I guess I thought this always existed, but apparently not. YouTube has announced that they have launched local versions of their site in nine different countries (Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom). The point is to offer content in the native languages of these countries. Maybe I am behind the times, but don’t they speak English in the U.K.?
Just kidding – they also want to offer content that more accurately reflects the culture of those countries, and there are cultural differences between the U.S. and the U.K.
This can end up being a great tool for language and cultural classes. YouTube also announced that they have signed agreements with networks like BBC, Spanish Antena 3, and France 24 to offer professional content on these sites. Sounds like an all around great idea for educational purposes alone, much less cultural and other related uses. It would be great to see this happen in other countries such as Russia, India, and the Middle East.
Matt is currently an Instructional Designer II at Orbis Education and a Part-Time Instructor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Previously he worked as a Learning Innovation Researcher with the UT Arlington LINK Research Lab. His work focuses on learning theory, Heutagogy, and learner agency. Matt holds a Ph.D. in Learning Technologies from the University of North Texas, a Master of Education in Educational Technology from UT Brownsville, and a Bachelors of Science in Education from Baylor University. His research interests include instructional design, learning pathways, sociocultural theory, heutagogy, virtual reality, and open networked learning. He has a background in instructional design and teaching at both the secondary and university levels and has been an active blogger and conference presenter. He also enjoys networking and collaborative efforts involving faculty, students, administration, and anyone involved in the education process.