FLTeach Listserv

I recently have signed up for the FLTeach listserv. Since I signed up about a week ago, I have been receiving daily emails from a variety of foreign language teachers across the country, with information regarding foreign language, questions about lesson planning, on to incorporate specific cultural aspects of a country into the lesson, and more. Most of the emails I have been reading have been quite interesting and informational. Over the weekend, I posed my first question to the listserv, which was directed at those who like to use technology in the classroom, and how they use it (I’m still highly interested in this topic, and wanted to get more opinions from other teachers about how it could be used). While there was not as much discussion as with some of the other threads, I did get quite a few personal emails back from other teachers, who recommended several different resources.

The first was from a Spanish/Computer/Technology instructor from Minnesota. She responded to the thread with a link to her own personal blog (link below), which includes her thoughts and several resources for technology use in the classroom, plus how-to steps for beginners. What I found personally useful is she lists a ton of iPad apps she finds useful in the classroom (Yay!). For any iPad users out there, some other cool apps to check out would be Storyrobe, Video Star, iMovie, and Picturebook. On her website, she has tons of other posts with about tech in the classroom, which are worth taking a look at.

Another cool experience was after introducing myself as a student teacher (to save having to explain exactly what a TA was), who teaches German, I received a personally email from another German teacher, recommended me to join another listserv group exclusively for German teachers run by AATG (American Association of Teachers of German). This has also been an enriching experience, as I can now read discussions between other German teachers! I only just joined today, so there hasn’t been much activity, but I did get to read an interesting conversation between AP German IV teachers about how they try incorporate as much culture as possible into the lesson plans. Overall, this professional development activity was more enriching than I first thought it would be, and I plan to continue on being a member of both groups!

Link to blog: geekieteacher.blogspot.com