Week 14: Technology as an important tool to deliver feedback.

Rate: 4

Technology has changed over the years and due to big impact that it has had in society, it has changed people's life. Nowadays, due to technology being present in everybody's life, it is easier to use a computer than use paper and pencil to take notes or to do homework since when using a computer any mistake that we make when taking notes can be deleted faster than when using an eraser because it is time consuming, for that reason students prefer Technology.

Technology has become an important tool in education since students and teachers use it in their daily routines. However, Technology in teachers' life is very important because they can using it to prepare interactive classes for students because as we know, there are many tools that teacher can use to easily deliver feedback to their students. There is a really interesting program that is called screen capture, which can be used to give feedback. This is a program easy to use, where teachers can check exams, homework, presentations, etc. and at the same time they have the ability to record their voices in order to provide feedback to students in a way students will understand and put into practice in the future.



  

Week 13: Students participation in the classroom.

Rate: 4

The participation in the classroom is so fundamental for students since it contributes to their learning process and at the same time it helps them with their learning-skills development. Besides, it helps students overcome any shyness they may feel when they speak in front of their classmates and teachers because sometimes students do not feel confident when they answer questions due to the fact that they do not know much about the topic they are being questioned about so teachers have to look for good strategies to make all students participate in class. Strategies such as asking attractive questions to get students attention, making them ask themselves why something is happening, can help teachers check students comprehension and knowledge about the topics they are learning about, thus teachers can give them feedback or can explain them what they do not understand. Besides, a good strategy to improve students participation is to make them work in groups so they can express their opinions their partners in order to give them the opportunity to think and to check out their answers, then they can share their thoughts with the whole the class because in that way students will be motived to participate.

Week 12: Project Work in English Classrooms

Rate: 4

Project work activities, are a good tool that can be used by teachers in order to maximize the student's skill language learning. Project work based learning, with proper teacher guidance, and feedback along with the student's engagement and elaborated tasks, will greatly benefit students by increasing their socialization and collaboration skills so they can get to know their classmates better and also they can learn to work with others. For a project to be successful and for students to feel committed to it, it is necessary that teachers propose interesting topics to get the students attention; these topics need to be real-world based topics in order for students to learn about real world issues while they are learning a new language. If real-world based topics are used for project work activities, students will increase their metacognitive awareness and enhance critical thinking and decision-making abilities that will serve them not only in their career but also in their daily lives. In order for a project work to be successful, teachers and students alike need to work together so students are prepared for the demands of information gathering, to gather the information needed for the project work, and to compile and analyze the information gathered in order for the final project to be completed and presented to the target audience.

Week 11: Online Dictionaries in Second Language Learning

Rate: 3

Every student that is learning a second language starts to use a dictionary since it helps students to look for words that they do not know and to be more knowledgeable. Most of the students prefer using an online dictionary because it is easier to use than a paper dictionary as they think that paper dictionaries are big and bulky to bring to classes, and it is difficult to look for a word because paper dictionaries have such an extensive content, which makes any word search a time-consuming task. For that reason, they choose an easy way to look for vocabulary and words unknown for them. Using an online dictionary is common nowadays because there are many applications that students can use in their cellphones; besides, online dictionaries offer a lot of information about a word, like different meanings, example sentences of words use, pronunciation guides, quick find etc. so students will learn many things using a online dictionary. However, students must be careful when using online dictionaries because no all online dictionaries are reliable of use as they do not give a good definition of a word; for that reason, teachers should recommend students which dictionary can be the best option for them to use.

Week 10: Mobile phones as learning tools.

Rate: 4

Nowadays, using a mobile phone is common for many people since everybody use it to communicate with others; however, mobile phones are not only used to communicate, we can also use mobile phones to do other things such as to study, to do homework, to send emails, to do exercises, to read books, to listen to music, to look up information easily, etc., with mobile phones there come a lot of tools that students can use to improve their language skills in an interesting and funny way.

Mobile phones are a useful school tool where students can learn many things in an easy way; since mobile phones are part of students' everyday lives, they will be able to study and practice wherever and whenever they are. Besides, in teaching mobile phones can bring a lot of benefits to students and teachers because both can use them to teach and learn in meaningful ways. Teachers can integrate mobile phones in their classes since students enjoy using mobile phones everywhere they are; for that reason, teachers can do different activities where students can use their mobile phones or give them homework where students can use mobile phones, which would increase the students' motivation to learn new language.
 

Week 9: Wikis: Good option to improve the writing skill.

