Modern Languages Teaching Forum

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Forum 4 – December 2020: Distance learning and assessment

On Wednesday 2 December 2020, the University of Kent’s  Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics hosts its fourth Modern Languages Teaching Forum.

The Forum is designed to bring together teachers of modern languages at all levels to share good practice and discuss the challenges facing the sector, support language teaching and encourage pupils to continue to study languages and develop their confidence.

The theme of this Forum – held online due to the Coronavirus pandemic – was again ‘Distance Learning in Modern Languages’, with particular focus on assessment. 

Guests were welcomed by Dr Alvise Sforza Tarabochia, Head of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, and presentations included:

  • Sandra Parmegiani and Enrica Aurora Cominetti (University of Guelph), Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Assessment through the Adoption of an Integrated Learning Management System
  • Roxanne Doerr and Annalisa Zanola (University of Brescia), Customizing Online Self-Assessment of English Grammar Competence for the Strategic Designing and Implementation of Higher Education Courses
  • Benjamin Dufour (University of Kent), Songs in the Time of Corona: the Utilisation of Songs in Distance Grammar Learning
  • Zsuzsanna Barkanyi and Karina von Lindeiner (Open University), Toolkit: Moving Your Language Teaching Online
  • Benjamin Dufour, Alexis Silvestri, Laura Stecca (University of Kent), Workshop: Testing at a Distance – Online Tools for Synchronous and Asynchronous Assessment
  • Wei Shao (Cardiff University), Workshop: Interactive Discussion Boards in the Online Language Classroom.

A recording of the event is below:

Asynchronous papers being delivered as part of this Forum were:

  • Marion Coderch (Durham University), Assessment of Language Modules in Emergency Remote Teaching
  • Antonella Giacosa (University of Torino), Experiencing Continuous and Authentic Assessment in the New Normal: Lecturers’ and Students’ Perceptions
  • Livia Manzini (University of Birmingham), The Online Training and Assessment of Italian Pronunciation and Intonation
  • Nazaret Perez-Prieto (Cardiff University), Workshop: Translation into Spanish Assessment: New Approaches to New Challenges