Yong Zhao, Professor of Educational Psychology and Educational Technology at Michigan State, wants to teach the world about Chinese culture (and maybe a little Mandarin) before the 2008 Olympics.

Zon is a virtual world where users can live and learn about China through markets, newspapers, television, jobs and other citizens. The Chinese Language Council International contributed over $1 million for the project, which university staff developed with help from artists and writers at Chinese universities.

Visit the Zon website  (http://enterzon.com/)

 The Isle of Wight Conference 2008 takes place this year on 25-26 October at Nodehill Middle School in Newport and will cost £100 to attend. As in previous years, the event will feature a host of practical sessions delivered by inspirational speakers from around the UK on topics such as:

• Virtual Learning Environments
• Digital Storytelling
• Games based learning
• eTwinning
• Wikis, Blogs and Podcasts
• eCreativity

Speakers include:

There will be a delegate pack including details of how to book, session titles, biographies, travel arrangements, where to stay etc on
Joe Dale’s Integrating ICT into the MFL classroom blog available soon.

New from MFLE: Judit Munso from Lossiemouth High school writes about her experiences on a Critical Skills course she attended and how she applied the techniques in her classroom.

Read Critical Skills in the languages class

The outreach programme is run by Scottish Cilt’s Professional Services Team, and aims to ensure teachers are fully aware of developments in modern language teaching and to increase expertise in the classroom. The Outreach programme aims to bring high quality, focussed training in modern language teaching to all parts of the country.

Further details of the aims of the Outreach programme and how to apply

http://www.scilt.stir.ac.uk/services/events.php?

More than just a homework club, out of school hours learning can encompass many activities including sports, the arts and voluntary activities. This resource offers many examples of what out of school hours learning can be and offers advice on planning and guidance materials.

Visit Out of School Hours Learning

The European Commission have announced that the Juvenes Translatores competition will be taking place in 2008 for the second year running.

The 2008 Juvenes Translatores competition will be held on 27 November at secondary schools in each of the EU’s 27 Member States, and will be open to all pupils born in 1991. One winner from each Member State will be invited to attend the award ceremony in Brussels in early 2009, where they will have the chance to meet some of the Commission’s staff translators.

Visit Juvenes Translatores 2008 website to find out more.

Dunoon Grammar School  is delighted to be welcoming 45 pupils and four teachers from Hardenberg Gymnasium in Germany, to stay for eight days. The visit this year is a very special one, as it was 20 years ago that teachers Lesley Clark and Sheena McKillop started the Exchange of pupils between the two schools.
In that time there have been hundreds of Scottish and German pupils who have enjoyed and benefitted from the experience of the Exchange; speaking the foreign language they are learning at school in a real family setting, and getting to know life in another country through the eyes of someone their own age. Many have made a friend for life.
The anniversary activities are being supported by a Celebratory Fund grant from UK-German Connection.

Turismo Valencia has just launched an exciting competition  for 14-18 year-old students of Spanish in the UK.
Students should submit a simple MS PowerPoint presentation in Spanish focused on Valencia as a tourist destination.

Three students will win a football course run by Valencia FC Foundation in early July and the chance to meet first team players and train alongside their promising youngsters.

It has a closing date of 21 June 2008.

All the information and entry details are on the Destination Valencia 2008 website

‘Building the Curriculum 3: a framework for learning and teaching’ has now been published on the Curriculum for Excellence website. This paper outlines important messages for all those involved in planning the curriculum for children and young people and provides guidance on a new framework. It sets out considerations which are critical to the adoption of Curriculum for Excellence. It is relevant to all those involved in promoting effective learning for children and young people from 3 to 18.

You can download the PDF from the Curriculum for Excellence website

The programme will concentrate on Curriculum for Excellence and will form part of the strategy for engagement and implementation. Including:

• Transition – how will CfE assist in the development of programmes?
• Links between first and second languages
• HMIE

Find out more and download this year’s program from the Scottish CiLT website