ALR November~December 1999

Books: Learn Language With This Web Tool

Internet Tasks for Second Language Students
David Cohn, Douglas E. Moore, and Carmela Taliercio-Cohn
Proficiency Press Co., Elmont, New York; 1998 $19.95

With the advent of more accessible technology, teachers are seeing a growing number of books of exercises based on the Internet. These tend to be either language-specific, or collections of exercises for different languages. This book can be used for English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish. (Teachers of other languages could use the worksheet questions and activity suggestions if they provided links appropriate to their language.)

The book does not contain the actual URL’s of the websites. Students select an icon from the Proficiency Press web page, which represents a particular topic, click on the flag for their target language, and then on icons which take them to various sites.

For each topic there is a situation, in some cases two, followed by a series of questions for which students must find answers. There are generally three web link possibilities for each situation. In several cases clicking on a link returned an “Error” or similar message; 2 out of 3 links in one of the topics were inaccessible. This will always be a possibility when dealing with the ever-changing web. Teachers would therefore be wise to check out the applicable links shortly before using them in class; they could, of course, substitute their own URL’s to be used with the worksheets. In a group situation the use of headsets might be a good idea, as some sites have music or other sound.

Activity suggestions for speaking, web design, key/penpals, and culture for each topic follow the corresponding worksheet. Keypal and online currency converter links are provided to facilitate these activities.

In general the websites contain authentic, often fairly complex language. In some cases, even though students are asked just to find rather obvious details, some students may be a bit intimidated by so much input; others will find it interesting and challenging. Teachers of more advanced levels might want to create more in-depth materials in the target language for the same web sites. A number of sites allow the visitor to view them either in English or the target language, so that the teacher may wish to monitor which version students are actually seeing.

Particularly for the teacher with limited technological experience, this book provides a relatively easy way to begin to incorporate basic web activities in the foreign language classroom.

Marilyn Barrueta teaches at Yorktown High School, Arlington, Virginia

Judyth Nesbitt writes: The workbook is comprehensive and age appropriate that helps incorporate the use of technology in the classroom. What with National Standards focusing on technology in the classroom, this workbook-style tool will greatly increase the usefulness of the Internet in the foreign language classroom. The Tasks workbook also addresses the diversity in learning styles quite well. As a teacher who uses the Internet and other technology frequently, I am always looking for ways to expand my Internet lesson repertoire. This book is just the right tool. Topics included in the book are current and appropriate to the students at the middle school to high school level. Not only will the exercises provide training and education on using the internet and using the language, but at the same time the student will be researching very specific topics on family, health care, travel, leisure activities, safety, and other such pertinent topics. As teachers, we realize the importance of integrated units. This is something easily accomplished in the foreign language classroom because the opportunity exists to reinforce any other topic the students might be learning by providing that same instruction but in the target language. This workbook will be a useful tool to accomplish just that, while at the same time teaching students how to research information for themselves, making them more self reliant.