Modern Languages Blog

3 hours 26 minutes per day. Take a look at the Top 100 programmes the French watched last year.

A French head teacher from Montpellier is reportedly shocked at being suspended from his job after creating a personal blog, on which he wrote about his professional and private life and posting photos of himself which, the French authorities claim, are of a pornographic nature. Quelle surprise! Via Pointblog.

Thanks for all the comments on the recent blog post  and forum surrounding Web 2.0. I have to say that I also think the phrase does little to enthuse, inspire or make a concept easier to understand. The web radio show (also known as a Skypecast, due to the name of the internet telephone package used to speak to each other) can be found over on my personal blog. I hope you feel your views were put across (and be fair – it was 5am!). Later, I will be posting the lecture given at Jordanhill College of Education, University of Strathclyde, about blogging and podcasting. That might help answer a few more questions, too. A plus!

A talking pen which gives the correct pronunciation of any French word and a programme which downloads classic works of literature to a mobile phone are some of the new ideas featured at the annual educational technology show Bett. Read more on this at the BBC site.

Radio France has launched podcasts of all their regular shows. No longer will you face the same problems of streaming radio in school. These are ready to go! Let us know how you get on.

Loic Le Meur, serial entrepreneur and bloggeur par excellence, is featured in this Deutsche Welle written story and podcast on why of all the countries of Europe France is the number one when it comes to blogging. (in English)

In the wee small hours of Friday morning (4am to be precise) I will be taking part in a Skype telephone debate with some of the most forward-thinking US and Canadian proponents of blogging, podcasting and the ominous-sounding Web 2.0. Does this mean anything to us? Do these words make us jump with joy or turn our backs in bemusement? I would like to put your views forward in this online show to which thousands will listen. Please leave your comments here or, if you’re an MFLE member, find me in Member Search send me a Private Message.

For MFLE Members, in the Discussion Forum there’s also a vote on what blogging means to you.

An archived article in Le Monde on the biggest change in the web since the Internet. Read it quick before it goes behind the ‘pay only’ archive password.

MacWorld is the annual event where Steve Jobs, chair of Apple, announces the latest huge innovations the company has made. All at once. In one go. This year was not one to disappoint. As well as large increases in the speed of their computers thanks to new Intel processors, the software that comes with all Macs, iLife, has been made into a tool that educators should be scrambling to get hold of. iLife now makes super easy podcasting (with images you can set to appear in line with the text), even more exciting digital video editing and web publishing with the all new iWeb. For a great look into what’s on offer, watch Steve Jobs in action last night in this video.

Update: And if you want to see it in French, try PointBlog.

L’Internaute has the full rundown on this past year’s greatest hits at the French box office. The small articles would make an interesting piece of reading for students of all ages.