Breaking News English

• What is BreakingNewsEnglish?

Now I would like to introduce one brilliant website to all of you. It is BreakingNewsEnglish.

After entering the home page of BNE, you can see a list of news.

Click one of the news, you will see the content of the news, and the relevant tasks according to the news. You have many choices to make:

1. Print the news and relevant tasks;
2. Listen to the news, in British accent or American accent;
3. Do some reading exercises, such as: Speed Reading, Text Jumble etc;
4. Grammar practice;
5. Practice spelling skills;
6. Extend your vocabulary by doing various tasks.

For example, in the Sentence Jumble, after reading the news, you can choose the pieces of the sentences from the news by memory. The system also displays your scores in this task. If teachers use this task in the reading class, that would be very interesting. Teachers can ask the students finish memorizing the news as fast as they can, then compare the scores.

In No Spaces, which is one of the most challenging tasks, you can type the words that you can remember as many as possible. Considering its difficulty, teachers may divide the students into different groups and make students try to recall the words in the news.

After reading the news, you can also take a quiz to test whether you comprehend the passage or not.

• Why is the content good for the language learning?

1. To teachers in teaching listening, reading, writing and grammar, BNE provides more various tasks.
2. To students, they will be highly motivated by the tasks and will improve their listening and reading skills through practicing different tasks.
3. This website is also useful to self-learners.

• How might you use it in a language teaching context?

1. Teachers can use BNS in class to organize different activities.
2. When lack of teaching resources, teachers can find more valuable ideas in this website.
3. With high motivation, students will love learning English through doing different tasks.

• Limitations

1. If using in the class, it is required that each student should bring their computers or use one computer for two students.
2. The level of news in language is hard to control.
3. Too many advertisements on the webpage. Users would easily click and access to the wrong pages.

Present.me

• Present.me

Please check the link here: Present.me, or visit the following link:  https://present.me/home/pres

• What is Present.me?

Present.me is a website service where users can upload their presentation. The presentation type can be slices and video, slices and audio, slices, and video. Users can upload ppt file or Google Docs and record the video when making the presentation. After recording, users can share the presentation with others by embedding in their blogs or email the link to their friends. Viewers of the presentation can download the ppt file if they are interested in the contents.

• How to use it?

• Why is the content good for language learning?

1. For teachers, Present.me enables them to make presentation through internet. Students can access to Present.me to review the contents of the lecture anytime.
2. For large classes or if class time is limited, some students do not have chance to make presentation in the class. They can finish at home and send the link of finished work to teachers.
3. Students can download the ppt file for future review.
4. Compared with Brainshark, viewers can see the real person in the presentation.

• How might you use it in a language teaching context?

1. Shy students have chances to make presentation. Sometimes they can make better performances in Present.me than in the class.
2. It avoids students' cheating in the presentation making, because teachers can see students in the video.
3. In the online lecture, especially for pronunciation lecture, the camera can capture lecturer's facial movements.
4. Teachers can discuss lesson plan through Present.me.
5. In some discussion homework, two or more students can finish discussion together.

• Limitations

1. It requires that users should have high speed of internet accessing. Otherwise, it would sacrifice the video effects to guarantee the quality of audio effects.
2. Users cannot edit the presentation contents.
3. Brainshark has more convenient sharing functions than Present.me.

• Demo

Padlet (Wallwisher)

• Padlet

Please check the link here: Padlet or visit the following website:  http://padlet.com

• What is Padlet?

Padlet is a digital board where users can post pictures, take notes, share links or videos. Users can design the topic and layout of the board, share the link of the board with others, and name the linking address of the board.

• How to use Padlet?

• Why is the content good for language learning?

1. Padlet provides a good opportunity for students to take notes and practice their writing skills.
2. In the process of building and furnishing the Padlet, students will gain more knowledge in the Western culture and more contacts with the target language.
3. Students will have high motivation in constructing their own Padlet. At the same time, they practice their skills in reading and writing.

• How might you use it in a language teaching context?

1. Teachers divide the students into several groups and assign different topics to each group, for example, the introduction of a city, a country, a book or a movie. Each group member is responsible for one part of the contents. After they finish, they can be required to make a presentation about their Padlet.
2. Padlet can be made in various ways, for intense, arts gallery, story telling, traveling map, photo exhibition, foods menu and weekly schedule.
3. Teachers start a topic or a question on one Padlet and then ask students to brainstorm on the wall.

• Limitations

1. The contents of the Padlet can be added by different users, but the layout can be adjusted by the wall starter.
2. Due to different resolutions on different computers, the layout of the Padlet is changed unintentionally.
3. When adjusting the pictures, users cannot change the choosing part of the photo.

• Demo

Created with Padlet

JING

• JING

Please check the link here: JING or visit the website:  http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html

• What is JING?

JING is a screen-capturing application, which was launched by TechSmith Corporation. Users can clip one part of screen and video what happens in the particular area. Then the captured video or images can be shared through website link or email with other people. This application is compatible within both Windows and Apple OS X systems.

• How to use JING?

• Why is the content good for language learning?

The advent of JING brings many possibilities into ELT area.

1. It promotes the relationships between teachers and students, especially the relationship during the spare time. After students' handing in the assignment, teachers give feedbacks and comments through JING. Then students timely can check the feedbacks and correct the mistakes in the assignments. If students have further questions or other problems, they all can be solved by JING. This process shortens the time of making and sharing feedbacks. In the history, teachers took assignments back home and made comments. Students could get the feedbacks in the next day, sometimes they even had to wait for longer. Therefore, JING has enhanced the efficiency of this teaching and learning process.
2. It provides more chances to communication, between teachers and teachers, students and students, and teachers and students. Frequent sharing contents and exchanging ideas can promote the communication and relationship among people.
3. Students and teachers would have higher motivation in using JING by sharing information, giving feedbacks, making comments and capturing videos or images.

