online teaching in the target language

Teaching new target language content online can be done synchronously or asynchronously. Teachers can teach via live video, or use one or more of the many online teaching and learning tools.

When teaching and learning online, it is important to consider a variety of strategies and scaffolds for language development. Synchronous learning can facilitate community building when students and the teacher log on simultaneously and subsequently participate in well-measured direct instructional activities and a variety of live practice in the target language. Flipped or asynchronous activities can extend the opportunities for teaching and learning either prior to or following synchronous instruction.

This page offers tips, technology tools, and tutorials for teaching new content online in the target language. While there may be a wide variety of tools available, those presented in this section of the website are readily available, free or reasonably priced, easy to use, and effectively support standards-based instruction. To avoid overwhelming site visitors, not every tool is listed. Teachers must follow school policies for acceptable use of technology when selecting online tools.

instructional delivery

Optimal instructional practices are engaging, whether online or face-to-face. Online teaching requires more planning since teachers must anticipate technical and other challenges and design instruction as clearly and completely as possible. Presentations should include target culture images and videos. The following are tools to facilitate engaging online instruction:

presentation tools to organize content

Engaging presentations contain visuals

• Target culture (authentic) images From Leslie Grahn on Pinterest (Created by Leslie Grahn, Coordinator of World Languages, Howard County Public Schools, retired)

• Target culture (authentic) videos From the Grahnforlang website (Created by Leslie Grahn, Coordinator of World Languages, Howard County Public Schools, retired)

Engaging presentations are interactive and include

• Breakout Rooms

• Opportunities to use chat features

• Interactive Slides and Activities

Tools for Interactive Instructional Delivery

Recordings for asynchronous instruction

There are multiple ways to deliver instruction asynchronously using a recorded presentation. Some teachers record their voice while presenting slides, others explain their thinking as they solve a problem, and some read passages to model target language use. It is important to consider the students’ age and range of proficiency in order to create videos of appropriate length. Research indicates:

• Kindergarten to third grade: No more than 2 minutes 30 seconds
• Fourth and fifth grade: No more than 3 minutes
• Sixth through eighth grade: No more than 4 minutes
• Ninth through twelfth grade: No more than 5 minutes

Teacher videos do not have to be technically perfect. Teachers should watch their video to be certain that it is interesting and serves their instructional purpose.

Tools for Recording

Loom allows users to make videos using a video recorder capable of capturing their screen, webcam, and microphone.

• Step-by-Step Guide to Using Loom (video)

Screencastify allows users to make videos using a video recorder capable of capturing their screen, webcam, and microphone.

• Tutorial on How to Use Screencastify (video)

• Infographic (visual)

Page created by: Tonja Byrom, Iman A.K. Hashem, Svetlana J. Lazarova, Valerie Sun, Brandon Zaslow