Hi
This week we were asked to review possible useful aural/oral websites. I would like to share my review with you.
Randall’s Cyber Language Lab was very promising. There are various listening activities like, General Listening Questions, Basic Listening Questions, 20 minute ESL Vocabulary Lessons and Language learning and Life Skills.
Site: www.esl-lab.com/elc/elcrd1.htm,
Topic: English Language Centres
Level: medium
Here I found a pre-listening activity, 5 questions eliciting a focused response on available Language courses
This is followed by the listening text. The best thing about this is that it offers various audio choices, like Window media. In addition you can view the question whilst listening to the text and the text can be replayed. The sore is displayed immediately.
Topic: Movie Review
Level: Difficult
Again it had various activities, pre-listening, followed by the listening text, questions and score BUT, in addition it had a vocabulary section that presents some words used in the text supplying synonyms. Then there was quiz. You read e script while listening to it. This incorporates reading skills. Then there are also key vocabulary-words from the text and the part of speech indicated. For example, awesome(adj):fantastic; e.g. Te movie was awesome. I could stop here and it would still be worthwhile using this website BUT , there’s more absolutely great activities. There are further exercises, mix up sentences, MCQ, sentence + vocabulary material and closed exercise; complete the text as quiz. The best part is the teacher only selects the topic and it IS ALL THERE. Learners will be actively engaging in their learning process. As if that is not enough benefits, the exercises can be used for CASS
I’ve saved the various inks on my Delicious account, http://delicious.com/namjules
I also manage to look at http://www.real-english.com/reo/1/unit1.html
Although it is a great free resource, with short and log version of the listening, you need Java to play the texts.
These sites/ activities provide the teacher with valuable resources to enhance listening and reading skills.
In my opinion, this site is a valuable resource for all teachers. It provides the learner an interactive way to learn and improve their computer skills. It is not age specific but level of English competence. It occupies learners with different English abilities all at the same tie in the same class!
Now isn’t that great?
Kind regards
Juliet
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Dear Juliet,
ReplyDeleteI do share with you the idea that www.esl-lab.com is one of the best ELT website. Another one I liked is www.realenglish.com. What I like best in these two website is that they provide authentic materials that can be used in class. We have a variety of choices; different topics for different levels. Even in case of schools where there is no internet connection or classes have no computers or a data show. I think that the materials that this web site could be downloaded and converted if necessary and used in class with very simple materials; a CD player with load speakers or a TV set and the exercises could be printed and photocopied for all the students. In this way, the video or the audio could be displayed and students do tasks on paper.
Another thing I like in the two site is that they work both speaking and listenin/viewing integratively.
I shall try matrials from these sites especially that there are some which perfectly suit my elementry students.
Regards
Hamid