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!

A wordcloud named Wordsift

Have you ever heard of word cloud? I believe many of us have seen one but not sure that it is a word cloud. So, what is a word cloud? It is an attractive arrangement of randomly positioned words, where the most frequent-used words are bigger than the others. Many websites provide free service for this word arrangement but on this entry, I will emphasis on Wordsift. This website allows people to insert a text, maximum of 65K words (which can cover a long essay!) and convert it into word cloud form. The words could also be explored through pictures, thesaurus and their uses in sentences. Isn't it interesting?  

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

How it operates?

• Wordsift needs no registration and you can easily insert your text in the blank box provided in the website. Then, click 'Sift' button to start visualizing the word cloud.

• The word cloud that will be presented excludes words like article (a, the, etc), pronoun (she, he, etc), connectors (and, but, etc) and prepositions (in, on, at, etc). The most frequent words that are being used will appear bigger than the others.

• Words can be sorted according to common to rare, rare to common, A to Z and Z to A. It gives more flexibility on how we want to manage those words. The cloud could also be made to disappear or reappear by clicking 'Squish Cloud' and 'Unsquish' button respectively. Moreover, a workspace could also be created below the cloud by pressing 'Create Workspace' button. 

• As being mentioned before, words in the cloud can be more explored through several other mediums:

     

          1) First of all, we can have thoughts about a word by looking at the      

              images related with it. Through the use of Google Image Search, 

              images that will be displayed are to the utmost relevance with 
              the words.    

          2) Next, a word web thesaurus is also provided to explain more 
              about words. Synonyms and antonyms will be displayed and this 
              would help people to understand the meaning of words by 
              associating them with other words. 

          3) Sample sentences from the text input are also being given in order 

              to aid understanding of the use of words in sentence level. The  
              key word is marked with green. From this feature, people can 
              easily spot and analyse different meanings of same word and how 
              it is being used. 

How can teacher use it?

Pre-reading activity

This website could be used as a tool for pre-reading activity. It is important to expose students with the theme or context of the reading text so that they might have some expectation on what will they encounter later. Therefore, by using Wordsift, students can see which words are frequently used and they can imagine what the text is about. This consequently helps to create students' interest in reading activity. 

Guessing A Story

        Another activity that you can do is guessing-a-story activity. Gives students several familiar topics, asks them to choose one and write an essay out of it. When they had completed their essays, bring them to computer lab with internet access and ask them to insert their essays into Wordsift. With a partner, students need to predict others' stories and try to make their own story based on the word cloud. After they had done, ask students to compare and contrast their stories with the original one. Here, students are likely to communicate with each other, hence, might improve their speaking ability.

        Since having a lot of computers with internet access is difficult for some teachers, another option should be made. You could proceed with guessing-a-story activity but this time only you write the story. This activity, therefore, is a whole class activity where students only refer to teacher's Wordsift in order to make story of their own. You can vary the activity by asking students to work in groups and share their stories with other members.  

What do I say about this website?

Thumbs up points :)

1) Students can improve their vocabulary by exploring pictures of words, its thesaurus and how it is constructed in sentences.

2) One of the tools for pre-reading activity.

Thumbs down points :(

1) The design is too simple and limited.

2) Some pictures displayed are not related with the word clicked.

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!