MULTIMODAL TEACHING AND LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES. A MODERN DIDACTIC APPROACH

Multimodality is the multidimensional representation and reconstruction of a generally accepted “truth” and its social status in a given social context. In modern multimodal school context the sustainable management of multidimensional sign and knowledge is crucial for effective teaching, according to the social semiotic approach. Modality, according to the principles of modern social semiotics, is considered the relative approach of truthfulness. Multimodality, the multiple presentation of modality, is the most important factor in teaching according to the theory of multiliteracies. Multimodal educational and pedagogical approach promotes not only the teaching through the means and principles of ICT education, e-learning and modern technology, but also the reforming of traditional school culture. Thus the development of multimodal educational activities via the means and educational tools of modern technology, combined with conventional cultural and pedagogical activities can be an innovative multidisciplinary approach for the development of holistically empowered pedagogical projects in modern day school. Innovative multimodal school programs can not only enhance the educational potency of any given classroom but also develop more advanced and complex social and cognitive competencies.
In this paper, multimodal teaching and learning is presented through projects and educational activities in teaching foreign language in a given classroom. The activities presented regard teaching a foreign language through multimodal use of texts, videos, films, computer-user interaction, internet safari and e-learning and are directly related to the students’ stimuli, interests and needs. Through this approach students are given the opportunity to understand ways and means of oral and textual communication in holistic authentic situations or through electronic means empowered by the tools of modern educational technology. The ultimate goal of the approach presented, is the sustainable promotion of language and social competencies, while fostering metacognition, social, critical, visual literacy and self-evaluation.