Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Smurfette]

I work with University students from all over the world. Part of the English program has been to complete a speaking and listening program in a computer lab. The class has been poorly structured and its content is frankly quite boring.

I have been given the opportunity to inhance their curriculum and add structure to the computer lab. I have not been given any new materials to work with so I am here to ask for your advice.

Each student has their own computer, we have access to the internet, dvd player and a projector. I want to add to the class by using videos and interactive online games.

I would love to know what websites or sources you found successful in this kind of environment.

[bassexpander]

Just use the free trials:

http://www.tumblebooks.com/tumblereadable/register.asp

[maingman]

http://www.visualcomplexity.com/vc/

http://www.symmetri.com/searchcube/

[Smurfette]

[ddeubel]

I think that's a great opportunity. Individualized learning and self-directed study is the way of the future when it comes to language study. Cramming 20-40 into a classroom and then "teaching" is not a solution.

Lots of everything on EFL Classroom 2.0 . Also, we have tons of click and play stories with audio, karaoke, listening tests/materials and lots of links to real thorough language learning labs. Plus, talk about how to use technology in the language classroom.

We even have some public pages. Try out the Dave bot I modified. Students just need to click to have a conversation. http://eflclassroom.com/bot.html

Or try the NFB videos for language instruction. http://eflclassroom.com/nfb.html (best in firefox for the moment) On our community find materials to support these. I'd also highly recommend our Learning Arcades. Click and play games for language. learning....

Even make one pw/id on EFL Classroom for all students. (we support multiple logins with the same id/pw). One class page for everyone. Many classes are doing this presently.

Have fun but remember that as the students are completing the language activities online -- pull them aside for small group conversation, hopefully in the middle of the classroom if you are using a well designed horseshoe style computer lab.

Cheers,

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

[maingman]

http://www.viewzi.com/search/

[KSH]

Well, just a few off the cuff ideas that you can do...

1) Create a scavenger hunt of items they need to find online. For example, you can have "find a website for a company who does graphic design", or something along those lines. Make it so they have to search for something in English. You may also make it so they then have to speak something in English.

2) You can do a game where you have kids write down one thing they want someone else to find on the internet. Then toss those into a hat and have each kid pick one. Then have them find their item.

3) Going off #2, you could also call it out in class and see who finds it the fastest.

[blairglen]

I found this article about using computer games in the ESL classroom to be very useful.
http://www.techlearning.com/article/8270

This site has a lot of good games you can use.
http://www.escapegames24.com/

Some games have walkthroughs and hints and you can modify them to your students English level(First, look under the pillow. Second, take the key...) My students liked a game I got from that site called "Where is 2009?" Simple and fun.

[BS.Dos.]

I've a new copy of this which I've never used if you're interested.