MailVU

WHAT is MailVU?

MailVU is a website which combines the apllication of both email and video. Learners can just simply record a video with a webcam and send the video to others via email. They can even share it among friends. For more details, just visit the link attached below:

http://mailvu.com/

To make a video, just hit the Record button and Play it once you finish. After that, you can Send or Share the video through email and other platforms.

ADVANTAGES:

(a) Again, it is FREE!

(b) The application is easy.

(c) The duration for video-recording/ making is long (10 minutes).

(d) Develop speaking skills.

(e) Appropriate for all levels students.

LIMITATIONS:

(a) Need to sign up for an account.

(b) No downloading for the videos.

(c) No embedded videos on other websites or blogs if learners do not have an accout.

Elllo

WHAT is Ello?

Elllo or the English Listening Lesson Library Online is a multi-purpose website which provides a variety of teaching and also learning materials such as Mixers, Videos, Games, Songs, News and so forth. All these are very useful for both teachers and students as teachers can employ the activities provided as their lesson plans whereas students can learn by selecting interesting activities. To obtain further infomation, click on the link below:

http://www.elllo.org/english/home.htm

There are different categories as described in the website above: Views, Mixers, Games, News and so forth. Some of them are described as below.

1. Views

There are lots of recordings and transcriptions provided for listening activities or practices. Both teachers or students will find these very flexible and reliable either as a tool for teaching or learning. Some recorded audios or videos do have their own subtitles. Besides that, there are also quizzes provided to assess students' learning.

2. Mixer

Mixer is composed from different accent of English language all around the corner. The recordings are recorded based on a variety of people speaking English with their own accent. It is good for both teachers and students to learn listening to Englishes all around the world. Apart from that, there are also comprehension activities and vovabulary learning at the end of the task.

3. Games

The tasks provided in this category function almost the same as in the Views category. However, the games focus on  3 language skills which are speaking, reading and vocabulary learning. These games may help to scaffold beginners or young learners.

4.  News

In this category, there are a lot of broadcasting found, either with the UK or US language. There are listening comprehension and vocabuary quizzes for those activities too.

ADVANTAGES:

(a) It's FREE again!

(b) Provide a wide range of learning and teaching activities/ materials.

(c) The activities expose students to a variety of English accents. Students get to learn real English in the

     world.

(d) Instil autonomous learning. (i.e. Students can explore the website themselves and try out the activities!)

(e) Uses CLIL approach (Communative approach).

(f) Develop multiple language skills (i.e. speaking, reading and vocabulary learning)

(g) Allows personalisation (i.e. Allow choices for what suit their (students) interest).

(h) Self-assess and self learning

LIMITATIONS:

(a) The organisations of the contents in the website may need to be reorganised.

(b) Some audios or videos are not in good quality and some of them are disable for downloads.

(c) Unclear instructions for some of the activities/ tasks.

(d) Some of the language used in videos or audios are lack of linguistic accuracy or competency.

Audioboo

WHAT is Audioboo?

Audioboo is an online recording website in which you can create your own podcasts for learning. Users can make various kind of recordings such as interviews, conversations, musics, narrations and so forth to be applied in language teaching or learning. Besides that, this website provides the medium of entertainment and leisure as users are not being controlled in their recordings-making and elicit their creativity. Apart from that, Audioboo is a useful tool to record any reports or meetings which is beneficial for language teaching. Users can find that Audioboo is very flexible as it is linked to various platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Posterous. Moreover, it is even linked to iTunes in which other people could hear the recorded podcasts there.Further information can be obtained in the following
website:

http://audioboo.fm/

ADVANTAGES:

(a) It is FREE again!

(b) The podcasts or recordings can be shared via medias such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and so forth.

(c) Useful for listening practices in classrooms.

(d) Easily recorded and uploaded ( We can even record and upload it through mobile phones! )

(e) Easy intructions and procedures in producing a podcast.

LIMITATIONS:

(a) Adequate facilities needed. (i.e. Internet access, phones, computers, microphones and others.)

(b) Recording is limited to a duration of 3 minutes only.

(c) Public/ No privacy. (i.e. The podcast is shared publicly.)

(d) Registeration for an account is needed.

Just The Word

WHAT is Just The Word?

Just the Word is an online word or phrase finder to provide various aids to learners when they encountered some difficulties. This website is a better mean than online dictionary, as it's function is not just limited to words meaning or thesaurus, but it also help learners in writing as it provides the service of 'Learner's Errors'. This new function provides opportunities for learners to figure our various kind of errors made by people and of different languages.