• How might you use it in a language teaching context?

1. In the class, teachers need spend some time on introducing and using JING to students.
2. After the class, teachers can introduce some useful educational resources to students.
3. Teachers can give feedbacks on students' assignments and explain students' mistakes in details.
4. Students can share ideas and information through JING.
5. Teachers can capture some videos and share with students or colleagues.
6. Sometimes when someone had technical problems, they can use JING to solve.

• Limitations

1. The capturing time is limited, only 5 minutes.
2. JING History is specific on the computer you are using. If you use JING in different computers, you will find the specific history on the computer you are using.
3. The sound quality is influenced by the quality of microphone. So you should prepare a good one.

• Demo

http://screencast.com/t/MYLoQ6K5gGE

Brainshark

• Brainshark

Please click the link here: Brainshark or visit the website: http://www.brainshark.com

• What is Brainshark?

Brainshark is an amazing website where you can video, edit and upload your presentation, and share it through email and Youtube. If you are interested in any particular one, you also can download the podcast audio. Presentation maker can see the viewing report, such as number of views, percentage viewed, even the viewers' location.

• How to use Brainshark?

• Why is the content good for language learning?

1. Teachers upload the contents of lecture or presentation to Brainshark. It has three benefits: 1) The video of presentation can be saved and kept for future improvement; 2) The video presentation provides the students a chance to review the contents of class, or can be sent to the students who missed the lecture; 3) After activating the video, teachers can share his ideas to others and also get chances to learn from others. Through the following discussion and communication, two parties would improve;
2. In some activities of the class, students are required to make presentation. But sometimes, time is short and others may have no opportunity to do the task. Those students can upload their presentation into Brainshark and send the link to the teachers, waiting for the feedbacks and marks;
3. Teachers and students can continuously improve their presentation through watch their own video;
4. Parents have a chance to know the learning contents and make appropriate supports or helps to their kids according to the contents of the video.

• How might you use it in a language teaching context?

1. Before the lecture, teachers make a video in Brainshark and keep improving it;
2. Before the end of the lecture, the link of the video should be told to students for reviewing and comments;
3. According to the comments and feedbacks from students, teachers improve the presentation for the reflection process;
4. Sometimes requiring students to make a presentation video is necessary.

• Limitations

1. When recording, the good quality microphone would create better video;
2. The internet is required, however, Brainshark has launched new products for other mobile electronic choices, SlideShark, which also supports smart phones and iPad;
3. If users make the presentation in Keynotes, they have to transfer the file into PowerPoint. Users should pay attention to some slight differences between Keynotes and PowerPoint, such as fonts and slide-over effects.

Vocaroo

• Vocaroo

Please click the link here: Vocaroo or visit the website: http://vocaroo.com

• What is Vocaroo

Vocaroo is an online voice recorder, which collects the voice through the microphone, records the voice in the specific web page, and saves the voice file automatically. Users can share the link of voice recording page, email the link to others, share the link through Facebook or Twitter, or save or download the file into computers. 

• How to use Vocaroo

• Why is the content good for language learning?

1. There is no need to prepare the voice recorder. In the presentation or lecture, Vocaroo can easily finish the task of recording and spreading. In addition, not like the voice recorder, users do not need to bring the wire to transfer the file after recording;
2. Students can repeatedly listen to the recordings for totally absorbing and comprehending the contents of recording;
3. After teachers' sharing the link or file of the recording, students also can send their feedbacks to teachers, or vice versa;

• How might you use it in a language teaching context?

1. Teachers cannot only record their lectures or presentation, they also can record the discussion of seminars and share with attendees and others;
2. When the telephone or online appointments become impossible due to the unavailable schedule, both teachers and students can record their voice and send it out.

• Limitations

1. It only can be used in mic-in computers or computers with mic, but it does support iPad, iPhone, iPod, smart phones or other mobile electronic products;
2. The sound quality from Vocaroo is not ideal, and bps (Bit Per Second) of the file is not adjustable during recording;
3. Vocaroo relies on the mic too much.

Dvolver

• Dvolver

Click the link here: Dvolver or visit the website here: http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/index.html

• What is Dvolver

Dvolver is a website where you can make your own movie-like scene, with choosing characters design, setting, form of communication, background music and the content of conversation. After designing and making the conversation, you can send the link of the short movie to your classmates, teachers or friends through email.

• How to use Dvolver

• Why is the content good for language learning?

1. This will make the class vivid and interesting; it turns the boring content of conversation into the funny movie;
2. Students will have higher motivation in learning the conversation, or making and designing the dialogue;
3. In the class, in the speaking practice part, when the speakers feel reluctant or too shy to speak, this form of animated movie would shift other students' attention on the movie, not the speakers;
4. In the process of making and practicing the dialogue, students finish the process from inputs to outputs, which strengthen their understanding of learnt knowledge;
5. In the process of sharing video and communication with teachers or other learners, movie makers and movie watchers have chance to realize their own mistakes and correct the mistakes in the future.

• How might you use it in a language teaching context?

1. Before the class, teachers need to use Dvolver to make a conversation containing the relevant contents of the lesson;
2. During the class, students watch the movie and practice speaking skill according to the movie;
3. After the class, students have the assignment of making and designing their own conversation based on what they learnt from the class and on their own understanding;
4. Send the link of finished movie to teachers or classmates, and changing ideas and improve according to the feedbacks.

• Limitations

1. 100 words' limitation for each character's line; this would limit maker's thoughts for the arrangement of the lines;
2. Users cannot control or change the time length for each line;
3. If the speakers' voices could be recorded, that would be better.