websites to get your el learners reading and writing

Teacher training webinars

Websites to get learners reading and writing

For free voiced over presentation visitwww.elt-training.com

Jo Gakonga

Websites to get your learners reading and writing

Jo Gakonga

Why reading and writing outside class?

Benefits

• Promotes autonomous learning• Gives extensive language practice• Can be used to consolidate work in class• Can be used to extend work in class

• Lots of possibilities on the net

Difficulties

• It’s too difficult!• Sorting the wheat from the chaff.• Motivation

Reading sites

• Storybird www.storybird.com

• Bookr www.pimpampum.net/bookr/

• Lingro www.lingro.com

Writing sites• Blogger www.blogger.com

• Glogster http://edu.glogster.com/

Reading on the internet….

There’s a wealth of stuff out there…..

Reading on the internet….

But the problem might be ….

It’s too difficult!

Storybird

Storybird

Fantastic illustrationsWide range of stories from children’s to much

more universal.Can view on-line for free (or pay for a hard

copy)

× You need to be quite creative to write a storybird – limited choice of illustration.

Similar, but easier for writing…Bookr

Bookr

Bookr

• Really motivating.• Loads of pictures of everywhere and

everything!• Easy to use and free.• Could be used as the basis for a presentation

in class.

Lingro

Writing- Using blogs

Blogs are great for improving learners’ writing.

Advantages

• Motivating • Can be multi-modal ie pictures, music,

video etc

Advantages

• A real audience for written work. • Learners can read and comment on each

other’s work.

Challenges

• Learners may not feel comfortable with the technology, which will reduce participation rates

Blogger

First, you need a Google account

Then you decide what you want to call your blog….

Your blog title – this will show at the top

of the page.

Your blog url address – this will end in .blogspot.com

Now you decide what it will look like.

And that’s all there is to it!

Now to put something on it.

On-line instructionswww.teachertrainingvideos.com

When you have your blogs…

What could you do with them with your class?

Think of three ideas.

Writing about….

• Their daily lives• Their home towns – (with pictures?)• Their pets – (with a video?)• Their favourite groups – (with music?)• A favourite website – (with a link!)

And don’t forget..

Reading and commenting on each other’s blogs.

Glogster Edu

http://edu.glogster.com/

Any questions?