Languages ICT

Introduction │ Making the case │ Selecting resources │ Embedding ICT │ ICT training │ Other scripts │ Primary ICT

ICT training for teachers of languages

Your department may be lucky enough to have an ideal source of focused ICT training for language teachers locally. If this is not the case, or you wish to explore a wider potential for using ICT in the classroom, there are a number of options available.

CILT, the National Centre for Languages offers a range of ICT training at London and regional venues in England, including hands-on courses, one-day conferences, distance learning courses and twilight events. The hands-on courses include training in specific languages with non-Roman scripts and in the use of interactive whiteboard software. CILT Cymru, Scottish CILT and NICILT offer ICT events also.

Hands-on Support is a DfES initiative providing funding to schools via the ICT in Schools Standards Fund (which also includes Laptops for teachers and Interactive whiteboards). Individual schools are able to assess their own priorities for using this fund money, in discussion with their LA. There are a number of possible models, with schools, LAs or commercial providers delivering a customised programme focusing on the effective use of ICT in teaching and learning in subjects. Hands-on Support has the potential to provide individual teachers of languages with face-to-face support from ICT-languages expert practitioners in their own classroom environment; find out what provision, if any, has been made for language teachers in your school.

Try your Local Authority to find out what ICT training they offer for language teachers, including that linked to the KS3 Strategy. You can find LA contact details and other information on the LA Gateway website.

As well as the ICT strand at the ALL annual conference Language World, regional branches frequently offer ICT training within their events programmes for teachers. Go to the Association for Language Learning website for details.

The Comenius Centre network has been significantly strengthened through central funding under the National Languages Strategy. Comenius Centres are working with CILT support to offer a programme of training events to teachers in their locality, including ICT training. Check out what is on offer at your nearest centre, contact details are listed on the CILT website.

Language Colleges or Training schools in your vicinity may offer ICT courses for local teachers of languages. If your school is in an Excellence in Cities area, you should have access to a local City Learning Centre, with cutting-edge ICT facilities for pupil visits and teacher training. Click on the links for contact details of all these institutions nationally.

You can also use the National ICT Register to identify local schools with expertise and experience in using ICT. In-house training can often be purchased from schools on the Register.

The Specialist Schools Trust has a CPD Network of specialist schools able to offer training locally in the use of ICT in a particular subject. Search the database for details on those schools offering MFL expertise.

There are also some materials available, should you wish to set up your own departmental training or individual teachers want to pursue their professional development independently. The ICT for Language Teachers (ICT4LT) website contains a rich range of reading modules for basic, intermediate and advanced users of ICT in language teaching.

The DfES has published several free CD ROMs featuring video-based case study material of effective language lessons using ICT. A 2 CD Rom pack called Embedding ICT @ Secondary (Ref: DfES/0152/2004) covers a number of curriculum subjects. In the MFL chapter, a KS3 teacher’s use of various aspects of ICT, such as PowerPoint with an interactive whiteboard and increased independent learning, are covered. You can also download these video clips from the Curriculum Online website.

An MFL-specific Video Case Studies CD ROM is available as part of the the Embedding ICT @ Secondary: Key Stage 3 modern foreign languages pack (Ref: DfES/0808/2004.) The 6 case studies, each focusing on a different teacher, cover topics such as video-conferencing and drop-down menus in Word. All these titles can be ordered from the Online Publications for Schools website or by phone (0845 602 2260) or email (dfes@prolog.uk.com).

Becta Publications also offers two free CD ROMs called Effective use of ICT in subject teaching, one for primary and one for secondary. Each contains a series of lesson plans detailing effective classroom practice, including MFL-specific materials. Further case studies are available in the MFL section of the ICT Advice to Schools website.