Laptops in African classrooms? Sooner than you might think...

You are not dreaming, it's already there... Several develloped countries have all put together in association with the "One Laptop Per Child Foundation (OLPC)" a program where children from third world countries will benefit of having a computer laptop. This program kicked off with brute force at the end of 2007 when individuals were solicited to purchase the laptop ( at the cost of 200$). The purchase of the laptop would then provide another laptop for free to a child in third world countries.

The computer, mounted with a mesh program, could enable students to do cooperative projects, tandem teaching in even the most remote locations. For example, is on of the thirty computers is connected to the Internet, the Mesh program allows all other networked computers to have access to it. in addition to this, the toy-like laptop offers both teachers and students the possibilities that a normal laptop has (word processing software, webcam enabled conferencing, math-related software and more.) These functions are all made possible through use of open-source software that are both free and non copyrighted.

What is your opinion in regards to this program?

See related article:
http://lapresseaffaires.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080220/LAINFORMER/802200933/5891/LAINFORMER01

An exented use of ITC's in our classrooms

As some of you might already know, use of ITC's in classrooms is a far from distant reality. Several schools in the province of Quebec have already understood this pedagogical renewing by creating programs in which students work in classrooms with thier very own laptop. Use of technology in the pedagogical field has several benefits for both students and teachers.

With this new teaching method, several factors are to be taken into consideration such as proper use of their laptop (as a pedagogical tool) and also security reasons (identity theft, cyberpredators, laptop theft, etc.) Nevertheless, do you consider that schools should, despite the risks, fall into the technological happening?


See related article:
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080219/CPACTUEL/802190683/5159/CPACTUEL

Pauline Marrois and her opinion on bilingualism

I was surprised to read this morning an article found in LaPresse in which Pauline Marois, PQ leader, was discussing the subject of bilingualism in the province of Quebec. Far from wanting to start a political debate on this subject, I nevertheless believe that her statement is going to affect the quality of our students' L2. After having implemented ESL courses to cycle one elementary students, Mme. Marois believes that this should be removed! She states that students should concentrate on French and only French from the first to the fourth grade.

Here's what she said:

"D'abord, et on semble l'oublier, que nos enfants parlent, écrivent et lisent leur langue maternelle avec plus de rigueur. Comment? En faisant en sorte, de la première à la quatrième année, que ce soit le français qu'ils apprennent, et le français seulement, pour que, avant de savoir les mots d'une autre langue, ils soient capables d'écrire, de lire, d'épeler la leur."

Far from approving her statement, I ask myself if Mme Marois is attacking the right subject; thus meaning "is it at the expense of English classes that we should teach more French in order for our students to have a better quality of their L1 speaking, writing and reading abilities?" Will teaching more French and less English help our students become more educated (linguistically speaking) or should we rather focus on the reasons why our students' level of French is decreasing.

This is once again, another classic case where governments take action without evaluating the positive aspects that were already present prior to their decision.

QUESTION OF DISCUSSION

• Do you consider that Mme Marois' statement is based on the linguistic protectionist point of view that Law 101 is intended to defend?
• Do you also believe that she is addressing the right problem?

For a full transcript of this article, please visit:

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080213/CPOPINIONS02/802130741/6732/CPOPINIONS

Student motivation in teaching culture and ESL

As future ESL teachers, we must consider that training our students to acquire the target language may transform the act of learning a new language towards a more motivating and enriching experience. What do you think?

Is culture harder to teach than the basic language itself?

As a future ESL teachers yourselves, what do you think is more difficult to teach?

• The target language?

or

• The culture related to the actual language?

Why do you think so?