Apart from that, this website also provides a list of combinations of words for the lexical word that we are searching for. It lists down a variety of categories such as Noun, Verb, Adverb, Adjective, Preposition and so forth, and it shows us a list of word expressions or combinations that we frequently use in modern English. From there, we can a wide relations of meaning for that certain word. Besides that, this website also shows us how strong that word is used with certain partners or collocations. The green bar besides the word is the indicator of how frequently or strong that word is joined with another particular word.

HOW?

1. Go to the following website!

http://www.just-the-word.com/

    

2. Enter the word/ phrase.   

 

3. A list of word relations is shown (Noun, Verb, Adverb, Adjective, Preposition and so forth)

ADVANTAGES:

(a) It is FREE!

(b) Provides different categories or forms for a word.

(c) Display some examples of sentences.

(d) More choices and services (i.e. Two modes are provided: Thesaurus and Learner's Error)

 LIMITATIONS:

(a)  None discovered yet.

                                                                          

WordSift

WHAT is WordSift?

WordSift os a tool that allows teachers to insert text and play with the results. WordSift has almost the same function as Wordle, however, it only shows the most 50 used vocabulary or words of the chosen text. Besides that, it also brings up some Google images for selection and the Visual Thesaurus word cloud web on the page to show synonyms of the words.

Learn the STEPS! 

How to use WordSift? It is easy! All we have to do is find an appropriate text that is benefial for students' learning and copy-pase into the blank space provided, as shown in Diagram 1 below. After we have pasted it, hit the SIFT button and WordSift will automatically help us todisplay the most 50 frequently-used vocabulary.

DIAGRAM 1  

    

 

What's next? We then proceed to Diagram 2!  As displayed in the diagram below, there are words of different font sizes. Images are available for all the words which are sorted out by WordSift. We just have to click any of the tags shown at the bottom of the words. At the same time, we can employ the Visual Theasaurus which appears in the page too if we want to know the synonym of the word. 

DIAGRAM 2

     

ADVANTAGES:

(a) It introduces the most frequently used vocabulary to students. (i.e. It sorts out the 50 most used words.)

(b) Again, it is FREE! 

(c) Able to learn synonyms by using the Visual Theasaurus.

(d) Enhance students multiple skills (reading, writing and speaking).

(e) It provides examples of the particular sifted word (i.e. How to use the word in our daily lives.)

LIMITATIONS:

(a) Limited control of the maximum number of words that can appear in the word cloud (unlike Wordle).

(b) The word cloud cannot be printed out. We need to print the whole page.

(c) Limited choice of learning (i.e. The sifted words are frequently used; students may not have the 

     opportunity to learn new vocabulary.

(d) The need of adequate facilities such as Internet access and computers.

Wordle

WHAT is Wordle?

Wordle is an essential tool for creating word clouds using the chosen words or texts. Wordle is a combination of colours, words, font sizes and layouts. We can insert a maximum number of words into the word cloud, and it is not as limited as compared to another website called WordSift.

Below are Example 1 and Example 2: The differences between these two examples are in terms of the word layouts and colours. As we can see in Example 1, the word clouds are in black and white. All the words or texts are in horizontal layout. However, in Example 2, the words are created in several colours and there are different layouts identified. Some words are in horizontal layout, and some are vertical. In addition, font sizes can be edited according to word preferences.

 Example 1

 

    Example 2

ADVANTAGES:

(a) Introduce vocabulary in a more attractive manner.

(b) Word clouds can edited according to individual preferences (i.e. Font size, styles, colours and choice of

      words.)

(c) It is FREE.

LIMITATIONS:

(a) None discovered yet.

PIM PAM PUM

WHAT is PIM PAM PUM?

Basically, PIM PAM PUM is all about teaching through visualisation by using authentic photos or images in slides. It is a far more interesting and exciting tool system than using just Microsoft PowerPoint. The presentation slides produced by this application can be more authentic-look and attractive. There are two useful websites introduced:

1. Bookr

2. Bubbler

 

(A) Bookr

Bookr is a tool where people can search some Flickr images and employ them in their photobooks or slideshow presentations. This website is accessible and it is very easy for users to find their wanted images. To apply the selected image into the presentation slides, users just have to drag the chosen photo to the slide page and add text. Next, the user just have to publish it. An example of Bookr is shown below:

                       

bookr :: pimpampum

Procedures of using Bookr:

1. Type in the keyword to find your images or photos.

  

2. Select your image/ photo.

   

3. Insert caption/ add text.

      

4. Drag into your presentation slides/ Publish your work!

     

 

(B) Bubbler

Meanwhile, Bubbler has almost the same function as Bookr. After users have found their chosen images and add into their presentation slides, they can actually apply Bubbles to insert the captions or texts. This function enable readers to have a clearer understanding of what is meant by the selected images. Then, users could publish their posts or slides. Examples of Bubbler are shown as below:

ADVANTAGES:

(a) It is FREE.

