Computer German breaks language barrier

8:00am Friday 6th June 2008

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STUDENTS are spelling out success in German through the use of modern technology.

Year Seven students at Budmouth Technology College have been using a computer programme for the school's forthcoming sponsored spellathon.

The programme was devised by languages teacher Roger Barrett to liven up lessons. An electronic voice reads out a word and asks the user to spell out the word in German letters.

The exercise tests students' listening and oral skills and their knowledge of the German alphabet.

Teacher Natalie Smith said: "We also had a native speaker coming in so they could hear the word spelt. It engages the children more because they have to beat a computer programme and they'll just do it again and again until they master it.

"Kids have been learning 100 words and are being tested on 50 words at random at different difficulty levels.

"They've been getting sponsors together ready to sponsor them for however many words they can get correct in the spellathon."

Top speller in the practice sessions was Year Seven pupil Abi Graham.

She said: "One of the hardest words I learnt was paperboy'.

"The computer allows you to be more independent and makes the lesson more interesting."