Featuring... - Northern Territory Schools

Page 14The recent AFMLTA Biennial Conference was once again a valuable opportunity for professional input,information gathering, and networking. Here are a few useful items of info from some of the sessions Iattended:Audacity presented by Harald OhlendorfAudacity (Version 1.2.3) is free software from the internet which enables you to utilise audio from webradio or other sources. The Audacity software can be downloaded fromhttp://audacity.sourceforge.net . The idea is to track down on the internet a useful radio stationwhich has a web site with live streaming audio, perhaps with the help of websites such aswww.radio-locator.com . Then you can use Audacity to record programs, advertisements, announcements,news etc., which you then edit as needed, for example cutting out unnecessary parts or slowingit down, before exporting it into MP3 or WAV files to play on computer or CD player. With broadbandthe quality of this web editing software is now excellent, and very easy to use.Language Teachers’ Resource Network presented by Shannon MasonThe Language Teachers’ Resource Network (LTRN) is an online resource-sharing network where teachersof all languages share their resources. Currently there are over 300 resources, categorised into 30topics, in six different languages. Teachers are encouraged to use the resources on the site, and todonate their own, ensuring a wealth of ideas from different perspectives, saving both time and energy.Explore the site at www.languageteachers.net To donate your own resources contactshannon@languageteachers.netUsing the DVD presented by Jackie LoveThis session included a very simple tip which many of you may already know, but others may not. Andthat is, that when you are next buying a DVD player make sure you buy one that is “multizone” (notjust Zone 4 for Australia). Apparently Australian stores are not allowed to have multizone players ondisplay – you have to ask for the multizone version of the one you’ve chosen from the floor. With amultizone player you can play DVDs from other regions of the world. You can get multizone chips putinto your computer, but beware because that can cause problems and will void the warranty.Seizing the Future – Where to From Here? – Concluding PanelThis final session contained lots to inspire. I was struck by Tony Liddicoat’s view that there is a renewingof languages as “education” (i.e. not just as a skill useful for doing or gaining something else).Tony talked about the “reimagining” of languages education – no longer is languages education aboutpeople and places “out there”, but rather it’s about “me”, and issues of “being” and “belonging”,“understanding the world, oneself, and others through language”. Joe Lo Bianco went on to say thatthis orientation on “me as the learner” can help us resist the negative implications of a renewed interestglobally in language learning in order to “protect against the enemy”. Joe believes we need to emphasisethe intellectual benefits of language study, because language study generates capabilities forlearning, thinking, and knowing, all key aspects of “being”.Kathy SilburnNT School of Languages