Howdy everybody!
Do you still remember the suggested website for enhancing listening skill in my third blog entry? Luckily, we have a great discussion and deep exploration of that website! Fancy to start? Raise your virtual slingshot and lets kill the birds with one stone!
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| Click on the picture for the link! |
A collection of over 1000 audio activities that ESL, EFL, and English students and teachers can access freely via the net. Most audio comes with pictures of the speaker, the transcript, and downloadable audio in mp3 format. Among the resources in the site are: Views, Mixer, Games,Videos, Songs, News and Points. Want to know how 'ello' got started? Listen HERE!
How does it work?
Feel free to scroll down the notes below. I have uploaded the information using my account at slideshare. net:
How does it work?
Feel free to scroll down the notes below. I have uploaded the information using my account at slideshare. net:
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i) Note-taking in the listening activity: This activity can be done in the classroom in which teachers play the audio without the transcript. While listening to the audio, learners have to jot down the points. Then learners in pairs can have a short discussion, comparing each other notes. To reward their efforts, teachers give them the comprehension question to be answered. This can enhance learners' listening and writing skills at the same time. If there is no internet access in the classroom, teachers can download the audio at home before introducing the lesson.
ii) Speaking activity: Teacher asks students to work in pairs and choose the topic that they like. They need to listen to the conversation from the audio and pay attention to the pronunciation and the tone of the speakers. Then teacher can ask students to practice speaking using the transcript given
iii) Summary writing activity: Students listen to the audio and write a brief description or summary to conclude the main points of the audio.
iv) Self-study / do-it-yourself activity: Students are encouraged to do one or more the exercises at home and share their work in the next lesson.
Who are the learners?
1. Secondary school students in Malaysian context who have basic knowledge on how to use computers
2. 13-17 years old.
3. Suits to all levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced) as various activities based on different level of proficiency are provided
What I like about this site:
1. It is free for those who are interested in learning English and available on iTunes and iPhone application as well!
2. The materials ( videos / audios) provided are based on variety of accents and cultural backgrounds according to the geographical area. Therefore, learners are exposed to wider context of using authentic English across the world, at the same time develop their cultural understanding of other cultures because various topics are covered.
iv) Self-study / do-it-yourself activity: Students are encouraged to do one or more the exercises at home and share their work in the next lesson.
Who are the learners?
1. Secondary school students in Malaysian context who have basic knowledge on how to use computers
2. 13-17 years old.
3. Suits to all levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced) as various activities based on different level of proficiency are provided
What I like about this site:
1. It is free for those who are interested in learning English and available on iTunes and iPhone application as well!
2. The materials ( videos / audios) provided are based on variety of accents and cultural backgrounds according to the geographical area. Therefore, learners are exposed to wider context of using authentic English across the world, at the same time develop their cultural understanding of other cultures because various topics are covered.
3. This user-friendly website helps to foster autonomous learning as learners can do the exercises by themselves anywhere, anytime that they want at their own pace, giving that internet access is available.
4. It is divided into several sections and topics, so learners can choose the lesson according to their preferences, thus creates personalisation where learners are allowed to contextualize and personalise the information, thus assisting language learning as it is guided by their prior knowledge. (constructivist theory)
5. This website involves combination of multiple skills, which are listening (good for the auditory learners), reading and writing (the transcript), speaking (with the correct pronunciation) and the visual through videos (good for the visual learners)
6. This website also provides printed materials (exercises and vocabulary sections) and downloadable audios that can help teachers in designing the lesson and they could do material adaptation in order to suit the learners' context.
7. Several ads that are based on educational purpose at the sidebar of the website are quite helpful and useful for learners to extend their language learning.
8. All the lessons are based on different proficiency levels, therefore teachers could apply differentiation in which lower level learners can be given the topic that is less difficult compared to the advanced learners, thus motivate them to be responsible for their own learning.
What are the limitations?
1. Even though the activities based on the proficiency levels, but there are no categories to be chosen. So teachers need to find them by themselves and this consume the time.
2. It is not really systematic because there are no specific themes / fields for the resources(eg: history, environment, sports etc)
3. Sometimes too many ads provided can make the website less attractive
4. We have tried to use this website in the class, but because of the problem with the internet connection, some parts of the website are missing and the setting and layout are mess up, making the lesson turned to be boring, thus can reduce the motivation to learn in an enjoyable way.
Further suggestions:
i) Fun Easy English: this website mainly focuses on the basic English knowledge and teaching tips, its courses include pronunciation, grammar, idioms, slang, writing, tests and much more. Most of those courses are launched in Video format, in addition with text scripts and pictures. There are two columns of educational link at the sidebar; one for students and the others for teachers.
ii) Learn English: With an over 11 years history, Learn English Free Online is an abundant website for EFL/ESL learners and teachers. You can learn vocabulary with the related pictures, you can get some English learning tips, you can do some dictation to enhance your spelling and listening skills, learn the British culture and take some funny test, and so on.
You just need a computer with internet access, then visit some English learning websites and try to design the lesson for your students without paying any money. It sounds cool, right?
~Because English is FUN! :) ~
Further suggestions:
i) Fun Easy English: this website mainly focuses on the basic English knowledge and teaching tips, its courses include pronunciation, grammar, idioms, slang, writing, tests and much more. Most of those courses are launched in Video format, in addition with text scripts and pictures. There are two columns of educational link at the sidebar; one for students and the others for teachers.
ii) Learn English: With an over 11 years history, Learn English Free Online is an abundant website for EFL/ESL learners and teachers. You can learn vocabulary with the related pictures, you can get some English learning tips, you can do some dictation to enhance your spelling and listening skills, learn the British culture and take some funny test, and so on.
You just need a computer with internet access, then visit some English learning websites and try to design the lesson for your students without paying any money. It sounds cool, right?
~Because English is FUN! :) ~
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