Wordle

                                      (http://www.wordle.net/delete?index=6404464&d=EOBC)

What is this?
This is a tool for people to create graphics from text which they upload. 
You can freely create your own graphics. When you enter the article or content of words, the more frequent words are larger in size.

How to use it?
Find the text which you like to use, select and copy

1. The way to use it is just SIMPLE:
2. Select a text and copy it.
3. Go to www.wordle.net and click 'Create'. Put the text into the blank box which says 'Paste in a bunch of text'.
4. Press 'Go'.

Why is the content good for language learning?

1. You can include common words which can be a good discussion point about the reason for the bigger words.
2. The 'Show word counts' window gives words in alphabetical orders or in sequence order. Thus, you know the times of the occurrence of a word in a text.

How might you use it in a language teaching context?

1. It can be used to pre-teach some crucial vocabulary from the text.
2. For exmample, teachers can show students the graphics and ask them 'what is the text about?', 'what words do you not know?', 'can you tell me some of the meanings?' or
3. It can be used for reflecting students' own writing on a specific topic. We can ask students to bring out themes or key words from the graphics shown, this can stir up further discussion of that topic.

Limitations

1. The graphics you create is unique and will not be the same the next time. So, you should print-screen or use Sreen Capture software to record your favourite graphics as soon as possible.
2. There is no sound of Wordle.

Vocaroo

Vocaroo Online Voice Recorder

http://vocaroo.com/

What is this?

Vocaroo is an online voice recorder for producing your own voice recordings. By opening your computer connected to Vocaroo and a microphone, it allows you to record, listen, upload or email the recording to anyone. You can also embed the voice recording into any sites for free. 

How to use it?

1. The recording starts when you press 'Click to record' button. 

2. You can also try 'Click to Stop', 'Retry/Listen', 'Stop/Pause' for listening the recording.

3. Clicking the 'Click here to save' button allows you to embed or email the recording. 
Below is my own example of using this tool:

Voice Recorder >>

Why is the content good for language learning?

1. Installation of this easy-access audio recording tool is extremely easy
2. This tool is incredibly easy to use, teachers can use it anywhere when computers and microphones are ready. 
3. Moreover, it lowers students' anxiety to speak in front of the class using this tool, students can practise speaking in front of computers in a more relaxing atmosphere. They can practise speaking and giving presentations using Vocaroo. Once again, the downloadable function makes it easier to transfer the recorded voice through email, you can choose to send your recording out by embedding it on the websites or files. 
4. Get this one started to encourage your students to speak!

How might you use it in a language teaching context?

1. Teachers can record and proounce the chapters in the recording and send it to students for practice.
2. Students can record their pronounciation reading vocabulary or chapters and obeserve the progession.
3. Regarding the downloadable or embedded function, students can do peer evaluation based on the work they did, like commenting on others' story-telling work or reading-article work.
4. Teachers can use the recording to give feedback to students, it creates a more interactive platform for students to attain feedback from teachers.

Limitations

1. You cannot edit the recording, if anything is wrong, users have to retake the recording again, this in turn wastes time. 
2. If you need the recording, it is better to download that and save it in your own computer, because the duration of keeping this recording is not stated. It stands a high chance that it will be gone in few months.

Breaking news English

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

Keep you abreast of the current affairs!- Breaking News English

What is this?
This is a website full of learning English materials, you can find a variety of English lessons which is based on current news. To begin with, seelct one from the recent news articles, you will discover a large amount of teaching resources in the next site about 'print', 'listen', 'read', 'grammar', 'spell' and 'words'.

Let me show you the steps.
1. First, select the news articles by clinking the heading

                      

2. There is a variety of activities you can choose from, click on one of the acitivities below

3. You can simply choose 'Sentence Jumble' from the activities

4. In the example of Sentence Jumbo, students need to listen to the recording and then match the sentences together. Then, students have to choose a sentence from (A), (B), or (C) each time and make a grammatically correct sentence which is as the same as the original text.

5. Students need to type in the sentences which are shown in the blank and click Check to see if it is correct

Teachers can allow students to take notes during listening. To make the most of it, students are asked to group in pairs or three of them in a group to give out ideas. Students learn how to have better ideas of flow in generating language, and communication skills in collaborating ideas. Students need to discuss the text, exchange their opinions and competition create tension to see which team is the fastest in completing the game.

In this way, situation genre is linked, it is important as we learn things in genre. If we come across one word, we will suddenly remember others, since it triggers our schemta.

Why is the content good for language learning?

1. encourages autonomous learning
2. triggers our schemata

Limitations

1. it takes long time for teachers to select materials
2. teachers needs to be selective, more time will be consumed in choosing materials
3. too many things in the website, it makes ones difficult read
4. the content of the articles is for intermediate level or above, teachers need to be careful in   choosing the right materials for students

A real teaching example of this website

1. girls and women recession: idea of flow generating the language
2. sentence jumbo: everyone in pairs give out ideas/ 3 of them in a group to give ideas  
3. vocabulary builder: students listen first and then give them out, teachers can allow students to take notes