I want to specify some points about this
part of the project:
1.- ICT are important, but it is important too the difficulties in
teaching history in a foreign language
2.- Both teachers and students are using a language different from their
mother tongue and they may feel uncomfortable if not unsecure with the
foreign language
3.- Interference between mother tongue and foreign language
(Spanish-English, French- English, etc). There may be typical errors and
mistakes due to interference from the native language. Teachers should
be able to identify them and correct them.
4.- Encouragement of using foreign language. Teachers must encourage
their students to use the working language and avoid the use of mother
tongue. This may arise problems related to the contents of the subject
(History) What’s more important, History or English?
5.- Assessment of the subject: Should teachers evaluate only the
contents of the subject or take into account the command of the foreign
language as well?
6.- In order to be a successful teacher of history in a foreign
language, the teacher must know some strategies when dealing with a
foreign language and some language methodology to avoid students’
disappointment. Teachers should be aware that they are not only teachers
of History but teachers of foreign language as well.
These are the kind of thoughts I would like teachers of history to ask
themselves if they are going to be teachers of history in non-native
contexts. It would be very interesting to know what history teachers
think about these aspects and to know teachers’ experience when dealing
in teaching history in a foreign language (I suppose basically English)
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