Rate: 3

Wiki is a software application that resides on a web server that is accessed with any browser and it is characterized because it allows users to add content and edit existing ones. Teachers and students can access the wiki application easily. Teachers can use this applications to assign to students a specific task because Wiki is not difficult to use and students can do a lot of things since users are allow to edit, add, and modify any information. That means that students can express their ideas, share their knowledge or express their points of view about the ideas expressed by others students previously.

When using Wikis, at the beginning students may be a little bit skeptical about it, however once they get to try it and start working along with others in the same project, they will find it to be fun and they will learn how to work with others, which will increase their interpersonal relations. Also, using collaborative writing with Wikis, teachers can effectively promote students' interest in writing. This way, students will be able to improve their writing skills and get better grades in their writing assignments. Furthermore, collaborative writing with Wikis, help to develop the students writing competences and enhance their collaboration skills, which will serve them not only to improve their writing skills, but also to improve their other learning skills.

Lab Session

Welcome everybody to my Lab Session 1

     Topic: Animals Around the World

     Author: Gabriela Escobar

     Time: 60 minutes

     Level: A1

This lab session focuses in the topic "Animals". With this topic, students will learn the name of animals, how these names are pronounced and how they are spelled. Firstly, students will watch two video in order to learn about the animals in they names. Also, there are different exercises that will make students put into practice what they have learned about animals.

1.Watch the video about Animals Around the World. Try to remember the different animal names and the countries where they live. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcDoOnAkkME  4 minutes

2. Let's listen to some animal names, pay attention to their names and pronunciation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhQpT9-8Bss 6 minutes 

3. It is time to see a list of animal names for you to read and learn how their names are spelled. 
https://www.easypacelearning.com/all-lessons/learning-english-level-1/834-animals-names-with-pictures-learning-english 5 minutes

4. Read these interesting facts about animals and choose which is your favorite animal.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals.html 10 minutes

5. Let's see how much you learned about animals with this animal maze game. https://elt.oup.com/student/i-spy/games/animals?cc=us&selLanguage=en#Instructions 5 minutes

6. What about testing your memory and animal knowledge with this memory game?
https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/vocabulary2/zoo1.htm 5 minutes

7. Do you still need to practice? Let's practice vocabulary of animals!
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/vocabulary-exercise-animals.php 10 minutes

8. There are a lot of animals living around the world. Do you remember what are their names and how they look? Let's check it!
http://iteslj.org/v/ei/animals.html 10 minutes

9. Now let's play a word search to know how much you learned!
https://www.eslgamesplus.com/animals-on-the-farm-interactive-word-search/ 5 minute 

Week 7: The Internet as a useful guide to learn writing and reading skills.

Rate: 3

The writing and reading skills are very important to everybody that is learning a new language as they are a fundamental part of the learning process. These skills need to be developed when students are learning other language since if students do not develop them,  they will be in trouble when they are given a writing or reading assignment. Students have to learn new vocabulary in order to get a good writing skill because if they do not know that much vocabulary, they will not be able to write a paragraph. A good way to learn new vocabulary is reading books because students will get a broader knowledge based on the books they will read.

Teachers have an important role in teaching the writing and reading skills to students because they have to encourage students to learn not only in the classroom but also at home. Teachers needs to teach students with activities that students can enjoy and that will get the students attention and that will motivate them to self-study.

Internet is a useful resource for teachers and students because it provides many tools  and applications that will let them know how to teach and learn the writing and reading skills with different activities and challenges that will help them in the teaching-learning process in a good way.

Week 6: The media as support in teaching speaking and listening skills.

Rate: 4

When teachers prepare a lesson for an specific skill, it can be difficult if they do not have the right tools to prepare it and if they do not have that much knowledge about how to teach a new language.

However, nowadays there exist many ways to prepare a class with different fun activities for a specific skill that can be meaningful and funny for students. Also, those activities can be very useful for students because they can improve their learning process.

Technology provides many tools where teachers can find a lot of necessary resources that they can use in their classes. There are also many new applications that can help teachers and students alike in the teaching-learning process. It is the teacher's duty to provide students with the insight of what can be used to improve the learning skills in which they are deficient.

Using technology, teachers can guide students to get the right tools they need to improve their language skills. Based on the article, there are several applications of CALL in the development of speaking skills that foster and motivates students to self-study. Besides, by using media to develop learning activities based on radio programs, television shows, newspapers, videos, and music, teachers will have a better interaction with the students and the students will be motivated to learn.

