In Mission Berlin, the player and the virtual heroine Anna fight against the enemies of re-unified Germany. In Misja Kraków, the player and Suzanna must halt the opponents of Poland’s EU accession. In Mission Paris, the player and the heroine Eva compete against an enemy who wants to return France to the era of Napoleon III and restore the Second Empire. After you’ve successfully completed your mission, you are rewarded with insight into a country, its language and its culture. Choose an adventure and discover the French, German or Polish language. And remember: Danger is lurking everywhere.

Sounds fun!

From the author:
Communication Strategies
Learning and teaching how to manage oral interaction

Published by www.lulu.com, also available in downloadable format
ISBN 978-1-4457-7953-9
For a preview of the book go to:
http://www.lulu.com/content/libro-a-copertina-morbida/communication-
strategies/8906511

Communication strategies is a book about the verbal and non-verbal ways and
means that learners and users of a second or foreign language can employ when
they have to face problems due to gaps in their linguistic, communicative or
intercultural competence. Strategies also enable them to deal with uncertainty
in personal and intercultural contacts and to increase their autonomy in using
languages.
Communication strategies is both a handbook for teachers, teacher trainers and
educators, providing them with a sound methodological background, and a
collection of 30 practice activities, games and tasks for language learners and
users. Photocopiable worksheets are provided, as well as freely downloadable
recordings of native and non-native speakers of English.

CONTENTS

PART ONE – Methodological background

1. Communication strategies: defining the area
1.1 Introducing strategies
1.2 Focus on oral interaction
1.3 Strategies as problem-solving behaviour
1.4 Communication vs compensation
1.5 Product vs process
1.6 The consciousness issue
1.7 Intra- and inter-cultural strategies
Further reading

2. Types of strategies
2.1 Reduction vs achievement
2.2 Reduction strategies
2.3 Achievement strategies at the word and sentence level
2.4 Achievement strategies at the discourse level
2.5 Factors affecting strategy choice and use
2.6 A proposed typology
Further reading

3. Strategy learning and teaching
3.1 Strategic competence
3.2 The teachability issue
3.3 Approaches to strategy education
3.4 Designing learning tasks
Further reading

PART TWO – Materials and activities

30 activities, tasks and games

Bibliography and webliography

Here’s a video about Xbox Kinect:

Recently, educators have begun to consider what is required in literacy curricula and best teaching practices given the demands placed on the educator sector and on literacy in general.

Multiliteracies and Technology Enhanced Education: Social Practice and the Global Classroom features theoretical reflections and approaches on the use of multiliteracies and technologies in the improvement of education and social practices. Assisting educators at different teaching levels and fostering professional development and progress in this growing field, this innovative publication supports practitioners concerned with teaching at both a local and global level.

More information here.

Here is an interesting video from Queen Mary in London about Peer-Assisted Learning (original here):

Peer Assisted Study Support at Queen Mary, University of London from Deborah Andrews on Vimeo.

And here is another one from the University of Brighton:

Brighton Uni - Pass scheme promotional video from Fruitmedia on Vimeo.