TO STUDY

YOUR BEST PLACE TO STUDY


Polish Democracy 1



Polish Way to Freedom


Thursday, March 13, 2014

Music For Montserrat | Live, Full Concert | McCartney, Phil Collins, Sti...

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How to Learn Foreign Language?


How to Learn Foreign Language?
I am confidently sure that learning a language includes commitment, tough work and patience. I would like to talk about some guidelines which are important in improving the language.
First, we should associate our passion or skills with language.
If we like singing, we can join the Karaoke classes and online groups.
Second, we may use the right of entry on internet.
YouTube is an excellent source of perfect materials. By watching thoughtfully teachers and native speakers using the language, we are able to learn faster and effortlessly.
There are very many outstanding language teachers and we can subscribe to their videos.
Third, learning language with some joy and fun should be our way.
It doesn’t mean that we shouldn't take learning seriously. I strongly believe in the funny side and benefits with our more effective results. Another advice would be watching movies with subtitles, next without them.
Taking part in free study lessons and online Speaking Groups, will help
a lot.

Teaching Foreign Language

As a non-native English teacher, I can make excellent role model for my students who may not have faith in their ability to learn the target language (" If I made it and speak this language thus you also can!").
I am against methods that emphasize learning about the language but for learning by using the language / expressions, collocations, models, patterns, language chunks......./.
I don't approve grammar classes explaining rules and language terminology. Speaking is the main reason for learning a language and the main motivational driver that keeps you trying and improving.
My experience tells that I ought to practice active learning principles to progress activities for my students that best mirror particular communication style and the topics, forms of thinking, and solving problems strategies which are needed to comprehend and relate to the topics.
In my view, the most important skill to master is speaking the language. This is difficult assignment especially if you don’t live or work in native speaking country. We can look for reliable supports to talk to. It is essential to find someone whom we’re comfortable speaking with.
Generally speaking in high schools worldwide, attention is still focused on the language in its written form and the objective is for the student to understand the structure and rules of the language, whose parts are dissected and analyzed. The body is of greater importance than communication. Teaching and learning are based on the syllabus. One studies the theory in the absence of the practice. One values the correct and represses the incorrect. Error correction is constant leaving little room for spontaneity. The student is taught how to form interrogative and negative sentences, memorize irregular verbs, study modal verbs, etc., but hardly ever masters the use of these structures in conversation.
I strongly believe that efficient teaching is personalized, takes place in a bicultural environment and is based on the personal skills of the language instructor in building interactions and creating situations of real communication with understandable input focusing on the learner's interests.