In Class Workout 6: ESL Tools

http://www.funbrain.com/lang/index.html

Description

This tool is an online game that can help students transfer their vocab from either English to Spanish or Spanish to English so it could be used in both ESL and Foreign Language classes. The game basically has four levels and each one either focuses on recognizing or being able to spell a word in either English or, in this case, Spanish.

Type of Tool

This website is an example of a drill and practice tool. It's drill and practice because it assumes that the student has a basic knowledge of the language they are trying to practice and simply provides a game that allows them to go over vocab and spelling. A drawback of a tool like this is that it doesn't really offer a way for students to ask questions, it simply provides a series of vocab/spelling match ups.

Educational Value

This tool is valuable because it emphasizes one of the most important aspects of learning a new language; repetition. If a student plays the game they will most likely begin to draw connections between their native language and their own. In addition to this, the game offers different vocab categories which allows the students to focus on the area they are having the most difficulty with.

Podcast Summary

I watched the podcast "Going Global: Culture Shock, Convergence, and the Future of Education" (http://k12online.ning.com/video/going-global-culture-shock). This presentation focused on the importance of gaining an international perspective for both students and educators. Essentially, the main point being made is that the world is getting smaller, cultures that were once far away and unimaginable are now able to be connected in seconds through tools such as Skype, Twitter, and other social networking sites. As the world becomes more and more connected, students need to gain a global perspective in order to be a competitive member in the work force of the future. In order to prepare their students for this future, teachers from all different parts of the world are connecting and sharing ideas. The idea of a "Personal Learning Network" or PLN is the main way in which teachers achieve this connectedness. A PLN is a sort of community that can be achieved through the use of technology. Teachers can share their thoughts and ideas through blogs and Skype and find other educators who are interested in the same things and who they can colloborate with them. This communication of ideas by teachers ultimately benefits the students who will not be limited to the perspective of one teacher. This presentation highlightes the fact that globalization is an exciting and essential part of the future of education and in order to be an effective teacher, it is important for us to embrace it.

ESL Gold Evaluation

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

ESL Gold provides many study materials that will help ESL students. The site is not limited to just worksheets, offering pronunciation practice tools and listening activities.

This site is efficient because it can answer students pronunciation questions even when the teacher is not present.

ESL gold is effective because it has the pronunciation and listening activities which are crucial in helping ESL students master the English language.

In addition, the site is an enhancement from other ESL sites because it actually features sound clips for the students to listen to instead of just having them read off of a worksheet.

I will definitely utilize this site in my future classroom because it offers some of the best listening activities which are really the most effective tools when teaching ESL.

Using English Evaluation

http://www.usingenglish.com/

This site offers many resources for ESL students, including a vocab glossary and a list of commonly used idioms in modern day English. The site also provides a number of grammar help pages for students.

This site saves the time of the ESL students. They can use it as a resource when they have a question about homework and their teacher is not present.

The site also provides effective tools to help students master common English phrases and sayings. Students can also take practice tests and quizzes to help them more effectively prepare for an exam.

This site enhances the students experience with ESL by providing a place for them to turn to when they have questions.

I will recommend this site to my future students so that they have a place to turn to that will help them outside of the classroom. In addition to this, the site is organized well and allows you to easily get what you want.

ESL Base Evaluation

http://www.eslbase.com/resources/

This is a site that focuses on providing resources specifically for ESL teachers. The site offers worksheets and lesson plans specifically for ESL education as well as the latest information on developments in the ESL field.

This site saves time by allowing ESL teachers to have a single go-to place for both lesson planning and for news about their field.

ESL Base also provides lesson plans that have been effective in the past for a specific standard pertaining to ESL education.

This site will enhance ESL lessons because all the worksheets and lesson plans on the site are specifically tailored to this type of teaching. Very few modifications would have to be made.

I would use the worksheets from this website to supplement my lessons. I will also use this site to stay up to date with what's happening in the field of ESL education.

Primary Games Evaluation

http://www.primarygames.com/

This site offers educational games for students. All subjects have games as well as a featured game that usually pertains to a current event.

This site is efficient because it pulls together games for all subjects. In addition to this, the games can help students understand a concept quicker, allowing for the class to move a little faster.

The games featured on the site are all quality sites that would effectively contain any number of standards for subjects ranging from Reading to Math.

The educational games are an enhancement because they let the students experience a more hands-on approach to what they are learning and it makes the lesson a little more fun for them.

I would use these games to help a student review for a test or to help explain an idea that the class as a whole seems to be struggling with.

A to Z Teacher Stuff Evaluation

http://atozteacherstuff.com/

This website provides teachers with links to many helpful resources, such as; lesson plans, worksheets, and general teacher tips. In addition to this, the site has a discussion board for teachers where they can share ideas and give advice.
The site is efficient because it pulls together many reliable resources that would have to be hunted for otherwise.
It's effective because it provides reliable resources, such as worksheets, that can be used to aid lessons given.
Finally, it's can allow teachers to enhance their ordinary lesson plans by giving them many new ideas and options.
I would definitely use this tool in class if I needed supplement materials or if I was having difficulties coming up with an effective lesson plan.

Teachers Corner Evaluation

http://www.theteacherscorner.net/teacher-resources/teachhelp.htm

This website is a place where teachers from all over the country can post ideas about classroom management. This site acts as a resource for all teachers looking for new things to try out in their classroom or for a place to share ideas that have worked for them in the past.

This website is efficient because it provides a quick way for teachers to get new ideas to try in their class. It's effective because it showcases ideas that real teachers have used with success in their own classrooms. This site is also an enhancement because it allows teachers to enhance their own teaching techniques and be more effective.

While the site itself is a little disorganized, it's still a quality site because it allows for the sharing of effective classroom management ideas that can help a struggling teacher to run their class more effectively. All of the posts are by real teachers, so they all have experience with these methods and are able to effectively convey their ideas to their peers.