Innovation in Language Learning
Teaching Greek to Albanian Students Through Shared Folk Tales: an Electronic Language Learning Environment
Chara Mavrodimou, University of Ioannina and Ioannina Primary School of Inter-Cultural Education (Greece)
Abstract
This presentation concerns a project that was implemented by the host class of an intercultural school, in the framework of teaching Greek as a second language to speakers of Albanian. More specifically, it will refer to an innovative learning teaching method that focuses on the folk tales shared by both cultures. This project was realized through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The aim of this program was to put use of the background knowledge of the students, to enrich their vocabulary, enhance the development of their language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and to improve their cognitive ability with respect to the structure and function of the Greek language (grammar, syntax).The current project took place in the beginners’ host class and lasted 6 months. The twelve students of this class were from 6 to 11 years old. Our basic observations are summarized as follows:
a) Apart from the language, we had to teach ICT and to collaborate with an animator as well.
b) The students wrote their own fairytale which served as the basis for the design of an electronic game aiming at the improvement of the linguistic skills of L1 Albanian learners of Greek.
c) The students showed improvement in the Greek language, both in oral and written communication.
