Infonews n°288 from 26/11/2006
Texts
Wii
PS3
Xbox 360
Litvinenko's Death
Online advent Calendars
Online Games
Everything about Penguins (from Riverdeep's Weekly Classroom Flyer, November
15th)
Video "Capsules"
Mysterious crime solving
Better Business Bureau (BBB): scams (from LII New This Week, November 16)
Can I Have A Word? (from The Scout Report -- November 24)
A new sport: disk dog! (from LII New This Week, November 16)
The Gold Rush (from LII New This Week, November 16)
Video Nation (from The Scout Report -- November 24)
CDL Online Practice Questions (from The Scout Report -- November 24)
Le site anglais du lycée Saint Sernin de Toulouse
L'approche actionnelle
Consultation sur le projet de programme du Palier 2
With Christmas approaching, the main topic among 15-18 year old boys (and
maybe some other people too...) is to discuss which game console is the best.
Here are some texts, and links to sites about each console, with pictures and
videos ( some of the videos are without words and can be used even with beginners).
Note : the Wii seems to be the best choice because he makes the players stand,
interact and exercise!
Texts
You can choose a text like "Gamers spoiled for choice this Christmas" and
invite them to debate.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=38&ObjectID=10412509
Or you can choose this very comprehensive article comparing the features of
the three consoles (a bit technical)
http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=114983&ran=100351
here is another text, less technical, comparing them mainly from the point
of view of availability and price.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1126newgames1127intro.html
and this article compare the consoles by listing the games that work on all
of them or just one or the other (and how difficult it is to find them)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/25/AR2006112500044.html
read also this article from a Romanian news site which says that "While
Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were competing in categories such as “who can stuff
more memory and processors per square centimeter”, Nintendo bet on the human
factor and instead of concentrating on graphics and processor power, it reinvented
the magic wand, creating a <http://www.playfuls.com/scitech/#>wireless
controller which allows gamers to make any kind of movements they desire while
playing. "
http://www.playfuls.com/news_05291_Nintendo_Wii_the_Surprise_Winner_of_the_Console_War.html
and here are the best games, classified in three categories : action, adventure/role-playing/
, sports/racing
http://indystar.gns.gannett.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061122/TECH05/609070421/1001/TECH
you can add this article describing the games:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/11-06/11-24-06/05living.htm
Wii
You will discover through your students (they are the experts!) what the new
wii is. But you can also surprise them with the wii TV spots. They contain
almost no words, but revealing sounds and gestures, so you can use them at
any level and let the students guess and use whatever English they have. The
first is called "what can wii do?"
and ends with the catch phrase: "Wii can do anything" : you see people
playing virtual sports, just through a hand holding the controler. If you want
to see more precisely what they do, watch the second video, it also excellently
illustrates a sentence from the article : "some enthusiastic users have
smashed their TV screens by accidentally throwing the Wii-mote at them during
energetic gaming sessions. "
http://uk.wii.com/movies/wii_tv_13/
http://uk.wii.com/movies/wii_tv_21/
Wii by Nintendo will be released on December 8th in France. If you want to
discover what is in the box when you buy your wii go to this page, and you
can click on each item and get a description of what it does and how to use
it. Some of the key words are : controler, remote, wireless, sensors, connect,
multiplayer
http://wii.nintendo.com/whatiswii_index.jsp
And you can read this article about how dangerous ;) this new console can be
: "Nintendo's new system forces players to move their bodies, causing
aches for some couch potatoes; a case of 'Wii elbow'
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116441076273232312-IHR8Xf3YEG61QlW0e7hA_kHAA8w_20061224.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top
PS3
PS3 by Sony has met problems and won't be commercialized before March. The
site is more technical and less visual. but you can find an interesting description
of the wireless controller, with a picture:
http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Using/WirelessController
you can watch the Tv spots "find me":
http://www.us.playstation.com/Media?id=15576
http://www.us.playstation.com/Media?id=15578
But upper intermediate and advanced students interested in technology will
find this other spot "Play B3YOND smarter" really interesting. It
starts right off with the chip and compares it to a tempest (the other consoles
are mere showers!). Some of the key words are: microchip, sole, processors,
process, control, respond, real time, brain, cell broadband engine; and you
will hear: "the faster you think, the more things you can think about,
and that makes you smarter"
(super pour le programme grammatical de 1ère et l'accroissement progressif)
http://www.us.playstation.com/Media?id=15500
Xbox 360
Xbox 360 by Microsoft is the third one. It was released last year. For the
anniversary of its release they have launched a service of renting HD videos
online. But it doesn't work all that well:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6180120.stm
You can see what is in the box when you buy it (to compare?) and the accessories
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/xbox360/xbox360customize.htm
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/accessories/?WT.svl=nav
watch the video of the accessories and what you can do with them
http://www.xbox.com/NR/rdonlyres/E7CA55D3-71DB-4477-941E-D3B29ECB9B4C/0/vidxbox360hardware.asx
voyez aussi cette super video sur le "sans fil", mais il faut l'utiliser
sans le son car elle est en français sous-titré en anglais!
