MiWLA+2008

What did you learn from MiWLA 2008?
Post any ideas you want to share on this page. (As always, be sure to sign your post.) If you'd like to discuss anything, use the discussion board on this page.

Things every new teacher needs to know! For those who didn't attend this session, it was actually very helpful and informative and be sure to get copies of the handout!! user:alyxx

- I have two extra copies that I'll bring to class.. Yes, I did 'take' some extra :) user:litwins5

"What's more French than bread? Teaching vocabulary through French Culture" -- This was an amazing session that three of us went to -- it inspired me to think of more interesting ways to teach the language, and was an example that I think we could incorporate into our own lessons! The presenter told stories of how her parents were French bread bakers, and she showed us pictures of all of the different kinds of bread, the regions where it is made, etc. Then, we got to taste the difference between French and American bread, and learn about why they taste different! user:L2teach

-Unfortunately I was not able to make it to MiWLA (I was in Oaxaca, Mexico...so I guess I should say 'fortunately'!) so if anybody has ANY extra copies of ANYTHING, I would love to have them! user:KathrynHin

-Some of us attended a great session on creating online portfolios using //Demonstrate//. This is a program created by MSU professors. The presentation discussed the importance of creating portfolios of student work (motivation, student autonomy, and formal and informal assessment). Plus it is really user friendly and FREE. Check it out at [|demonstrate.llc.msu.edu/] user:adamolau * I was going to mention the same session. It was a great program that is incredibly easy to use! I have showed the other foreign language teachers at my school, and so far have received a positive response. I plan to use this program in the next week or so to start creating student portfolios. Let me know if you have any questions and hopefully I can answer it. user:lemonhe1

I attended a few sessions, and I went to Creative and Crafty Ideas for Sharing about Hispanic Holidays. It was awesome! We are actually making some things that I learned in my classes right now. There are some good ideas about Thanksgiving, such as having students make a list in pairs for 20 things they are thankful for in the TL. For Christmas, have students draw at random a name of a student in the class (have all students names in a bag) and then they have to describe/present 2 things they would give them for Christmas. The first gift must cost nothing, such as a walk in the park, etc. The second gift is where price is not an issue, such as a vacation, etc. You can take away Christmas in this, and just make it a 'giving' session! user:litwins5

Also, in order to introduce architecture into the classroom, make ginger bread architecture. For example, show them a slideshow about architecture in Latin America, and then put them into groups of 4 (Do this for a week before Christmas break, etc, when their mind is not on the school) and tell them that they have to create something that you find in Latino architecture, such as Machu Picchu, a church in Spain, Teotihuacan (pyramids), etc. And then judge it at the end of the week! I have a lot more information than this, just ask me! Brief synopsis! user:litwins5