ClicknLearn: Play language game!

As a teacher, I believe you might think that teaching grammar rules and vocabulary are not an easy task. Constant teaching of similar methods like drilling and memorization would be boring sometimes. So, how can learning these aspects of language be more interesting and enjoyable? Here, I could help you a bit. Let's come with me exploring this website, ClicknLearn. 

ClicknLearn is a website that provides many language games related with vocabulary, grammar rules and current issues. Here, people could learn not only English, but other several languages as well like French and Spanish. Also, the language games could accommodate many levels from easy, intermediate to difficult. There are also many interesting features in it like sounds with pronunciation of words and colourful pictures, in which I believe could assist language learning. So, let's explore more on this website!     
    

Website URL: http://clicknlearn.net/  


How it operates?

• Once you click on the link, you will see ClicknLearn website. Just click the 'Enter Site' button to view the whole website. A pop-up will come out, so I will suggest that you allow all sites to show pop-ups link beforehand.

• A welcoming words will welcome you on the new link. Choices of language to learn would also be shown and you can choose any language that you want to explore. As this blog is about learning English, I should then proceed with English language.

• Roll over to open a 'Menu' button. Links to various language games would be shown at the upper left corner of the site. Try to look at any category and I hope you will find one that is suitable for your students' levels and interesting enough for them to enjoy.

• In every language games, scores will be given and this could indicate how much we have understood about language aspects that are being taught.

A 3 ESO, Intermediate language game about searching for Wally.

How can teacher use it?

>>As a supplement for the main lesson

Having a single lesson on grammar points and vocabulary is just not enough to ensure students' understanding. So, teacher could use ClicknLearn as an extra activity to introduce the lesson or strengthen their comprehension on the previously taught lesson. Search and choose any games that are related with the lesson and have students to complete it in groups or pairs.   


>>A medium to practice autonomous learning

Teacher could encourage students to browse ClicknLearn and explore the language by themselves outside the classroom. As this website is full of language games, students from any levels of proficiency with different levels of motivation towards learning language, would possibly be interested to explore and learn language. When they are learning by themselves; making errors, understanding language forms and listening to pronunciation, students are gradually practicing autonomous learning.      

What do I say about the website?

Thumbs up points :)

1) Variety of interesting language games!
2) Can cater all level of students.
3) A platform for autonomous learning.
(When students make mistakes, they would continue to use try and error method and also search for answers' hints by clicking help. These are all made by themselves and hence, encourage them to be independent on their own learning.)

Thumbs down points :(

1) Some levels are not functioning or under construction. It would be better in the future I hope.

I hope you use it and ENJOY!

Dvolver the moviemaker

What excites you more? Writing a dialogue on a plain paper or writing it on a website where you can choose your own backgrounds, places and moving characters? I bet the latter is your choice. This is all made possible in, an interactive website suitable for all (students and adults) to express ideas through dialogues and making it into movies. Only by following the steps, you could be a producer of your own.

Website URL:  http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/index.html

How it operates?

There are several steps that you need to follow. It’s so easy that you just have to click the button ‘next’. 

• The first step gives you several choices on what backgrounds and skies do you want for the video. It depends on your creativity on how to mix and match these two. 

• Then, you can proceed to choosing a plot related with characters’ movement. Four choices are given; rendezvous, pick up, chase and soliloquy. Some words are difficult? Don’t worry. There are also visuals of what the words portray and it really helps the process. 

• Next, you can now choose characters of your interest. The characters, all with their own look, are given their characteristics, likings and ages. Choose what you like. 

• You can now proceed to inserting dialogues. There is a limit on 100 words per line (which is very long!) and you can easily add new scene to your movie! 

• To make it more interesting, why don’t you put a background song to your movie? There are up to 15 songs that you can choose and it depends on how it suits with your situations.

• All is ready and what more other than choosing your title design, movie title and director’s name (which is you!). It is your creativity to decide which design and what title that you think would be attention-grabbing.

• Finally, you can preview your movie and adjust it (if you want to) and send it to anyone you wish.     

Here is the sample of moviemaker that I made. 

  

How can teacher use it?

Write creative writing

This website can be a platform for students to show their creativity in creating dialogue and choosing a suitable background for it. But beware, as a teacher, you need to give guidelines on how to use this application. You wouldn’t want any particular topics (the inappropriate one!) to be discussed right? So, teachers could give students some topics that are interesting, contextualised and appropriate so that they know what to write and plus it is perhaps one of their experiences in life. You can also check the works by asking them to send their final piece to your email.  

What do I say about this website?

Thumbs up points :)

1) Students can practice language for real-life purpose (conversation).

2) Enhance creativity.

3) Interesting tools (graphics, colours, movement).

4) Fun and enjoyable.

5) Students can learn from visuals.

6) Easy and user-friendly.

7) Ownership (students have their own piece of work that they can proud of!).

8) Attract introvert students.

9) Contextualised learning.

Thumbs down point :(

1) Characters might be too exposing (not suitable for young children).

2) Limited of characters’ movements.

3) Unsure about the correctness of dialogue. 

4) The most prominent issue-must have internet connection!

I hope you use it and ENJOY!

Lyricstraining? Let's sing!

            Tired of the too educational and formal-like listening activities? Do you want to make them more relaxing and exciting? Lyricstraining is the answer for your worry. By using songs, students and even adults could improve their listening skills and at the same time enjoying their ever favourite songs. Apart from English, this websites also allows students to learn other languages like Dutch, Spanish and France. With videos of songs provided (Youtube-based music video), students just need to listen and fill up the missing lyrics. Isn’t it easy?

Website URL: http://www.lyricstraining.com

How it operates?

             This website is convenient for students of age 13 and above or in other words those secondary school students. There are three stages of difficulty; beginner, intermediate and expert, where the suitability depends on students’ levels. For the first two stages, students need to fill up some of missing lyrics with some others are provided while the expert stage requires them to complete the whole lyrics by themselves. 

             But what if you cannot grasp the lyrics? Not to worry. The songs will stop playing and wait for you to fill the lyrics up. If you want to listen again to the lyrics you missed, just press ‘backspace’ button and it will replay it for you. Yet you haven’t got it? Press ‘tab’ button then and automatically, the lyrics will appear. The scores will be shown at the end of the song and you can see how much you have achieved!

How can teacher use it?

             
Enhance listening skills

            Teacher can use this website to enhance students’ listening skills and this is more convenient to be carried out in schools with adequate facilities, particularly computers with internet access. Students can fill up lyrics individually with their own individual pace and less pressure from their peers. 

             Don’t be disappointed if your school lacks of many computers to accommodate all of your students. With only one computer or maybe your own laptop, you can still use this website in the classroom by carrying out variety of spelling quizzes.

        

            What is interesting about lyricstraining is that students can practice listening to songs in their own free time! Not only in school, they could practice their listening and spelling at home and even in the cyber cafe (it is something beneficial to do instead of playing games!). This would indirectly encourage autonomous learning. 

What do I say about this website?

Thumbs up points  :)

1) It’s easy and free!

2) Students can choose any songs they like. 

3) Encourages independent/autonomous learning.

4) Students can improve their vocabulary as well as listening skills and   

    spelling.

5) It gives students different focus and not only on textbooks.

6) It accommodates students with various proficiency levels.

7) It can be carried out in class or even in leisure time.

Thumbs down points  :(

1) Students might easily be distracted with the videos.

I hope you use it and ENJOY!