Tag Archives: onlinetools

Talking Photos: Fotobabble

freeware, In the Computer Room, Resources, Speaking, , , , ,

What a great tool this is!!

The Certificación exam is  just around the corner and bumping into this little tool right now got me thinking whether some things  happen by sheer chance or by  some divine intervention. Choose the one you feel most comfortable with .

Now, as you know , in the oral part of the exam you’ll be asked to describe  a/some picture(s)  in three minutes. Well, here’s a good tool to help you rehearse for this part of the exam. It’s called Fotobabble and it looks promising.

This is what you have to do to use this app:

  • First, sign up. Don’t worry it’s free and it only takes a few seconds.
  • Upload a photo from your computer.
  • Record your voice using a microphone
  • Listen to your recording.

This is quite OK as far as you are concerned but I’d like to see what you are doing , so why don’t you send me your fotobabbles ? No idea how to do it ? Click on the link below and in  a video and in Spanish I’ll explain it all to you. No excuses now!!

http://www.screencast.com/users/cristinacd/folders/Jing/media/a9ed9e6f-4356-468f-82d9-8c10558a9a8b

Creative Writing : Using Wordle

Lesson Plan: Advanced, , , ,

I’ve been using Wordle for quite a long time now but this idea is something I have not yet tried. This task involves using this great little tool called Wordle and the very popular Breaking News English site.
I read about this idea in Marisa Constantinides’ blog, which I highly recommend if you’re a teacher.

Lesson Plan:
• Tell students they are going to write a short news report. Write on the backboard the following heading

” Teacher on trial for attacking student”

and ask students to comment of this heading and what they think  might lead a teacher to attack a student.

• Display with the OHP the Wordle and ask students in pairs to brainstorm ideas for an article using the words in the Wordle Cloud. Explain new vocabulary if necessary

• Give students about 15 minutes to write the first draft of the article.
• Play the audio from Breaking News English twice and ask students to add, improve or edit their articles.
• Students write the final draft of the article on a coloured sheet of paper, which is them posted out on the walls of the classroom. Students stand up, read everybody’s article and vote for the best.

Students compare their aticle with the real one. Click here

• Finally, it would be interesting to talk a bit about the role a teacher plays in our society. These questions might be helpful to get them started.

Do you think being a teacher is easy or difficult?

Do you feel sorry for Mr Harvey or the student?

What kind of behaviour do you see in your classroom?

What can society do to make students respect their teachers?

If web cameras were put in classrooms, teachers would teach better classes and students would behave better. What do you think?

Blinkx: a video wall

Audio, Lesson Plan: Pre-Intermediate, Resources, ,

Another amazing tool. Blinkx claims to be the largest  and most advanced video search engine. It is said to  have  an index of over 35 million hours of searchable video. Users can search for video content, create personal video playlists, or build a customized Video Wall .

This is the video wall  I got from typing the word: celebrities.

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What to learn: a funny way to revise

American Cultural aspects, Cooking, Create your own stuff, Dictionaries, freeware, Resources, Students' Corner, Vocabulary, , , , ,

I have found this site only today http://www.what2learn.com/ and I can’t wait to share it with you. It has lots of interactive exercises although most of the published games won’t be of any use to you as they deal with Maths, History and some other subjects.
But it has some games devoted to spelling and this is where you can do a lot of practice. I especially like the game  below these lines because it trains your ears too. If you feel it’s too easy for you , you can always click here and choose a harder level or play hangman or whatever you fancy.

This site also allows me to create my own interactive games and I’ve decided to try the hangman game first and see what it looks like….  awesome!!! Come on ..what are you waiting for??? Play the game  and guess the word before Grandma is abducted by aliens..  Target language : Sports. Level: Pre-intermediate

Spicing Up my Lesson : Photopeach

Create your own stuff, freeware, Resources, Slides, , ,

I might be wrong but I think that adding some sort of digital content to my classes somehow spices them up. I have tried different slideshows services and so far this is the one I like best .  http://www.photopeach.com

♥ It is easy to use

♥ You can add music

♥ You can add a quiz or a caption

My students at pre-intermediate level have been working in the field of “Clothes and Going shopping ” and this is what I have created for them. It is very easy to do.

♥ Upload your photos

♥ Add music

♥ Click on Edit- Edit Caption & Photos

♥ Choose Quiz

♥ Click OK

Done!!  I’ve just loved it!! ♥

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