(b) Attractive and interesting ( Lots of visualisation)

(c) Does not violate the copyright conditions as the images are taken straight fron the Flickr website.

(d) Provide authentic materials for classroom activities.

(e) Improve students' creativity and skills of writing.

LIMITATIONS:

(a) Time consuming ( i.e. A variety of images and selection of appropriate images.)

(b) Inadequate facilities such as Internet access and computers may restrict the use of this application in

     classroom teaching.

(c) Need careful edition. (i.e. Once the slide is published, it cannot be edited anymore.)

(d) The font and font size cannot be change; restricted selection.

(e) Students may find inappropriate photos if they are requested to apply this application.

BrainShark

 WHAT is BrainShark?

BrainShark is a current technology system in which people are allowed to upload their  narrated presentations online. This website enables us to insert some creative narrations into our work such as PowerPoint presentation, photo album, video, word documents and so forth. Besides pictures and videos, users are also allowed to insert background music into their work in order to generate public's interest and maximise the desired effect of their presentation. Further information can be accessed via the attached link below:

http://www.brainshark.com/

ADVANTAGES:

(a) Allows creativity and innovation.

(b) It is FREE.

(c) Easy and compatible with a variety of sources

     Examples: PowerPoint, Word documents, Podcast, Videos, Photo albums

(d) Giving the opportunity to improve and enhance individual's communicative skill (speaking mainly).

(e) Can be set as public (shared) or private (privacy).

LIMITATIONS:

(a) Time consuming ( in order to produce a good narration).

(b) Can only be done if there are computers, Internet access and microphone.

(c) Disable for downloads.

(d) No active interaction (face-to face interaction).

Listen and Write

WHAT is Listen and Write?

ADVANTAGES:

I found that this website is quite useful and practical for language teachers and learners in improving their listening skills. This is because:

(a) Students have the opportunity to practise listening skill ( as mentioned above) since the text is repeated for

     several times.

(b) It helps to develop students' vocabulary on their own. They may be exposed to words that are rarely can 

      be found in a normal text. ( I believe that it is an advantage to use current news because fresh vocabulary

      can be introduced to them.) 

(c) This is NOT only a good listening practice, but also a spelling task for all.

(d) Students from all level of competency can try this out out because there are variety of levels that can be

      chosen.

(e) It encourages students to work independently at home and not only depending on teachers' homework.

LYRICS-TRAINING IN ELT

WHAT is Lyrics-Training?

Lyrics-training is a tool that allows us to practice certain skills. It allows users to fill in the lyrics that match with any songs depending on the users preferences whether they are beginner, intermediate or expert.
Teachers definately can take the opportunities in teaching students English by using 'Lyrics-Training' tool. 

HOW? 

1. Firstly, teachers can choose songs according to students' interest

2. Second, students choose their level of proficiency in English.

3. Finally, students can listen to the lyrics, and try to guess and fill in the blanks.

                                                                [ Bruno Mars ; Count on me ]

ADVANTAGES:

• It is fun, easy and interactive
• Students are exposed to varieties of language.
• Students get to practise skills such as listening and writing.
• Students get to guess the blank by looking at the hints

LIMITATIONS:

• Students might get distracted by only listening to the song, not filling in the gap.
• Some songs are inappropriate in terms of not using RP pronunciation

English Lesson By Using Dvolver

WHAT is Dvolver?

• Dvolver is a tool that allows users to create dialogues and allows users to choose characters according to users' preferences.  
• It is suitable to use on all levels of learners but most preferably to use on secondary school learners.
• Teachers can exploit using this tool in many ways.
•         1. Teaching real-life situations
•         2. Teaching grammar, vocabulary and structures.
•         3. Encourage interaction and communication.

EXAMPLE:

ADVANTAGES:

       1. It is FUN, EASY and INTERACTIVE.

       2. Allows creativity

       3. Students get to engage in interaction and communication in completing the task.

 

LIMITATIONS:

       1.  Limitation in amout of words that they can write.

       2.  Limited characters that they can choose.

       3.  Context appropriacy - not suitable for all ages.