Innovation in Language Learning

In 2011 the project manager of "HLWskypers - Building bridges" K. Zablatnik and a fellow teacher from Texas, B. Peach started a network for language teachers and schools called "HLW Skypers: Hello little world skypers".Currently more than 250 teachers from all corners of the world are collaborating within this network, communicating via new Internet technologies in foreign language lessons, drawing new lesson plans or providing other pedagogical materials.

This project "HLWskypers Building Bridges" employs the network by using its technological possibilities for foreign language classes at school. In several classes at "HLW St.Veit/Glan" Social Networks like Skype, Facebook, Moodle, Google hangouts or eye jots are specifically used in foreign language teaching.

Direct communicating with school classes and guest speakers from all continents enables the students to apply and to consolidate their acquired knowledge. Furthermore they gain experiences with representatives of different cultural groups. A very convenient side effect is that they get to learn various accents (e.g. Australian, English, Canadian, French etc.).

By using the data processor all attendees get to follow the presentations performed live by their connected school partner via Skype The inhibition of exposing oneself, the fear of being humiliated, is declining slowly, due to the fact that the comprehension of listening and speaking is focused on the information which is being conveyed by their peers

Teachers are increasingly taking a back seat – students are able to establish immediate and direct contact to strangers. They are able to talk about their current learning contents, standard of living, traditions, problems and so on. The confrontation with an authentic situation in “real time” practices a special fascination on the learning students and it motivates them immensely to articulate themselves in a foreign language. In this project the linguistic and intercultural competence of the students gets promoted in various forms and with the use of numerous technologies authentic communication systems are introduced in the lessons.

This project promotes the students’ linguistic and intercultural competences in many different ways. By employing various types of technologies a wide scope of new possibilities to communicate in sound and vision with interlocutors from all over the world can be established.

Moreover by effective usage of the state of the art communication technology, the outcome enhances the students’ motivation to learn foreign languages and to establish a positive attitude towards lifelong training. Finally the project uses a well-established and well organised media. These aspects display that this trend-setting project is practically relevant, diverse and extremely simple to use in classes.