http://www.xbox.com/NR/rdonlyres/BAABD3D2-C577-40D7-B6C2-51B0012AA332/0/vidWirelessWorldHi.asx
or read the descriptions of the different controllers (with photos)
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/xbox360/yourguidebutton.htm
Litvinenko's Death
The BBC offers this report about "Litvinenko poisoning" with the
full transcript, the audio file and a comprehension test.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2006/11/061122_litvinenko.shtml
Read also this article from the Sunday Times : 'the bastards got me!'
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2471061,00.html
Online advent Calendars
Advent Calendars are a strong tradition in English speaking countries, and
the children love opening a window every day and discovering a surprise. You
can do this in your class too, and project the calendar everyday, to discover
with your students the surprise of the day. Here are some:
- Each day in December, click on this online, interactive advent calendar to
learn of Christmas customs in different lands.
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/calendar/
- Tate's advent calendar : the Cat who laughed. Have a look at a calendar from
a previous year to have an idea of what it's like, and discover different stories:
http://www.catwholaughed.com/
http://www.catwholaughed.com/2004/index.html
http://www.catwholaughed.com/2005/index.html
- A very religious one, but you may enjoy the recipes. And after all, advent
IS religious!
http://www.teachingmom.com/features/advent.html
- and a page of links to find some more calendars
http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/christmas/advent-calendars.htm
Online Games
Alyne Piazza has discovered this site for teens full of games.
http://www.studio2b.org/lounge/games/
The youngest may enjoy "decorate your room" and learn the name of
the rooms and pieces of furniture as they play.
Older students may enjoy making poems with
"poetry slam" or learning how to manage their money with "making
cents of her life"
Everything about Penguins (from Riverdeep's Weekly Classroom Flyer, November 15th)
Penguins are a perfect topic for winter studies, and you'll find lots to
explore on this penguin-packed site, including student worksheets, penguin
questions, penguin riddles, songs and poems, and some penguin-themed math as
well. Also print out penguin puzzles, dot-to-dots, and coloring pages for elementary
classes.
http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/penguins/activities.htm
Video "Capsules"
Intermediate students and above will enjoy these
"capsules" designed by our Canadian colleagues. In each capsule,
a teachers explains precisely and in slow English what the students has to
do. Have a look at the capsule about CSI, inviting the students to go to the
site, watch videos or read a page and answer questions. It's amazing : the
voice invites you to do things and offers exercises, and the students will
listen to English and improve their listening skills without efforts. The content
is slow and they can listen to it as much as they like before going on to the
site and the exercise sheet.
