Elllo English

Elllo English (yes, with the triple L) is an interesting website that provides language learners with various activities that can enhance the learners' language skills such as listening, reading, speaking and writing. Ellloenglish is mainly designed as an online listening materials library available for anyone who would like to use it in classes, as teacher or language learner to learn language just with few clicks of fingers.

The website is well organised and divided into few sections. The first and most important sections are categories that classify all the listening materials, situated at the topmost left of the website. Users are able to easily explore the available materials and activities in ellloenglish. Other than that, there is a search engine provided in the website. The search engine will be the most convenient way for learners or users to search listening materials that tend to their interests and hobbies. In the middle of the website, there are some recommended materials for the convenient of any new learners to explore the website. Moreover, there are more sections in the site like ellloenglish's twitter and an index of all available listening materials. Below is the snapshot of the home screen :

Go to the Ellloenglish website

Elllo Video

Another great feature in ellloenglish's website is the elllovideo. Ellloenglish provides authentic videos recording from various english speaker from throughout the world. There are various videos with different context such as sports, hobbies and much more for learners to choose based on their preferences. For beginners, there are transcription provided as subtitles and text separately. In addition, comprehension quiz are provided for learners who would like to test themselves after done listening to the video. Here is another screenshot featuring one of the elllovideo in this website :

Elllo Video

Application for Teachers


As mentioned earlier, ellloenglish is an useful website especially for teachers who would like to add more varieties and add more ideas into their classroom. In terms of materials, there are various materials available for downloads such as mp3 files, pdf and videos that can be used as teaching materials. Other than that, the videos in ellloenglish provide an example of genuine recordings where the speakers are trying to explain various content. Teachers would be able to teach language and content simultaneously or opt to focus more on whether the language or content bit.

Other than that, ellloenglish is full of features that can encourage autonomous learning. The reading materials, organisation and instructions in the website are all simple and easy to follow. In addition, the transcription provided with each recordings will be very beneficial for beginners to learn a new language. With ellloenglish, users may choose to challenge themselves with more questions and activities or reward themselves by trying the easier materials and activities. There are even 'exam help' section where students can get exam and study tips. Moreover, various materials and games such as songs and much more can make the language learning experience enjoyable and satisfying.

Advantages


1. Students will be exposed to variety of english accents. This will provide more language experience for the students.

2. Authentic materials and content.

3. Variety of topics - culture rounded

4. Users would be able to personalise, making choices and interests based on their own.

5. Provide variety in classroom.

6. Encourage autonomous learning.

7. The website covers almost all skills in language

8. Various context of the listening materials provide motivation for students to listen.

9. Supported by CLIL enthusiasts.

10. Free and there's no need to register an account.

Issues


1. Server issues. Sometimes the website might not be functional if their servers are overloaded.

2. The organisations might confused some first time users.

3. Some of the audio and video quality is not that good

Click n Learn

Click n Learn is a Spanish website that contains many features for language learning. The website is accessible in English, French, and Spanish. It is a really fun websites with loads of activities that can relate to various areas and skills in language learning. The activities usually consists of games and colourful visual, and some come with sounds. Each topics contain a series of activities of five to six once you click and explore it.

Go to Click N Learn website

Application for Teachers.


There are various ways and methods on how teacher can benefit from the website. Firstly, this site has activities for various groups and levels of students. Therefore, click n learn is ideal for English learning as there are activities for students with different level of english. Other than that, click n learn also provide teachers with opportunities to present new set of vocabularies with visual and sound support through the website. For instance, below is a screen capture of click n learn website while the users are being presented with with set of vocabularies of family, assisted with images and sounds. This is great for language learning as students are more relaxed, are able to learn at their own speed, and supported by images and sounds in their learning.

*Written (This is my family)

In addition, after a new language is presented at the beginning of each topic, students will be able to choose around five to six language activities to reinforce their learning. the activities vary and cover reading, listening, writing and much more. Additionally, there are simple cognitive activity such as matching, remembering and much more. Teacher may use click n learn to present new language, teaching grammar, functions or as homework for students to reinforce their learning in classroom. One of the example of the activities in the website :

Click n learn can be independently by students or language learner. Students can explore the website in their own free time at home. They may choose activities that they like, and progress at their own speed. This will make sure that the content and activities will be able to both support and challenge the students in progressing as a language learner. Therefore, promoting autonomous learning in the classroom.

Advantages.

