M-Learning

When computer technology meets e-learning, we've got M-learning or Mobile-learning. M-learning is the latest high-tech solution that helps students practice anytime / anywhere. M-learning enables students to have learning tools transfered into their smart phones, MP3 players, tablets and IPods.. There are many language dictionaries that already use this technology and they can be accessed from a cell phone or tablet. Also, there are many podcasts (i-Tunes...), e-workbooks, grammar exercises and e-books available on-line. Students can also use their devices to record whatever they think is interesting for later studies. Mobile technology supports the learning process we are all looking for nowadays: a collaborative, accessible, interactive and dynamic one. 

Distance Learning: Anytime, Anywhere

Earlier this month, I was in Equatorial Guinea, in Middle Africa, working on a distance learning project. The students work and live in Africa and the classes are taught from Brazil. This is a very innovative language project which is 100% webbased and uses on-line plataforms for interface between teachers and students.

Crazy English

Li Yang, a language teacher in crowded China, has come up with an original approach: Crazy English. What can be seen by some as some kind of witchcraft, as students kind of get into a trance and shout in English as loud and as long as they can,  is actually an approach based on repetition and recitation (does it ring any bells?). Students are supposed to go up to rooftops and places like that and shout at the top of their lungs words and chunks in English. Yang has been called “China’s Elvis of English” because of his success among the youth. A teacher can never be blamed for trying crazy things to get students 100% involved in the learning process. Who dares take him on?

“Conquer English to Make China Stronger!” 

What Students Can Learn From Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is good at many things, for sure. But as for students of English, he is very, very good at one specific skill: Public Speaking.  Jobs has aced all presentations he's ever made. He has just the right intonation, rhythm and makes the best choice of words that make the audience go nuts.

If your students don't exactly have Jobs' talent for Public Speaking, making a presentation in English can be a problem, for sure. If you are teaching Business English or preping your pupils for oral exams, there are some websites that provide excellent vocabulary exercises that can help with Public Speaking Skills:

Effective Public Speaking Skills offers free vocabulary lessons that will work magic as homework assignments as it each exercise has a different focus (how to start up, ask for clarifications, etc) and it gives instant feedback. They are all web-based and don't require any kind of subscription.

SlideShare has many ready-to-use powerpoint presentations on how to make presentations, including short ones with hot tips. Those can be quite useful warm-ups or a follow-up for a discussion on the topic.

Finally, on YouTube there are many videos of memorable presentations that can be used in many possible ways for classroom purposes, such as illustrating a topic or as a listening activity. Steve Jobs and Barack Obama always give great and enthusiastic speeches, but there are others who are not as famous as them that are also worth planning a class on.

Speaking Challenge: Voxopop

One of the most interesting workshops that I attended at Tesol was the one about Voxopop which was given by ESL teachers in the States.

Voxopop is a voice based e-Learning tool that can used for language speaking practice with collaborative focus. Students can participate in one or many talkgroups throughout the course. And, it is super easy to use and, all it takes is voice-recording in a kind of message board that uses voice instead of written text.

Voxopop is an excellent alternative to workbook exercises since it is much more interactive and dynamic. Students can be assigned with different kinds of language speaking practice, such as presentations, discussion forums, or developing an opinion and that can all be recorded in a web-based free-of-charge plataform that can be acessed from anywhere, anytime.

http://www.voxopop.com/

Skype and TBL at the 45th Annual Tesol Convention

At the Eletronic Village - the presentation was just great and many teachers from all over came to participate!

The slides are available here.

Thanks everyone who attended our presentation last Thursday. Please, get in touch whenever you like (danidf@yahoo.com). It would be a pleasure to share ideas over the net.

Harvard Distance Education

Earlier today, I heard on the radio that Harvard University is just a click away: that's Harvard Distance Education. It offers a wide range of on-line classes, which anyone can attend from anywhere in the world. The offering includes complete lectures that you can watch on-line and you don't have to pay anything for that! One can learn just about anything, from Cellular Metabolism to Sustainable Ocean Environments and Fundamentals of Academic Writing.

http://www.extension.harvard.edu/DistanceEd/online-courses/;jsessionid=KDFLCEOLIEMJ

Classes recommended

Theory and Practice of Web Pedagogies

Educational Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship in Comparative Perspective