Internet Workshop Integrating the Internet into the Foreign Language Curriculum
ABC
Introduction

What is the Internet?

FL Sites

Searching the Web

Evaluating sites

Publishing to the Web

Audio sites

Resources

Penn RomLa
Introduction to the Internet

Internet Components
The Internet is not synonymous with the World Wide Web. In fact, the Internet is a network of computers which permits them to communicate with each other and includes a variety of services, of which e-mail, IRC, Usenet, FTP, Telnet, Gopher and the Web are the most important ones.

A short glossary of WWW terms.
The Web or WWW is the most visible part of the Internet, since it is the most rapidly growing sector and it expands exponentially from day to day. And it is this service of the Internet, along with e-mail, which are revolutionizing our access to the FL target culture and its speakers. It is composed of pages which are linked to each other in a non-linear, or web, structure.

Understanding URL's
All Web pages can be located via their URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or address. For example, the address of this page is

http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~kmcmahon/workshop/internet.html

(it can be found in the location bar at the top of this screen). The address appears at first sight very complicated, but in fact, there is a logic to its organization.

Resource Links

Vocabulaire d'Internet
If you're searching for the terms in French, this site from the Quebec Office de la langue française has a very complete, up-to-date glossary with definitions.

Heinle and Heinle Netskills Tutorial
This is a good starting point for novices. The tutorial gives an introduction to the Netscape browser including a detailed presentation of the toolbar buttons and their functions as well as pratice in scrolling, moving back and forth, making bookmarks, using URL's.

Harcourt Brace Internet/Web Training
Another FL publisher's site, the interactive tutorial is still under construction and not yet available. However, there is an active link on Safety Issues which will be of interest to teachers at the K - 12 level. It includes Acceptable Use Policies and a link to the Children's Partnership site (in conjunction with the PTA and the National Urban League) on Keeping Kids Safe Online.

Delphi's FAQ
This site maintained and kept current by Delphi covers Frequently Asked Questions about the Internet. It also has an extensive glossary of Internet terms and a brief history of the Internet as well as an e-mail form to submit any questions not answered on the site.

Kathryn K. McMahon
kmcmahon@ccat.sas.upenn.edu