1. Hundreds varieties of fun activities and games. 

2. Clear, structured and simple organisation.

3. Clear topic and content.

4. The activities cover multiple skills. (Vocabulary, Reading, Writing, Listening)

5. Lots of drilling in vocabulary learning.

6. Some activities provide context to students. 

7. The activities or handouts can be printed. 

8. Its FREE and there's no need to set up an account.

9. Interactive. Keep the students focused.

Issues

1. The teacher's guide and student's guide are in Spanish, and most of the instructions are in Spanish as well.

2. 'Unneeded' sound effects at the beginning of the page.

3. Some activities do not have 'next' button and students have to complete the activity on a page before moving on. Cannot skip. Therefore, lack of control.

4. Some feedback or games are too wordy and too lengthy. Students may not read them.

Phrasr

Phrasr is part of project by pimpampum that uses flickr images to generate a series of pictures. Previously we have read about bookr that allows us to search flickr images and compile a nice album with captions. In contrast,  Phrasr provides a search box where users can insert any phrase, Phrasr would visualise it, and related images of each single word shall turn up. User can choose any related images that reflect what their words actually means and have their phrase being accompanied by astonishing images.

The initial search screen.

Users would be able to customise, put a title of the phrase and publish it for others to view.

For sharing purposes, there are options to email it to friends and replay it again.

Go to Phrasr website

Advantages.

1. Free. Costs nothing aside from a PC and internet connection.

2. Part of pimpampum project, where users may use Flickr image without any fear of copyright claim.

3. Simple interface that function greatly.

4. Teachers may print it out.

Issues.

1. Unrelated images. Images that turn up might not be unrelated to the phrase and this can be confusing especially to beginners. 

2. Inappropriate / explicit or not decent images might appear in search results. 

Wordle ( Word Clouds )

Wordle is a website which allows the users to create word cloud from any article inserted in the website. The word cloud will be created based on the most frequent words in the article. Word cloud is a visual representation for text data. Word cloud are built from 'tags'. 'Tags' are usually single words, and the importance of each tag is shown with font size or colour. There are various websites that can be used to create word cloud. Wordshift is one of the other free website that allows users to create word cloud as well. However,  I would recommend Wordle rather than Wordshift as it allows for more personalisation of the word cloud.

Teachers may use Wordle in a reading lesson to students for different level of English. The word cloud can be personalised according to requirement. Wordle allows us to decide on the maximum number of words that appears in the cloud. The font, layout and the colour of the clouds can also be edited.

Go to Wordle website. 

Using Wordle in Classroom

One of the common usage for Wordle is for pre-reading activities. Teachers may use wordle for activities like previewing a text. Wordle helps students to get an overview of the text. Images and colours may help in generating students interest towards the text. In addition, there might be words that can activate students schemata. Teachers may opt to introduce and explain any new vocabularies in the text through wordle. Other than that, students may discuss and share their ideas about the content of the wordle in the classroom. 

Advantages. 

1. Personalisation. Words volume, font, layout and colour can be customised.

2. Easy to use in classroom. There is no need for facilities like laptop, internet etc.

3. Great way to introduce new vocabulary to students.

4. Skills. Teacher can use wordle to practice multiple skills (reading, writing, speaking)

Issues

1. Small words can sometimes be hard to read. 

2.Privacy. Your clouds will go public once it is saved.

3. Java Player. Uses javascript that needs to be installed into the computer. There are few devices that did not support, therefore leaving the website unaccessible. 

Audioboo

Audioboo is a platform that allows you to record and share audio for your friends, family or the rest of the world to hear. It is a podcasting tool that allows up to 3 minutes of audio. After done recording, users may opt to add title and tags to the podcasts. Podcasts, or recordings are know as 'boo'. Users can also add images and much more to their 'boo'. Once everything is done, the podcasts can be shared with others on twitter. Moreover, audio that being recorded can also being searched on iTunes.

Go to Audioboo website 

There are various ways in how Audioboo may be used in classroom environment. For instance, teachers may use Audioboo to make a podcast asking students to write an essay on a topic and students at home will listen to the podcast and received the essay questions. Other than that, teachers can also ask students to keep a journal in form of podcasts in Audioboo. Students may record about anything that their like. Teachers may also ask students to email the podcast to teachers and teachers can use podcast to give feedback as well. 

In addition, users can use Audioboo through their phone as well. There is an app for Iphone, Android and Nokia phone users. This will definitely make Audioboo more accessible and exciting for students to try it on their phone. Users will be able to do their podcast about everything and everywhere.

