Wordle Fun!

Wordle

General information and functions for language classroom

This site http://www.wordle.net/create where you can create the a stylish word cloud.

This is the example of word cloud. The words were taken from this blog (the whole things which written here!)

Is it complicated to use? It is very easy to use, just paste the text from wherever you copy from.Then your words will jumbled up and appeared again as the cloud. In addition, from the list, any words can be deleted, therefore; it is suitable for a guessing game when the key word is omitted.

Suggested activities to do with this technology

1. History introduction (i.e. copy history passage and present as a word cloud and let the students guess it)
2. Song or film competition (i.e. relax game during class by guessing the song or film title)
3. Grammar teaching by jumbled up sentences and let the students try to make the correct sentences.
4. Vocabulary list, instead of a tradition linear listing, colourful word clouds may help and look more interesting.

The advantages

This site looks simple and easy to use, therefore; it is compatible for young learners and adult learners. In other words, it is adaptable for any learning age. Additionally, it can be applied in many stages of teaching for example, introduction for reading class, vocabulary review, or during the break of the lesson (have some guessing games). Lastly, the students can create their own wordle, and use their word clod as the material in class. For so doing, the students will have more motivation since their experience is being accepted/ respected by the teacher and peers.

Disadvantages and limitations

Since it does not provide various functions, therefore; the students might get bored after experience after experiencing for two or three times. Also, it cannot be saved in a pdf or jpeg format.

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.