Using mobile devices in the classroom

In this post from TeachingEnglish website the following video presents some ideas about how mobile devices can be used in the EFL classroom. The topic can be debatable especially when related to some teaching contexts: wouldn't there be a risk of overusing or misusing these devices in large groups?

Voki

Voki is a simple online tool often used in the EFL primary classroom. It is based on the selection of an avatar which will utter any word or sentence (up to 60 seconds long if using the free option; 90 seconds are allowed to Classroom Voki users). It works as follows:

1. Select a character

2. Change the look
3. Add voice via microphone, text to speech or upload a file.
4. Choose a background
5. Click Publish to email or get code

The Voki web site also includes a set of teaching ideas.

Pic-your-wits vocabulary games

Pic-your-wits is a set of vocabulary games (actions, animals, household objects...). The goal is to identify the word represented in a picture in less than 20 seconds. It can be useful for revising vocabulary on the interactive whiteboard.

Online language exercises

OUP New English File Online website includes some useful resources to practise grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, and pronunciation.

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Howjsay: a free online pronunciation dictionary

Howjsay provides a list of around 150,000 English words that can be heard in a clear standard pronunciation. Although it includes quite a lot of publicity, the search is easy and quick and the quality of the sound good enough to be used in the classroom.

When the result of a search appears in pink, the word can be heard once and again just by placing the mouse over it. Furthermore, it allows to list up to 15 entries by writing them separated by semicolons: a very useful option for practising aural recognition of close phonemes.

Build Your Wild Self: a tool to create fantastic characters

Build Your Wild Self allows the creation of fantastic characters made up of a variety of parts of animal or human bodies. It can be useful for working on descriptions.

Several online resources presented in a Teachers' Day in Donostia

These are the links to some websites mentioned at the 2011 MacMillan Teachers' Day held in San Sebastian earlier this month: Moshi Monsters Glogster. Examples: grahamstanley, forever, blankglog. Web Tools for EFL

A TV programme aimed at learning English

Play TV shows are addressed to Catalan speaking children with the aim of helping them learn English.

Online games for young learners

Whiz Kid Games web site presents a set of nine interactive games that can be suitable for young learners or learner with special needs. The language is clear and the activities simple. They can be useful and fun especially when an interactive whiteboard is available.

Interactive online activities

Click 'n' Learn website offers a good range of online activities aimed at learning and revising lexicon and structures. Although it is addressed to secondary education students, a good number of the activities will surely turn out useful and attractive to primary learners.

Children's books to be read and listened to

MeeGenius website includes six free picture books that can be read and listened to.

Online language games

From this blog I get to know about some online interactive games that can be helpful in the classroom. These are three of them:

Wheel of Fortune Revision Game Level 1
It is shaped like a team quiz competition. Useful for revising the alphabet, prepositions, greetings... with the whole class, especially with the aid of an interactive board.

Past Simple Verb Tense
Good for revising past simple forms.

Character Scrapbook
A nice tool to work on the language of descriptions.

More games