ESL Level 1 Videos

This past year I had a videographer record my Level 1 class. My reason was to provide students that missed a class a way to keep up with what was going on in the class. Also, students could review a topic if they needed to. I'm also planning on putting them on my new weebly website, and I'll see if I can do a "flipped" classroom. It's a great resource to have and I recommend teachers try it out!

Prezi Help

I helped another ESL teacher, Matthew Staples, incorporate Prezis into his class by walking him through the steps necessary to create a Prezi. He quickly caught on, and the students appreciated the additional visual presentation in their class.

ESL Faculty Interest Group

This Spring, I organized an ESL FIG to discuss using technology in the ESL classroom. We were able to share a number of interesting websites and apps. Here are some of our favorites:

Google Voice--students use their phones to leave messages with the teacher. The messages are transcribed and teachers can also receive the messages via email.

Kaywa--creates a scan code which can be used as an easy way for students to do listening activities with their smart phones.

Socrative--an app that can poll classroom opinions

Weebly--easy way to make websites

English for everyone--website full of ESL grammar worksheets that can be used for classroom use

Bookr--makes a book using only Flikr images

Memrise--a free language website created by contributors from around the world

Swipe--Easy presentation website

geert-hofstede.com-- culture comparison website

freetech4teachers.com--Richard Byrne has a lot of good, tested website for teachers

Adobe Voice App

The end of the year is approaching fast and I have been wanting to bring in a new form of technology to my Level 1 ESL class at the DCA. I was able to borrow 9 Ipads from the ATC, and I had them install the Adobe Voice app. I stumbled across this app recently and I've fallen in love with it. I believe it's easy enough for my Level 1 class to use. Here is an example that I used in my class:

http://voice.adobe.com/v/W5FUT7Y6IZ4

The students were very impressed with my little video and even more excited when I told them they would be making their own videos. We began the process last Wednesday and will finish up on Monday. I had them answer a list of personal information questions on paper and I helped correct spellings, grammar and vocabulary. Now they are starting to make their videos, and they seem to be quickly catching on. We should be getting a set of ipads in our department soon, and I look forward to using this app more often in class.