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Database of Teaching Sources

A database of selected, reviewed, tested, assessed and validated e-learning based language teaching sources addressed to Higher education students for the learning of 18 different European languages.

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Listen to science !

Date of Publication

after 2005

Target Group

Lecturers
Students

Domain Area

Engineering
Journalism & multimedia
Medicine & Nursing
Sustainability
Teacher Education

Learning Scenario

Classroom Context

Target Language

Bulgarian

Language of Instruction

Any language

CEFR level

B1
B2
C1
C2

Type of Material

Audio
Video

Linguistic Features

Grammar
Pragmatics
Prosody

Skills

Listening
Speaking
Reading

Description

This extensive free (over 500 items of audio and videos) weekly-updated resource available on several links and can be used on computer and phone.
It includes interviews with prominent Bulgarian scientists and relates to articles in the periodical Bulgarska Nauka (Bulgarian Science, established in 2004) whose extension it has been for some years.
Source is organized into sections on natural and exact sciences, history, medicine, technology, philosophy, culture. Topics cover the world and Bulgaria. Section devoted to Science in Bulgaria is organized under: events (the Night of Bulgarian scientist), notable Bulgarian scientists, European web of scientists.
Source includes the author's blog (Petar''s blog), to which there is a free subscription periodically sent by email.
Source is very active, it is constantly updated and reflect major developments in science across the world.
The varied content, dynamic form of presentation, different approaches and voices included make this source adaptable to various groups of learners.
Source can be validated in listening comprehension, conversation classes, used in debates and recommended as a guide to presentations on popular science topics and more specialized ones.

Case study

OED is updated periodically, interviews are carried out in fluent standard educated Bulgarian with colloquial in all types of discourse (description, short narrative Content is accessible to students from level B1, engagind and informative. Content is highly structured and can be integrated to students with an interest in both general Bulgarian and in BSL.
As the term suggests (formed by iPod and broadcast), podcasts are a practical format for sharing information that allows downloading and listening at a convenient time on various devices. “Listen to Science” is a heading in the magazine "Bulgarian Science", which is published every month and is distributed free of charge on the Internet. The format includes presentations of articles and interviews. The topics are from different fields such as health, technology, education, personal development, business, and others. Podcasts are useful as a complementary element in foreign language learning for levels above B1. The duration of the individual episodes in BG Science varies from 6 minutes to half an hour and they can be used for listening activities in class and for homework, combining tasks such as answering questions, commenting, composing on a summary, and creating a debate. Depending on the needs of the students, listening can be supplemented by working on the texts, which are also available in PDF on the site.

Guidelines

Videos last about 15-30 minutes.
1. Pre-activity: Teacher introduces the topic Career paths. Higher education in Bulgaria> Students give reasons for studying medicine (vocation, family tradition, current medical situation etc.) in a particular country, in a system organized in several stages, in a particular language or in a world language.
2. Activity. Teacher introduces fragment of video An interview with the rector of Medical University in Plovdiv – and asks questions. https://nauka.bg/podkast-pleven-sazdava-badeshtite-medicinski-specialisti/ which presents the university and its challenges, the way different medical specialities are represented and the time assigned to students working with patients (conversation, filling in the forms, preparation for the operation etc.).
3. Teacher asks students to give the main info and asks students to organize a press conference on the topic. Questions about the medical system and education in their countries.
4. Vocabulary practice; FAQs
Медицинско образование /Medical education
Цели и задачи / Scope and aims
Лекари задачираз / Prominent Bulgarian doctors working in different branches
Актуални новини и събития / News
Стани член / Become a member of the students’ association
5. More practice: reading the infor in students section on Bulgarian university webpages: СССтуденти За наc.

Review

Category
Rate
Comprehensive approach
Capacity to match the needs of lecturers and students

5

Added value
The provided tangible improvements

5

Motivation enhancement
The capacity to motivate students to improve their language skills

4

Innovation
Effectiveness in introducing innovative, creative and previously unknown approaches to LSP learning

5

Transferability
Measurement of the transferable potential and possibility to be a source of further capitalisation/application for other language projects in different countries

5

Skills assessment and validation
Availability of appropriate tools for lecturers to monitor students’ progress and for students to assess own progress and to reflect on learning

5

Adaptability
Flexibility of the contents and possibilities for the LSP lecturers to adapt the contents to their and to students’ need

5

Usability
Assess the technical usability from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Accessibility
Assess the accessibility from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Comments:
It addresses the needs of both parties by offering standard academic Bulgarian with the occasional colloquialism.
Students with an interest in science and general students will be motivated by the dynamic manner of presentation, the direct approach and the background.
Articles can be received freely by subscribing to podcast author’s blog.
Website of the Teaching Source:
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