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I was teaching Year 1 the days of the week this morning. We used the marvellous Days of the week song from Español Español but I’ve found this cute little clip on Youtube as well.
If you use it, though, you need to remind pupils that Spanish days of the week (and months of the year) have lower case initial letters and not capitals as we do in English.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5WHgkjL3kE&w=425&h=350]

Image by Cristóbal Cobo Romaní

Fast forward is the (long awaited by many!) article  published today in The TES magazine about ICT in MFL.

Yojana Sharma interviewed lots of fellow MFL Tweeters a few months back, gathering our thoughts on the use and importance of ICT in language learning.  She’s done a good job to condense all our thoughts as she spent on average 45 minutes interviewing us on the ‘phone.

So, if you’re interested in what Helena Butterfield, Clare Seccombe, Chris Harte, Isabelle Jones, Joe Dale, Alex Blagona, Suzi Bewell, Jo Rhys-Jones and José Picardo think about ICT and MFL, as well as the wonderfully named Norbert Pachler from IOE, check out the article.

Oh, and someone described as ‘widely regarded as a trailblazer for ICT use in Primary Languages’ has a word or two to say as well!

This is the first post on my new website – lisibo.co.uk

I like Blogger for many reasons, not least that it’s free and it was my first blog, and http://lisibo.blogspot.com will always be special.

However, the time has come to have my own domain and take another step up the ‘web ladder’.

Hopefully loyal readers will soon get used to the less vibrant surroundings and new readers will appreciate the mellow pinky lilac tones!

Come to the Language World Exhibition!

University of York

Friday 26 and Saturday 27 March 2010

· It’s free, it’s big, it’s full of the best in languages resources – from books to IT solutions, from national support agencies to courses abroad. There’s something for every language teacher!

· The Language World exhibition is open on Friday 26 March from 09.00 until 18.00 and on Saturday 27 March from 09.00 until 14.00. You’ll find it in Exhibition Centre, University of York and there’s parking close by. Call us if you need further details (0116 229 7454).

· On Friday evening at 5pm we’d like to invite you ALL to join us in the Exhibition to celebrate ALL’s 20^thbirthday this year – with a glass of fizz and a birthday cake!

Had a little play around again with Wallwisher and made a wall of Christmas songs in Spanish and Catalan.

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Comenius Reggio visitors, originally uploaded by lisibo.

Last week was a whirlwind of activity as 8 educators from Barcelona visited Birmingham as part of a Comenius Reggio project linking Birmingham Local Authority, Newman College, Dorrington Primary and Whitehouse Common Primary with El Consorci, a part of Barcelona University that works with Newman, CEIP Els Pins and CEIP Barrufet.

Here are the visitors (plus Rona Heald from the LA, and me!) at the Civic Reception with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and the Lady Mayoress.

More news about the project to follow when I’ve fully recovered!!

Wondering what’s happening following the Comenius network ceased to be in April?

TeacherNet have interviewed Professor Mike Kelly, Director of the Links into Languages programme.

During the interview he explains

• what Links into Languages is
• how it aims to link up the provision of Professional Development
• the Linked Up scheme
• the aim of Routes into Languages to foster a more ‘joined up’ approach to language teaching and learning
• the funding and organisational structure
• transition from KS2 to KS3
• accreditation including the Linked Up award scheme

You can watch the interview here and read the transcript too.
And also check out the Links into Languages site itself to find out more.

As regular readers of my blog will know, I’m a big fan of sporting events and particularly football, and I aim to use sporting events to make language learning relevant to my pupils. For example, a couple of years ago we had a Spanish scheme of work for all of KS2 Autumn term based on the Rugby World Cup.

Therefore I was really pleased to read a blogpost on Talkabout Primary MFL by Clare Seccombe entitled World Cup 2010.

In her post, Clare links to a presentation she did recently in the NorthEast, offering ideas and links on how to integrate and use the World Cup in the Primary classroom.

Well worth a look!

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Hotel du Vin, originally uploaded by lisibo.

This weekend I discovered the ideal way of networking and sharing!

I’d been invited to Cambridge, along with Steph Hopkins, by Leigh McClelland with the idea of putting our heads together and sharing ideas about language teaching, as well as having some fun!

I’ve got to say that I think i got more from Leigh and Steph than I gave, but we chatted constantly with laptops primed for all of Saturday, not even breaking when we went to the Hotel du Vin in Cambridge for the biggest cream tea ever seen, followed by cocktails, and eventually calling out for Chinese takeaway at about 10pm!

This is SUCH a good model for CPD – I’d recommend it to anyone.

Thanks to Leigh for having us, and to Leigh and Steph for their inspirational ideas – they are truely very clever ladies!!

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Penrhyn Castle, originally uploaded by lisibo.

Wishing you all a happy Easter
Lisaxx