Using Technology to Engage English Students

Welcome to my blog about technology and English instruction. Sometimes as teachers, we wonder whether we should spend the time to use technology in our classes. Three reasons I suggest you use technology are



It has real- world applications,


it teaches students to be technologically savvy,


and, it is engaging!

Here you will find some websites that I have found useful for using technology in the classroom. Enjoy!

Take a look -- Our Future -- A You Tube video clip that reminds us of the importance of using technology in the classroom.

Research on Technology and English Education

“The application of technologies can be effective in almost all areas of language education. Modern technology can help enhance the quality of input, authenticity of communication, and provide more relevant and useful feedback.
In particular, communication technologies such as the Internet and satellite television have been found to be widely used as a way to bring authentic materials into the classroom, involve learners in more authentic communications with distant audiences, and provide researchers the opportunity to better examine the language learning process.”

Zhao, Y. (2003). Recent developments in technology and language learning: A literature review and meta-analysis.¨ CALICO Journal, (21) 7-27.

You Tube

You Tube

-A good way to find a clip of a movie or television show that is relevant to a lesson.

• Ex. Google the script, remove key words (ie. Vocabulary words, verbs in different tenses,) have students watch the clip and listen for key words.

• Ex.
  

• I used a clip frm the movie Office Space in a business Engish class as a listening comprehension activity. I googled the movie Office Space and found a script of the scene I wanted to use. Then, I took out key vocabulary words and verb tenses that students had learned. As the watched the video clip, they had to fill in the missing words. Then we talked about the video clip and how it related to what we had learned about job interviews.
  

• http://www.youtube.com

• If you would like to convert the video and save it onto your flashdrive, go here:
  http://www.vconversion.com/

Here´s a great youtube video that I´ve used as an anticipatory set in Engish classes and with English teachers. It´s a great way to hook students at the beginning of a class.

Creating a Blog

Blogs are websites used to put out information. They are chonological in their nature so you can always add more to them. Here is a site to help students and teachers create a blog:

-http://www.edublogs.org

Here are some good examples:

http://teachingbitsnpieces.blogspot.com/

http://englishseven.blogspot.com/

http://niwrite.blogspot.com/

http://theenglishblog2008.blogspot.com/

Note -- Be sure to educate students about issues of privacy, safety, and plagerism before teaching them to blog.

Podcasts

There are many podcasts related to learning English that can be a good resource for listening and speaking activities. Students do not have to own an mp3 player to listen to them. As long as they have headphones, they can access the podcasts at a computer lab or cyber cafe.

Here are some helpful podcast resource:

English as a Second Language Podcast:

A podcast for those wanting to learn or improve their English - great for any ESL or EFL learner.

http://www.eslpod.com

English Songs

Learn to sing folk songs, campfire songs and group-singing songs that native English speakers sing.

http://www.manythings.org/songs/

Special English

Learn American English and Much More

A great site for news and information.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/

Jokes in English (MP3 files)

A sight with simple jokes in English.

http://www.manythings.org/jokes/

ESL Aloud

Guided practice in speaking English

http://esl.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=382034#

Links to these sites are available at podcastinglesuy.blogspot.com

Webquests

Webquests are interactive, task based, engaging, and a lot of work if you make them yourself. Luckily, there are many great webquests on the internet that have already been made by other teachers.

Try this website as a resource:
‏
http://www.webquest.org

Ex. The Perfect Sweet

Web-based Learning

Facultycentral.com is a site to facilitate learning and communication between teachers and students. You can upload copies of assignments, create a calendar of class activities and assigments, maintain your gradebook online, and have students develop eportfolios.


http://www.facultycentral.com
http://www.rcampus.com