You can read the report Thot Cursus wrote about the site:
http://cursus.cursus.edu/cours.asp?no=24930
and try the "capsules":
http://www.csdm.qc.ca/fga/capsules/ang/
here is the "capsule" about CSI
http://www.csdm.qc.ca/fga/capsules/ang/csi_videos.html
with questions about the videos that are on the site of the TV series (remember
to authorize the pop ups)
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/
Note that from the CBS site you can watch for free full episodes from CSI,
NCIS and Numbers, in English and without subtitles. An excellent idea for adult
students who want to improve their listening skills.
http://www.cbs.com/
Mysterious crime solving
On e-teach, Florinda Fernandes recommends this site with a 5 minutes solve
it mystery : the text contains the clues....but you can also click to get the
solution. Excellent to use as printed version with intermediate students.
http://www.mysterynet.com/solveit/
Better Business Bureau (BBB): scams (from LII New This Week, November 16)
This site provides descriptions of common work-at-home scams and typical advertisements
for these scams. Types of scams include assembly work at home, chain letters,
envelope stuffing, multi-level marketing, online business, and processing medical
insurance claims. Includes tips for avoiding fraud, signs of work-at-home scammers,
and tips about what to do if you become a victim of a work-at-home scheme.
From the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
http://www.bbb.org/Alerts/article.asp?ID=436
[ our students do receive this type of mail in their box : show them how to
react sensibly.]
Can I Have A Word? (from The Scout Report -- November 24)
Just a single word can make all the difference in a poem, an essay, or an
entire novel. Educating students of all ages about the importance of words,
particularly in creative writing, can be a difficult task. Fortunately, this
visually refreshing and well-laid out site created by the Barbican Education
group is quite inspiring. The site is divided into four projects including
the elements, the human body, the Odyssey, and changing voices. In the elements
area, visitors will learn how to create descriptive writing through watching
visual presentations and listening to new poems by a variety of authors, including
Margot Henderson, Jackie Kay, and Michael Rosen. Also, this section (as with
all the other sections) includes classroom activities for teachers. Overall,
the site is easy to use and will hopefully serve to inspire a new generation
of creative writers. [KMG]
http://www.barbican.org.uk/canihaveaword/
A new sport: disk dog! (from LII New This Week, November 16)
US Disc Dog Nationals (USDDN)
Website for organization that supervises competitions in which dogs catch flying
discs thrown by humans. Includes a list of international events, judging
criteria for "toss and fetch" and "freestyle" competitions,
and training material. Also includes links to local disc dog groups in the
U.S.
http://www.usddn.com/
[ amazing! read the rules of this new sport...]
The Gold Rush (from LII New This Week, November 16)
Companion to a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) American Experience program
that "tracks the evolution of the [California] Gold Rush from the easy
riches of the first few months to the fierce competition for a few good claims." Features
a map with major "strikes," timeline, background about people (such
as Mexicans and Chinese immigrants) and events, a special feature on Native
Americans,
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/
and an online role playing game.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/sfeature/game.html
Also includes a teacher's guide
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/tguide/index.html
Video Nation (from The Scout Report -- November 24)
The British have long been interested in studying and documenting various
forms of social organization and human interaction, and their much-revered
BBC has also been involved in letting residents have their say on a number
of programs, including the notable “Video Nation”. The program started in the
early 1990s, and with the rise of the Internet many of these short vignettes
have been folded into this very informative and engaging website.
With eighteen regional centers, visitors can view videos from such locations
as Kent, Birmingham, and Manchester. Visitors looking for videos on certain
topics can delve into the Archive section and look through headings such as
Africa, football, lomography, and summer. Other sections of the site allow
users to learn more about making a short film and the history of the Video
Nation program. [KMG]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/
CDL Online Practice Questions (from The Scout Report -- November 24)
Aspiring truck drivers and those who seek a commercial driving license will
appreciate this website a great deal, as it features a number of practice questions
that may be found on the test that is required for such certifications. The
site features over a dozen self-assessment modules that cover such topics as
air brakes, hazardous materials, and of course,
transporting passengers. Within each section, visitors will find both “true-false”-style
questions and their equally well-known counterpart, the multiple choice query.
