Breaking News English

The front page

General information and functions for language classroom

Although it seems to focus on reading skill (from its explicit article 'Breaking News English'), it contains mp3 listening and grammar exercises are embedded. All exercises are built up in logical sequence: before, during and after reading/ listening to the news.

The link: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

It is an up-to-date website, the recent news' articles and exercises are updated.

Suggested activities to do with this technology    

1. Reading comprehension
2. Reading test (since the material can be printed as PDF file)
3. Listening practice

Sample of exercise; listen and fill in the gap

4. News reading game (competition among groups of students or pair works)
5. Comparing news between this site and other commercial newspaper's site (i.e. BBC)

Advantages

The advantages of using this site is the students practice not only reading skill, but also catch up with daily news. They will find its usefulness and up-to-date article.

Since all of the exercises are written in logical sequences, so that the teacher does not have to reorder again and also can print out as a PDF file. Therefore, before using this material, the teacher only have to check the difficulty level of the passage, and select some interesting exercises which suits for the students.

Lastly, this site promotes authentic reading material where the contents are about daily events. It is worth noting that in real life, students will have experience reading or catching up news on the internet. Hence, this site is a good source to build up their critical reading skill.

Disadvantages and some limitations

There are two major considerable points to concern before using; one is the plain design template and another is the difficulty level of the text.

First and foremost, it is clearly seen that this webpage is full of text, and no visual aids (except some unrelated adverts!). Therefore, the students might get bored or overwhelmed by the text. Moreover, external links and ads are mixed, thus it is difficult to differentiate between the actual site and the irrelevance adverts.

Lastly, it is important to note that the language is quite difficult. I suggest, pre-intermediate or intermediate students are suitable and they also need to learn critical reading strategies alongside of the lesson.

Sing a Song and get English!!!

Front page

General information and functions for language classroom

This website is http://www.lyricstraining.com/ where students can sing a song and learn vocabulary at the same time. It is quite easy to get started, just key the song title. However, the songs are labeled as easy level to difficult level. Therefore, the students can find one which match to their competency. In so doing, the students not only enjoy the singing but they also gain some words from the comprehensible lyrics. The missing word will be the 'need' of the students, and that leads to language acquisition (the students will remember the word because they 'need' to use it).

Suggested activities

1. Singing competition between groups
2. Listening material (i.e. pronunciation practice)
3. Dictation (i.e. write the words they hear)
4. Pronunciation practice
5. Idiom learning


The advantages

As the mentioned above, the students will enjoy the singing activity and they might find it is a useful site to learn vocabulary and idioms.

Moreover, it is believed that learners will learn better when they have intrinsic motivation. Therefore, the students can learn and remember the vocabulary or idioms which they find in their favorite song. Presumably, they will be able to learn more by themselves outside the classroom.

The Disadvantages and Some Limitations

When we use this site during the lesson, it might distract the class or draw the students' attention away from the lesson. Therefore, you need to be careful not to let this activity blow the main lesson away.

In addition, it cannot be stopped at the middle of the song. In other words, once it is played, you need to play until the end. Otherwise, you can cancel the game and only listen to the song.

Learning new words with languageguide.org

General information and functions for language classroom

This website is http://www.languageguide.org where you can present the students new vocabulary items. Not only English could be learn here but also other languages such as Japanese, German, Spanish, and Chinese.

The vocabulary is allocated in categories for example, body, food, and animals. It is very easy to access the website. First, choose your mother language.
Next, suppose that we want to learn vegetable vocabulary, then click on vegetable. The next page will be shown;


The audio will pronounce the words when you place on the picture. Therefore, you can listen and see the spelling at the same time.

Finish the word study, then you can test yourself by selecting the quiz types at the left corner;

You can either choose the options or the difficulty levels.

Suggested activities to do with this technology

1. Vocabulary competition (remember as much as possible)
2. Pronunciation drill
3. Writing sentences with the new vocabulary

The advantages

The students can learn from visuals as well as the spelling at the same time. Furthermore, the American pronunciation is being pronounced, therefore; it is useful for non-native speaker teachers to have a tool on the internet (so we do need other audio!). Lastly, the students can use this site at home as much as they want. Otherwise, we can assign the students homework in order to revise their vocabulary or study before hand.



Disadvantages and some limitations


However, according to the sensitive audio player, you might find it is too quick to pronounce words. Therefore, you need to be slow to place the arrow down on the picture.

Overall, it is a good site to build up vocabulary with the correct pronunciation.

Vocabulary by Learning Chocolate

General information and functions for language classroom

Learning chocolate is a website where the studnets can learn a set of vocabulary in a time.The website allocates the vocabulary in several categories where the students can choose for themselves. Moreover, the pictures are colourful and attractive. Therefore, visual learners will like it.

Noting that pronunciation guide is included, by clicking on the amplifier icon next to the word, the correct pronunciation will be uttered.

Moreover, after learning each category, the students can test their understanding and memory by doing the exercise showing at the top menu bar.







http://www.learningchocolate.com/

Suggested activities to do with this technology

1. vocabulary competition (the students learn and try to remember as much as possible, then write down without open the page)
2. dictation (study as a homework then have dictation on the next day)
3. pronunciation (see the word and pronounce together in class, and recheck by the teacher clicking on the pronounce icon)
4. writing a sentence (the students write a sentence from the shown vocabulary)
5. grammar (write the sentence from studied grammar with presented vocabulary on the website.)

The advantages

The students can learn autonomously and chose what interesting to them. In addition, colours and pictures are attracting to them to learn vocabulary instead of writing in order as the tradition way. Therefore, with the website itself and the convenient time and place for the learners, this condition can enable vocabulary learning in a positive way: learners enjoy learning at anytime they want.

Disadvantages and some limitations

After using this website two or three times, the students might get used to it. Therefore, the teacher should balance and use it not too often. Furthermore, the vocabulary set does not cover all wanted words, then the teacher may be required to supplement necessary word outside.

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