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Other Useful Links

Introduction

LOTE Strands

Sociocultural knowledge

Integration with other Key Learning Areas

Presentation Ideas

Overview

Intoduction

The benefits of effective foreign language instruction focus on the role of the individual in a multilingual, global society. No longer do we live in isolation; instead, there is an ever-changing, interdependent world in which diverse cultural and linguistic groups converge. To study another language and culture gives one the powerful key to successful communication: knowing how, when, and why to say what to whom. To be effective in human-to-human communication, and to have genuine interaction with others,whether they are on another continent, across town, or within the neighborhood. The LOTE CSF encourages teachers to provide opportunities which reflect student's interests in a meaningful way. Using Learning Technologies in the LOTE classroom can assist in creating an authentic context for learning and practising the language and for genuine communication with partners in other countries. Learning Technologies provide teachers with the opportunity to present activities which allow for students' individual learning styles and rates of learning, and can help in developing independent learning skills.

LOTE Strands
The Victorian LOTE CSF Strands are listening and speaking, reading, and writing. Within each strand the LOTE CSF identifies two broad purposes for language use — personal and social, and informational. Students move along each strand through 7 Levels which relate to developmental stages in learning a language and not to year levels of schooling.
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Sociocultural knowledge
Sociocultural knowledge refers to the knowledge and appreciation of the cultural attitudes, social habits, beliefs and behaviours practised by members of the target language community both in Australia and in countries where that language is used. Sociocultural knowledge is necessary for culturally appropriate communication with background speakers of that language.

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Integration with other Key Learning Areas
Topics studied in LOTE provide opportunities for integration with other Key Learning Areas.The Studies of Society & Environment,- Culture strand has topics, such as creation myths, studies of world times, geography & money, as well as English texts, and modes of English may be considered.
Students may join in collaborative projects with partners from overseas schools. Keypals for students aged 6-18, and IECC (The Intercultural E-mail Classroom Connections) assists teachers and classes link with partners in other countries and cultures for e-mail classroom pen-pal and project exchanges.

Presentation Ideas
Students may retell stories, in text and images. They may use multimedia authoring programs, or create web pages which unfold as the reader clicks hypertext linking the pages. Interactive stories provide one example of applying new media methods to the area of old ones (e.g. stories for children). Interactivity opens possibilities to interrupt the main story and branch to surprising unexplored plots.

The Board of Studies has produced posters on integrating Information Technology in all Key Learning Areas (including LOTE) that can be downloaded.

Click on any of the country links at the top of the page to find links to interesting sites for teachers of Languages Other Than English (LOTE).

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Created and maintained by Cynthia Rees

Last updated 17/06/99