Also, for those getting acquainted with teaching others how to prepare for
this exam, this site may be most handy. Whether one is on their way to Bangor,
Maine, or just in need of this certification
to meet up with a midnight train, this site will get them on their way.[KMG]
http://www.testprepreview.com/cdl_practice.htm
[ CDL is Commercial Driver's Licence. This online test will interest all students
interested in trucks and coach driving.]
Le site anglais du lycée Saint Sernin de Toulouse
Laure Peskine a signalé ce site sur la liste Interlangues. Mme Guillet y présente
des ressources utiles aux débutants, mais aussi à
tous ceux qui se demandent comment construire une progression en intégrant
les descripteurs du cadre européen.
http://saintsernin.sytes.net/anglais/teachers_corner/guillet/Teaching/Beginners/the%20beginners'%20page.htm
Vous y trouverez des exemples de progression annuelle, d'organisation de séquences
et de séances, et des pistes pour travailler les différentes compétences:
http://saintsernin.sytes.net/anglais/teachers_corner/indexteachers.htm
L'approche actionnelle
Notre collègue Laurence Bernard de la Martinique a compilé des articles sur
l'approche actionnelle. A lire!
http://cms.ac-martinique.fr/discipline/anglais/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=180
Consultation sur le projet de programme du Palier 2
Sur eteachNet, Celine Roos nous informe que les nouveaux programme pour le
palier 2 sont en consultation sur Eduscol.
Il est très intéressant de lire le préambule, même si vous n'enseignez pas à ce
niveau. Il présente de façon claire (tableaux) les objectifs
à atteindre, formulés selon les descripteurs du CECRL, et donne des exemples
d'activités langagières très concrets organisés en trois pôles: réception,
production, interaction. Vous y trouverez aussi le programme culture, qui fait
le lien avec le programme de seconde : le thème est
" l'ici et l'ailleurs". le chapitre sur l'évaluation est aussi très
intéressant : l'évaluation doit être "positve, ciblée, cohérente et critériée",
et les enseignants sont encouragés à faire participer les élèves à
l'évaluation en les rendant d'abord conscients des critères, puis en les invitant à les
déterminer eux mêmes, afin qu'ils soient capable ensuite de proter un regard
critique sur leurs production et progressent vers l'autonomie. Cependant, l'auto-évaluation
ne peut pas remplacer l'évaluation par l'enseignant, c'est clairement dit.
http://eduscol.education.fr/D0082/consultationLVE_preambule_palier2.pdf
Le programme d'anglais est tout aussi passionnant : j'aimerais que mes secondes
sachent faire tout
ça...sans parler de mes terminales STI! ;) le programme culturel est détaillé,
mais les pistes données pourraient facilement entrer dans le
"vivre ensemble" de seconde. Espérons qu'un nouveau programme de
seconde plus précis permettra de disciper cette ambiguïté. Par contre, les
trois pôles d'activités languagières présentent des contenus précis, bien décrits
avec des exemples clairs et analysés dans des tableaux qui mettent en regard
la production, la formulation, et les compétences culturelles, lexicales, grammaticales
et phonologiques. Par exemple, pour la production orale, il est agréable aussi
de voir que le "classroom English"
perd sa forme "scolaire" (I've forgotten my book) pour devenir de
la vraie communication (try to take notes!, any questions so far?) et que toutes
les situations de communication dans le cadre de l'école sont considérées :
en salle informatique (vers le B2i), en voyage, en famille, entre pairs, en
continu, etc.
Bien que basé sur le CECRL, ce document ne nous noie pas comme le cadre sous
des termes didactiques complexes ni des sigles. Ici pas de compétence orthoépique
ni de PPC ou PPI, les choses sont dites et décrites clairement et simplement.
Quant à la grammaire, les formulations sont stables : have + Ven; be au passé +
Ving; have to + BV.
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lycée Blaise Pascal, Rouen, France
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