FLEAT VI

One of the best ways to experience and cement usage of a foreign language is to engage in an international exchange opportunity. Whether a short few day experience or a long term living arrangement, what is important to the teachers involved will be making sure students learn from the experience. Steps must be taken to prepare students for the experience, assess their engagement during and after the experience, and finally, to help the students reflect on the experience afterwards. The presenter will share the preparation, design, and results (including student created artifacts) of two different exchange type activities. In the first example, 240 Japanese students, an entire class level of students from one school, travelled to Singapore for five days for sightseeing and English language activities. Activities leading up to, during, and after the program will be shared and discussed. Classes were designed with communication-based activities, poster sessions, and presentations. Field work and other activities went on during the exchange. A variety of reflective and culminating activities went on after the students returned. In the second example, eight Japanese students travelled to Florida in the USA for a 10 day English-based environmental science program; intensively fieldwork and research based. Again, activities, ideas, and planning leading up to, during, and after the exchange will be shared. Students were active before and during the exchange on Edmodo. All of their assignments and research was conducted and collaborated on over Google Drive and Google Classroom. They conducted environmental science based research projects during their trip and presented on the projects on their return. They also blogged as well as made websites about their experience. Results and student artifacts show authentic learning occurred and the results and problems experienced will shape future exchange experiences.