An example of Audioboo

Advantages

1. Its free!

2. Audioboo connects users with their friends. This will encourage communicative language use and motivates students to share more things in their podcasts.

3. Mobility. User can create and record podcasts from phone.

4. Awesome interface. Nice, clean and simple. And works!

Issues

1. Privacy. Podcasts goes up on twitter and searchable through iTunes. 

2. 3 minutes maximum time for podcasts.

Brainshark

Brainshark is a free website where the user can create, share and track online video presentations regardless for e learning, business and much more. Users can upload their powerpoint slides, and add their voice to the slides. Therefore, producing an engaging and interactive video presentations. The users would be able to share via emails, social networking or embed it on blog and website. Moreover, the audience can assess the video presentation online on-demand at their own convenience.


Teachers and secondary students of all english language levels will definitely benefit from brain shark. It could be use for classroom presentation. Instead of letting the students do the presentation in front of their mates, why not let them prepare this incredible video presentations at home and play them later in the classroom. Teacher might want to use this platform to provide students with extra notes. This can be beneficial especially during the examination weeks as the students revise the notes to the utmost


Here is an example of how brain shark can be used.

 

Go to Brainshark website

Advantages


1. Its free. They do have the paid version with extra features but the free version is still brilliant.


2. Promotes students presentation skill. It can help to lower students anxiety when doing the presentation because nobody sees them. Some students do not like to do presentation. So, this tool will help them to develop their confidence and sooner or later, they can stand in front of their friends and do the presentation.


3. The content can easily be accessed. 


Issues


1. If you are using the free version, your video presentations will be made public. In terms of privacy, this is not good. However ,if you use the paid version, you can choose either to make it public or private.

bookr

Bookr is a free web site that incorporates flickr, one of the world's leading image hosting site that allows users to search through flickr's images and customize any captions or style to user's preferences. Users would be able to post their work into their blog and show it to their friends.

Example of booklet created :

Listen and Write

Listen and Write is an amazing website that provides tonnes of recordings, with exercises that comes in various levels of difficulty. Updated almost everyday, this websites features recordings with real-life issues that comes without any cost. Even though the design may look simple and dull, it features is certainly does not seem that simple. With every recording, users are able to choose from three different modes; full, quick and blank mode. In addition, users can track their progress if they sign up. Listen and Write can definitely be a beneficial website for any learners who wish to improve their listening skills.

Go to Listen and Write web site

Advantages

1. Students are exposed to authentic language.

2. Easy and simple interface allows for autonomous learning.

3. Different levels of difficulties provides options for all level of learners.

4. All round materials and tasks that comes free of charge.

Disadvantages

1. Students might get distracted with various links that appear on the website. ie facebook

2. Some schools might not have enough required facilities and access

Example of exercise from Listen and Write website. Press play

Lyrics Training

Lyrics Training offers a refreshing new way by integrating music videos and ask the user to listen and fill the missing words, phrases or even the whole lyrics, depending on the level of difficulty chosen. Users will be able to choose from hundreds of available videos in the website and work at their own pace with preferred music. Available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch, Lyrics Training is definitely an easy and fun method to improve your language skills.

Go to Lyrics Training web site

Advantages

1. Easy and fun method that provides varieties in learning.

2. Students will be able to work at their own pace and advanced through the levels.

3. Vocabularies building.

4. Students will be able to choose their favourite materials and genre.

Disadvantages

1. Some songs might be not appropriate for younger learners.

2. Teacher might have problem monitoring a big classroom.

3. Students can get distracted with music videos.

Dvolver

Dvolver is a simple yet amazing website that allows users to create and customise videos. Users will be able to work through and produce their own short video clips. Users would be able to choose from varieties of situations, characters, setting and even sound effects. Dvolver enable user to express themselves and explore their creativity to the utmost limit.

Recommended : Users with intermediate level of english and knowledge in computer skills.

Go to Dvolver website

Advantages

1. The simple interface featured provides varieties of options that can attract students to explore and relish their potential.

2. Fun way of using language authentically.

3. New learning style for students.

4. Allows students to be creative in using language.

Disadvantages

1. Monitoring - teacher might find it difficult to monitor students in a big classroom.

2. Students might not have the technical ability and not used to work with technology.

3. Resources - Some schools may not have enough computers or internet connection

Example of video created