Multimedia Language Centre

Why Do We Need More Languages? Learning about Global Languages and Cultures? —The MLC and ESL OLC Open Doors Event

mdube — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 20:51:45 +0000

On November 1, 2022, the Multimedia Language Centre (MLC) and the ESL Open Learning Centre (ESL OLC) hosted an Open Doors Event in South Ross 117. This event, entitled “Why Do We Need More Languages? Learning about Global Languages and Cultures,” featured language learning quote posters designed by the MLC team. It was sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, and the Department of French Studies. More than 60 students and faculty members attended the event that included an opening ceremony and activities.

The event kicked off with speeches from Professor Maria João Dodman, Chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, and Professor Janusz Przychodzen, interim Chair of the Department of French Studies.

Professor Dodman gave a lively and passionate speech of the importance of learning a language and culture as a key component for students to become “world citizens” of our times.

Professor Przychodzen’s speech entitled “The Future of Language Lab: Old Questions, New Answers” provided reflections on the growing importance of learning and studying languages as a key component of cultural intelligence and the use of the language lab as an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary tool.

Following the speeches, Professor Olga Makinina, director of the ESL OLC, provided an overview of the services offered at the ESL OLC. MLC’s services coordinator Tom Bassakyros introduced the services offered at the MLC. Professor Gang Pan, academic coordinator of the MLC, outlooked the MLC’s future to become the language learning hub that brings faculty and students together in language and culture teaching and learning with more innovations.

Attendees later participated in various activities including a poster-based translation game, poster-based debates and a scavenger hunt conducted by the ESL OLC team.

The poster exhibition ran from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15.

"Language is the roadmap of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going."
Rita Mae Brown

The post Why Do We Need More Languages? Learning about Global Languages and Cultures? —The MLC and ESL OLC Open Doors Event appeared first on Multimedia Language Centre.

Workshop 3: Teaching from Interactional and Intercultural Approaches with TELETANDEM

mdube — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 17:49:44 +0000

This workshop provided a framework for educators to plan, establish and deepen their understanding of what it means to engage students in real practices of interacting with interactants proficient in the target language. Dynamically and in real-time, TELETANDEM aims to promote interaction in a multicultural and multilingual environment in different areas of knowledge, guided by linguistic practices of language teaching and learning. Thus, the Talk to us workshop will begin with an overview of language pedagogies from interactional perspectives, followed by a guide to working with TELETANDEM in language courses. Furthermore, the workshop will count on involved students' participation in the project and will conclude with reflections on its development. Participants can leverage this knowledge and previous experiences to start/continue to plan a TELETANDEM Project in their specific language teaching and learning courses.

Presenters

Cátia Martins is a Visiting Professor in the Portuguese & Luso-Brazilian Studies Program at �첥��Ƶ (DLLL/Yorku), Canada. Her publications and research interests focus on Portuguese Language Teaching and Teacher Training, Teaching Methodology and Practices and LPNM (L2, LH and LA). She works as a consultant for public and educational institutions, and a producer of Linguistics content for @profformacao, on Instagram and YouTube.

Daniel Augusto de Oliveira  is a full-time Professor of English and Portuguese at the Federal Institute of Southeast Minas Gerais, Cataguases Branch Campus, in Cataguases-MG, Brazil. His research interests rely on the intersection amongst Human Rights, Applied Linguistics, Language Education, Translanguaging, and Portuguese as a Welcoming Language for immigrants and refugees in Brazil.

The post Workshop 3: Teaching from Interactional and Intercultural Approaches with TELETANDEM appeared first on Multimedia Language Centre.

Lingua in Uso video series

Sanja Begic — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 13:05:20 +0000

Watch the Lingua in Uso video series by Italian Studies Professor Samia Tawwab on our !

The post Lingua in Uso video series appeared first on Multimedia Language Centre.

Workshop 2: Unlocking the Power of Unfocused Learning and Implicit Learning in Language Learning

Sanja Begic — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 18:17:00 +0000

The Multimedia Language Centre hosted a workshop on Friday, April 1 by Prof. Gang Pan (Assistant Prof. DLLL), Jessica Draper (Marketing and International Business student at Schulich), Hunjay Ha (International Business student at Schulich), and Linda Wang (Law and Society major student).

Professor Pan and the students collaborated to offer a workshop "Unlocking the Power of Unfocused Learning and Implicit Learning with YouTube, Netflix, Audio Books and Other Media". This interactive session, featuring the unfocused mind and implicit learning with audio and video materials, was the second workshop of the MLC Language Learning Workshop Series which aims to help students make their language learning easier, faster, and with more fun, and bring students closer to �첥��Ƶ’s language learning community.

Speakers

Gang Pan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Literatures, Languages & Linguistics in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. He sees teaching as a practice to help students to grow into future leaders with conscience in an ever-changing world.

Jessica Draper is studying at the Schulich School of Business, specializing in marketing and international business. She loves to learn about different cultures around the world, and has a job teaching English to children across China.

Hunjay Ha is an international business student at Schulich School of Business with a passion for learning different languages and cultures.

Linda Wang, fourth year Law and Society major, with an interest in language and linguistic studies.

The post Workshop 2: Unlocking the Power of Unfocused Learning and Implicit Learning in Language Learning appeared first on Multimedia Language Centre.

Workshop 1: Tips and Tricks to Become a Successful Language Learner

Sanja Begic — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 19:13:15 +0000

This was an interactive workshop consisting of discussions on the language learning cycle and strategies for effectively leveraging textbooks, technology & co-curricular activities to enhance language learning.

Guest speakers included Christiane Dumont, Associate Professor, French Studies and Khadeja Elsibai, student in the Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law program.

Guest Speakers

Christiane Dumont is an Associate Professor Teaching Stream in the Department of French Studies. She has a strong interest in teaching- learning innovation and a desire to bring the cultures of the francophone world to her students.

Khadeja Elsibai is a part-time student in the Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law program and a federal public servant. She completed a minor in French studies in 2019.

The post Workshop 1: Tips and Tricks to Become a Successful Language Learner appeared first on Multimedia Language Centre.