Week 5: Technology as a good tool to accomplish critical thinking.

Rate: 3

The process of thinking critically is fundamental for the growth of a student because students will have the capacity to think rationally in their life and that will help them to have the ability to understand and better analyze a problem. It is important that teachers help students to develop a critical thinking by using different activities where teachers have the students think about several abstract topics and then ask them a lot of questions that will make them think about the topic, develop reasoning abilities in order for them to acquire the knowledge they need to draw conclusions and resolve the issues they may face.

Technology helps students to get a broader knowledge of what they learn in the classroom. It helps them dig into the information they want to learn about and the topics they want to discover more about, and with proper teacher guidance students can learn how to use technology to develop critical thinking. It is important that teachers understand that not all students learn the same way, therefore they need to know how to use Technology in order to get the student's attention.

To foster critical thinking in students will help them not only to develop curiosity for the different issues they will face in their lives but also will help them see how the real world is.

Week 4: Internet as a facilitator in ELT

Rate: 4

When you think about Internet, what comes to your mind? For sure, you will think of social networks, instant messaging, email, blogs, video game, etc, but that is not all Internet has to offer.

Nowadays, Internet has become an excellent source of knowledge and information not only for those teaching a new language, but also for those who want to learn it. Through Internet, teachers and students alike will find enough information (teaching/learning material) so they can teach/learn a new language. Using Internet and its different characteristics, information can be saved and shared with others easily.

Also, Internet is an excellent tutor like the article says because it offers many sites, which students can access easily and students can find many options in which they can learn vocabulary, grammar, and where they can practice their listening , reading, writing, etc. The most important factor of this is that they can do it whenever and wherever they want because there is no schedule or waiting time for students to have access to the content they need.

Besides, Internet helps students to feel motivated to learn as it gives them a sense of autonomy so they can engage in their studies without having anyone else pushing them to do so.

Week 3: Podcasts! A good way of developing listening skills.

Rate: 3

Listening is a fundamental skill that we need to develop in  order to communicate better. Listening has always been taught in a traditional way. Whenever you start learning a new language, the listening skill is developed by playing audios with CD players, which is not a practical way to learn and develop that skill because sometimes to hear an audio in that way is boring for some students.

Nowadays, there is a good method of learning and developing the listening skills of students which is by listening to podcasts. There has been reluctance in  the use of podcast when teaching-learning the listening skills however, when podcast are used by teachers to start developing the students' listening skills those get them acquainted with the language they are learning by listening to native speakers in a natural environment and in situations that are related to the real world.

Students can use podcasts to sharpen their listening skills at any time and by using wherever device they feel more comfortable with making it easier for them to learn.

Week 2: A new method to increase the learning process in an effective way

Rate: 4

When students start to study, it is necessary for them to keep track of their learning process, so they can improve in the areas they are failing and to get autonomy over their studies. A good way they have to keep track of their learning is by self-monitoring their learning progress. They can do it by setting their own learning goals in order for them to know where they are in their learning level and where they need to get to succeed in their studies.

Students can rely on technology (ICT tools) to learn and monitor what they are learning and the level of knowledge they own. It is important as well that teachers infuse technology in the classroom in order to motive students to gain motivation in learning in an autonomous way. The use of ICT tools provide students with a great deal of resources such as: seeing videos, doing exercises to improve their grammar and listening skills, they can practice their reading skills and even their writing skills. If students add ICT tools to their learning process this way, they will learn to be responsible with their own learning, consequently, they will create an effective study habit for their learning process.

Week 1: Integrative CALL- The Key for Language Learning.

Rate: 3

When it comes to teaching and learning, there are a variety of methods and tools that teachers and students alike can use in order to learn a new language. These tools and methods have evolved and changed throughout time due to the constantly evolving world we live in.

From all of those tools and methods used in the teaching-learning process, the one that has been of most use is the Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL). This method went through different teaching-learning stages that were either accepted or rejected but that led to a new perspective on technology and language learning; this new perspective was named Integrative CALL.

Integrative CALL is a method that, as his name states, integrates the various skills of language learning and technology to make it easier for teachers to teach and for students to learn in a more sophisticated and attractive way. With this method students will rely on computers to practice what they learn on each class in a daily basis, dispel any sort of doubts they may have from subjects they have been studying, and look for any information they may need or want to learn about. Consequently, this method will encourage students to self-study and to create their own ways of learning a new language.

Friday, January 26th, 2018