School undergoing change – a blended learning course for

teachers of foreign languages

Annelie Eberhardt, M.A.National University of Ireland,

Galway

Ireland / Eire

Professional Development in Ireland

for Foreign Language Teachers

PD in Ireland

Pre-service education successful?

Professional development not mandatory

PD as “white hope”

But no real support system from unions or Department of Education and Science

From here to where?

How to improve the situation?

Squaring a circle?

Contradictions

appreciated

anything immediately relevant: resources in the internet, working with pictures/ songs/etc.

not appreciated

CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), CEFR, ELP

Improvement: Example “Schule im Wandel”

School Undergoing Change

Blended Learning Course

Foreign Language Teachers (German)

European reference model

Funded by Comenius

Moodle, but also non-digital use

Facts

Short documentary films filmed at 10

German schools (additional from Finland,

Poland, Portugal and the Czech Republic)

Stimulate reflection, discussion and

exchange

Aspect of change is the central theme of all

films

Concept

Content1. Schools • School profiles• Changes in schools• New responsibilities for teachers • Visions of school

2. Teaching • Starting a foreign language• Content and Language Integrated Learning• Project work in advanced lessons• Learning through teaching

3. Educational concepts and projects • Step by step to independence• Promoting multilingual skills• Students take responsibility• Opening up the school to the community

First Results

Technical difficulties

(wikis, forums, online

exercises, sources of

data)

Own pace,from home,authentic learning

material, co-operative learning

Doable?

From a restricted teacher to an extended professional

What I’d like you to take away today...

annelie.eberhardt@nuigalway.ie

nuigalway.ie linkedin.com

academia.edu