Social Networking Sites and Online Language Exchange Programs for Language Learning
This workshop identifies the ways in which the use of Social Networking Sites and Online Language Exchange Programs can greatly increase student motivation and promote language learning. Aside from the ever popular Bebo, MySpace and Facebook, there are social networking sites which are specifically conceived with language learning in mind and participants will have the opportunity to explore some of these sites. Online language exchange can be achieved through the use of these Social Networking Sites, Skype and various other programs. Sites outlined in the workshop include: Palabea.net, Italki.com, Livemocha.com, mylanguageexchange.com, language-exchanges.org. This workshop would be of particular interest to language teachers both in primary and secondary schools.
Alma Collins is a French teacher at Coláiste na Coribe, a second level Gaelscoil in Galway city. She possesses a BA in IT and French, a H Dip in Education and an MA in French. Having a keen interest in technology and language learning she has written her Masters thesis on “The Use of Technology in the Teaching of French at Second Level.” Alma has taught IT and French at second and third level both in Ireland and in Australia.