Strenthening   students' language skills through technology

STRENTHENING STUDENTS' LANGUAGE SKILLS THROUGH

TECHNOLOGY

Univerisidad Latina de Panama- Training Center

EARLY BIRD ACTIVITY

Read this quote. “Teachers need to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum instead of viewing it as an add-on, an afterthought, or an event”. Heidi-Hayes Jacobs

Do you agree? Why or why not?Share your ideas, reactions, thoughts, feedback.

PRESENTER

ASTEVIA HAJNY

Agenda 1. Early BIRD Activity2. Introduction3. K-W-L-S chart (starting)4. Content and language objectives5. Research findings6. Useful websites to learn, practice and reinforce l2 skills Listening Speaking Reading Writing Plus Grammar and Vocabulary8- K-W-L-S (closing)9- Wrap up ( reflection)

What I KNOW What I WANT to Know What ILEARNED

What I STILL need to find out

K-W-L-S CHARTFill in the K and W columns

CONTENT OBJECTIVE

Participants will be able to: Be familiar with some interactive

web sites to strenght students’ language skill.

Reflect on the purpose of using educational websites in their classroom.

Language objectives:Participants will be able to:1. Read and discuss on a quote related to

technology.2. Fill in the KW columns and talk about them3. Evaluate research information about the use

of thechnology in the L2 classroom.4. Listen and discuss about some websites to

teach L2 skills.5. Complete LS columns.6. Share their reflections on the topic.7. Wrap up objectives.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE LANGUAGE CLASSROOMResearchers have found educational technological tools facilitates L2 learning.“Technology can help ESL learners develop speaking, reading, and writing skills” (Soska, 1994).“The Internet is a vast network linking computers all over the world” (Kung and Chuo ,2002). “The use of chat rooms in an ESL setting shows us its effectiveness on students’ language skill improvement” (Yuan ,2003)

Reflection

Do you use technology in you class?

If your answer is “yes”, what is your pedagogical reason to use it?

Listening Skill and Technology

Technology is useful to teach

listening because each type of technology provides opportunities for students to explore their ranges of listening strategies.

Source: Second Language Listening: Theory and Practice. John Flowerdew. 2000 Page:182

Listening Skill and Technology

There are various kinds of media that we can use to teach listening. They are:

a. Radio b. Audio-Cds c. Video d. Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Software, Internet sites

Listening Skill and Technology

Useful websiteshttp://www.esl-lab.com/http://www.elllo.org/ Audio clips: http://www.elllo.org/english/TakeTwo.htm

Video clips: http://www.elllo.org/english/video.htm

Situational English for everyday life: http://www.elllo.org/english/Situations.htm

Interviews:  http://www.elllo.org/english/About/Interviews.htm News stories:  http://www.elllo.org/english/NewCenter.htm Short talks: http://www.elllo.org/english/Points.htm Songs: http://www.elllo.org/english/Songs.htm Games: http://www.elllo.org/months/weeks/games.htm

Speaking Skill and Technology

L2 teachers use the computer technology to create an environment that encourages communication and provides increased and more varied communicative opportunities for students to utilize their oral skills.

Source: Butler-Pascoe, M. E. & Wiburg, K. M. Technology and teaching English language learners. 2003 Chapter 4, pp. 96-111.

Speaking Skill and TechnologyWebsites to develop speaking skillhttp://www.eslgold.com/speaking/topics_conversation.html

http://www.dailyesl.com/

http://www.eslflow.com/

http://www.eslgold.com/pronunciation/pronunciation_links.html

Reading Skill and Technology

Computer based reading instruction allows for "increased interaction with texts, attention to individual needs, and increased independence through an ability to read texts they would not otherwise be able to read"

Source: Case, C. & Truscott, D. (1999). The lure of bells and whistles: Choosing the best software to support reading instruction. Reading and Writing Quarterly: Overcoming Learning Difficulties, 15 (4), 361-369

Reading Skill and Technology

Websites to develop Reading Skill

http://www.5minuteenglish.com/reading.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/200/reading/index.htm

http://www.eslgold.com/reading.html

Writing Skills and Technologyhttp://www.rong-chang.com/writing.htm

http://www.rong-chang.com/eslread/eslread/dict/contents.htm

http://www.rong-chang.com/eslread/eslread/dict/contents.htm

Writing Skill and Technology

Websites to develop writing skills

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/diamante/

http://www.funenglishgames.com/writinggames.html

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/letter_generator/

Grammar and Technology

Grammar is the one of the most important aspect of teaching and learning a language.

It is also one of the more difficult aspects to teach well and motivate students to learn.

Today, I would like to share some technology enhanced tools for practicing grammar.

Grammar and Technology

http://www.bbchs.org/departments/english/grammar_websites.aspx

Vocabulary

There are new ways by using digital tools, media, and the Internet, that is, to deploy technology in service of vocabulary learning.

These web sites may be useful for increasing students ́vocabulary:

www.m-w.com/game/ (This site is by Merriam-Webster dictionary.)www.vocabulary.com/

www.wordcentral.com

www.wordsmyth.netwww.nytimes.com/learning/students/wordofday/ind

ex.html

What I KNOW What I WANT to Know

What ILEARNED

What I STILL need to find out

K-W-L-S CHART Fill in the L and S columns

Wrap up the objectives

Content ObjectivesParticipants did: Get familiar with some

interactive web sites to strenght students’ language skill.

Reflect on the purpose of using educational websites in their classroom.

Participants will be able to:1.Read and discuss on a quote related to technology.2.Fill in the KW columns and talk about them3.Evaluate research information about the use of thechnology in the L2 classroom.4.Listen and discuss about some websites to teach L2 skills.5.Complete LS columns.6. Share their reflections on the topic.7.Wrap up objectives.

WRAP UP ( REFLECTION ) Are you using technology to

support your lessons? Why or Why not?

Can technology help L2 students to develop their language skills? How?

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail [email protected]