Technology: Web Resources For Teaching and Teacher Training

INTERNET RESOURCES FOR TESL/TEFL
A Brief Guided Tour
Presented by Grant Wolf
On Tuesday 07/03/07
The presenter went through the following steps:
* = DISCUSSION
I. How are you, as an instructor, already using the Internet in your teaching?

II. How do your students, on their own, already use the Internet in ways
that expose them to English?
III. What are some of the advantages and benefits of using the Internet as a
teaching tool?


IV. What are some of the problems and obstacles of using the Internet in teaching?

V. A Question of Choice

Using the Internet, like any other teaching skill (or life skill, for that matter) is a question of choice. It takes time to survey all the options, evaluate them, test them, and learn to use them effectively. The vastness and flexibility of the internet make choice the crucial element—it all looks good, but you can’t use it until you choose it.
VI. A BRIEF TOUR OF SOME INCREDIBLY USEFUL RESOURCES, FOR YOU TO EXPLORE
One way to help you make sense of the vast resources of the Internet is to classify them . . .
A. Comprehensive Resources for TESL/TEFL
Actually, everything you need (and much more than you need!) can be found in these six sites.

Comprehensive Directory of ESL-dedicated sites:
http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/tesol98/webresources.html#esl

Dave’s ESL Café. The “Mother” of all ESL/EFL websites, for students and teachers: http://www.eslcafe.com/search/index.html

Online English Language Center, from the University of Oregon. This one is new for me. It’s professionally compiled, up-to-date, and looks extremely useful: http://oelp.uoregon.edu/

Internet TESL Journal. A free monthly journal, offering a wealth of practical ideas for teachers. http://iteslj.org/

Total ESL. Another excellent comprehensive website, especially dedicated to teachers in Asia and the Middle East. http://www.totalesl.com/
B. On-Line Discussion Groups:


1. A short, easily navigated list of On-line Discussion Groups for teachers: http://www.linguistic-funland.com/tesllist.html

2. On-line discussion groups for ESL/EFL Students, with a variety of topics to choose from: http://sl-lists.net/

3. Another discussion forum for students, through the famous Dave’s ESL Café site: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/student/index.php

4. Find penpals (actually “keypals” for your students) at
http://www.tesol.net/penpalpostings.html

C. Authentic Language Content-based sites that ESL/EFL teachers have found useful

1. LiteracyNet. Ready-made, news-based high-interest lessons designed for literacy instruction. Includes both listening and reading, with full text as well as abridged text. http://www.literacynet.org/cnnsf/

2. English Listening Lounge. This offers a variety of natural-speech listening excerpts, complete with transcripts. It is a commercial site, but some good material is available for free. http://www.englishlistening.com/

Pulse of the Planet. This is a sound and text feature of National Geographic, with many short but fascinating topic selections. http://pulseplanet.com

4. English Listening Lab Online. Native speakers of a variety of “Englishes” along with video, transcripts and exercises. www.elllo.org

5. Favorite Poem Project. Poetry read by many diverse voices, accompanied by video, sometimes with long, natural-speech introductions. Transcripts of poems available.
www.bu.edu/favoritepoem/thevideos/index.html

D. On-Line Activities, specifically for TESL/TEFL students and teachers

1. Hundreds of on-line games and activities for your students: http://iteslj.org/games/

2. ESL Independent Study Lab: http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/toppicks/toppicks.html

3. Quia: English http://www.quia.com/dir/eng/ Another commercial site, with some good free examples.

4. A Free, Easy Authoring Program for Teachers: Filamentality http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil

5. Phonetics: A state-of-the-art animated visual and sound resource from the University of Iowa. http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/#

6. This is one dedicated solely to everyone’s favorite. . . prepositions!
http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/prepositions.html
E. A small sampling of fun and varied websites for you and your students to try (great motivators!)
Simeon’s Cave of Magic: http://www.caveofmagic.com/zndex.html
Amazon.com Activity: http://iteslj.org/guides/amazon.html
Cuisine Net: http://iteslj.org/guides/dining.html
Jokes for TEFL: http://iteslj.org/c/jokes.html
F. Just for Kids
Gokidding. Basic single-word reading, writing, and rhyming for kids. http://www.gokidding.com/Language.htm

Sesame Street Coloring pages, for learning the alphabet.
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/sesamestreet/coloringpages/

IATEFL Young Learner’s Interest Group Site. This is a huge, annotated list of resources for teachers of children. Definitely worth the time to explore. (Note that it is color-coded by age group). http://www.countryschool.com/ylsig/

Longman’s Young Learner’s Page. A commercial site for Longman’s products, with several excellent free resources and activities. http://www.longman.com/young_learners/teachers/index.html
F. More for Kids:
Phonics and Stories on Line. Many to choose from, with sound and simple animation for various elementary grades. http://www.beenleigss.eq.edu.au/requested_sites/sounds/

PBS Kids. Exceptionally high quality songs, video, animation and games. http://pbskids.org/

Kizclub. A Korean English language site you’re probably familiar with, including stories, phonics, pictures, and crafts. http://kizclub.com/Sbody.html

Korea Englishtown. A nice assortment of children’s songs with motions and video. Also tongue twisters and a few video scripts.
http://korea-englishtown.net/fun1.php

Yahoo Kids. Another wonderful Korean site you’re probably familiar with, including wonderful animation and simple language for young children. http://kr.play.kids.yahoo.com/eng/

G. For Further Research
Designing Your Own Web Activities: Working the Web for Education, by Tom March. A very readable introduction to creating your own websites, it also includes many ready-to-use examples.

http://www.web-and-flow.com/help/formats.asp
H. Independent Exploration:

MAKE A CHOICE!
We began this workshop by talking about making choices. We all agree that the Internet is a vast and amazing resource, but remember: You can’t use it until you choose it. So, right now, before this workshop ends, choose a website that you want to use in your classes, as soon as you get home. Copy the URL (web address), and send it off in an email to yourself. Finally, be ready to tell the class about your choice.


Summarized by Ahmed Sa’d Ad-Deen asap8engg@gmail.com
The Syrian Group
(P4T) UD Summer 2007