I presented an educational showcase session on Wed, August 22 at 17:00pm in A-2 Room 139.
My educational showcase focused on integrating content-based language tasks, learning strategies, and intercultural competence outcomes through the unique qualities of music as foreign language learning content. Novice or experienced teachers can breathe new life into language and literature courses, or create new content-based classes by capitalizing on the power of music for self-expression and exploring deeper intercultural values. Various apps for the Apple iPad and iPhone will be demonstrated.
Full Handout for this presentation can be viewed here: Google Document
Presented at EuroCALL 2012, August 22, 17:00pm at Campus Pedagogen of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden by David L. Brooks, Kitasato University
----------------- Summary ----------
Music is a form of universal expression and communication that offers an emotionally satisfying, intellectually stimulating, and culturally uplifting vehicle for leaning language. Music is individual and global, while ranging from seriously philosophical to outrageously fun. No doubt, it is an important part of the lives of foreign language students. Yet, those who take a foreign language at university, especially a required course, may be disappointed to find the same tired approach to language teaching that has exhausted them with myriads of grammar rules and vocabulary words to memorize, and with content divorced from their own daily realities. However, when the essential elements of that foreign culture: the way people think, what they do, what they eat, and what they listen to – their music – are made available to the learners as objects to explore, they can become enthusiastic about learning the language through live, physical interaction with the other culture. 
The advent of content-based language units and courses into foreign language curricula is a welcomed development. Music is a special form of human communication that has now become even more ubiquitous, a more accessible form of self-expression and social identity, and a more interactive mode of intercultural communication, thanks to innovations in technology. As a content area for learning a foreign language, music is an art form, a personal avocation, and a common cultural element. It affords teachers the opportunity for interdisciplinary thematic approaches that are historical, anthropological, literary in viewpoint that apply the principles of musicology and musicianship to the language learning experience, while also being intrinsically motivating. 
The myriad of forms of musical expression open up possibilities for exploration of music's interrelationship to language with its traditions of narrative, poetic, and theatrical genres, and for delving into a deeper examination of intercultural values. It is not necessary to be a musician or music teacher to take advantage of music's attraction and its power to elicit emotional and intellectual engagement. The emergence of new mobile communication devices and interactive media technologies has expanded the classroom’s boundaries beyond the walls of the school building, permeating into students' lives well beyond the classroom, where music occupies a large space.
This educational showcase highlights some of the musical applications and devices that run them for adding music-related content and instructional activities to the FL classroom. Actual instructional uses for these mobile ICT devices such as the iPod, iPad, and iPhone, and music apps will be introduced and guidelines for what to consider in making program decisions for adopting such technology will be given. Features of a classroom environment that supports language growth, creative self-expression, and increased intercultural competence are special considerations. In addition, provisions for successful integration of music content and skills into the language curriculum development will be addressed. Those with a strong interest in music or wanting experience in the use of these forms of mobile technology for language teaching are invited to attend this educational showcase presentation.
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