MAILVU

WHAT IS MAILVU

This is another useful website for language teaching. MailVU is a website where users can record a video message and e-mail it to anyone. This tool could be used for 'connected classroom'. The 'connected classroom' refers to the idea that what the students do in the classroom should relates to their homework.

AGE AND LEVEL OF LEARNERS 
# Age of learners - fifteen to seventeen years old
# Level of learners - All level of learners


HOW TO USE MAILVU
# It is very simple. Firstly, go to MailVU website. HERE is the link. Below is the caption of MailVU webpage:

MailVU webpage

# Then, click the record button to start. Click allow to use camera and microphone. (Reminder: your computer need to have webcam)
# Once you are happy with your recording, you can e-mail it to anyone.
# You can click HERE for the tutorial in suing MailVU.


EXAMPLE OF MAILVU
# Below is the link to a video recording that I have made using MailVU tool:
My Important Dates


SUGGESTION OF ACTIVITES 
There are few example of activities:

1. Teacher could use MailVU to teach about past tense. Firstly, teacher can draw a timeline with few dates on it. Then, students can freely asks teacher about what happen in each dates. After this activity has finished, students can draw their timeline and do the same activity with their partner. As the homework, teacher can asks students to use MailVU to record themselves speaking about their own timeline and send it to the teacher. In return, the teacher may use MailVU as well to give feedback to the students. This activity creates personalisation since students can freely talk about themselves. This could be a motivation for them to speak more and eventually would improve their speaking skill.
2. Another possible activity is using MailVU to promote an item. For this activity, students need to promote a product (they are allowed to choose a product) for a food product. Then, using MailVU, they would record themselves speaking and promotes the items. After that, they may send it to their teacher and the teacher give feedback for them. As for this activity, the students can practise the persuasive form of language.
3. This tool could also be used for debate activity - For example, the teacher give a topic to the student. The example of topic could be 'should students wear uniform to school'. Then, they would discuss and list all the points of for and against this topic in the classroom. As the homework, the students work in pairs, do a debate and record it using MailVU and e-mail it to their teacher. This activity could enhance the students' high order thinking skills such as evaluating and analysing since they need these skills to defend and rebut the points for the debate. In addition, it would also develop their communicative skills since it involves the participation of two people.

*All the activities promote autonomous learning since the students need to do them by themselves at home and without teacher guidance*

*Using this tool as a homework would also lower the students' affective filter. This is because most of the students usually feel shy to speak or present live in the classroom. However, using this tool, they can do it at home and slowly built their confidence to speak.*

*It accommodate the verbal learners since those activities mainly requires students to speak*

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MAILVU

1. It is free!
2. It could be used to support the connected classroom activities - it can get the students to practise the language at home 
3. It is user friendly - Very easy to use, just in three steps. 
4. Promote personalisation and autonomous learning 
5. If the users sign up to this website, they can delete and save their recording 
6. User can get the feedback or reply using MailVU as well

WHAT I DISLIKE ABOUT MAILVU

1. The free trial account is only for fourteen days. 
2. Can't embed your videos unless you sign up
3. The recording is limited to 10 minutes per recording for free users. 
4. Need to have webcam to do the recording 

# Another alternative tool for MailVU is KEEK       

PODCAST - AUDIOBOO

WHAT IS AUDIOBOO

Audioboo is a website in which allow users to make recording and podcast and post and share it with others. The recording will link to Audioboo website itself, facebook, twitter, youtube as well as itunes. Users can add image and location of where they record their 'boo'. Recently, users can download the Audioboo application for smartphone; Iphone, Android and Nokia. So, if students have smartphone, they can just record and send it using their phone! This is amazing!

AGE AND LEVEL OF LEARNERS

# Age of learners - thirteen and above. It is not really suitable for primary school learners as this tool is more into speaking and it involves less visual. This would make younger learners not interested in using this tool

# Level of learners - All levels including beginner, intermediate or advanced.

HOW TO USE AUDIOBOO
# Go to the Audioboo Webpage

# Get yourself an account  - just need to fill in e-mail address, user name and password
# Check your email to verify your Audioboo account
# Click 'make a recording/upload file
# For full tutorial on how to use Audioboo, you may click HERE


EXAMPLE OF PODCAST MADE USING AUDIOBOO
This is an example of 'boo' that I've made. It is about 'How to find happiness'.

SUGGESTION OF ACTIVITES

In my opinion, this tool is suitable for 'connected classroom'. In other words, this tool connects what the students to in the classroom with the homework given by the teacher. Few examples of how this tool could be used for teaching are:

1.  The teacher could teach about future tense. The teacher talks about her future plan such as she will get married, she will further her studies etc. Then, the teacher elicit the structure of future tense from the students. After that, the students work in pair and talk about their future plans with their partner. As the homework, the students need to record themselves speaking using Audioboo. They need to talk about their future plans.
2.  Another possible activity is in pairs, the students prepare an interview. The interview could be about what the teacher had taught in the classroom, for example, about future plans. This activity could lead to collaboration between to students and it provides information gap. Thus, at the same time, it provides the reasons for the students to speak.
3.  The teacher could also asks the students to record themselves telling a story. For example, the teacher can asks the students to write a story. They can choose to write any story that they like. Then, as the homework, they need to record themselves telling the story that they wrote in the class. This activity is like killing two birds with one stone - students can practise their writing and after that, they can practise their speaking.

HOW DOES IT RELATES WITH LANGUAGE LEARNING

1. Audioboo provides real audience for the learners. This is because this as the students record themselves speaking using this tool, their recording could be viewed by the people all around the world. 
2. Audioboo also reflect Krashen's idea about comprehensible input ( i+1 theory) where students need to be taught with input which is slightly higher than their current knowledge. In this situation, the teacher already give some input in the classroom and the students need to some extra activity as their homework. The extra activity is considered as the input which is higher that their current knowledge.
3. Using this tool could also motivate the students to speak. Some of the students might feel shy to speak in front the classroom. However, with this tool, they can practise their speaking even at home and the teacher still can access and give feedback about their speaking.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT AUDIOBOO

1. It is FREE - you just need to register.
2. It has few good features such as 'follow people' and 'link to other platform'
3. Students get the chance to communicate with the real world - they can receive feedback/comments from others as well as comments on others' podcast
4. Can embed it to your blog or website
5. The website is clearly organised. Thus, it is user friendly

PROBLEMS WITH AUDIOBOO

1. Only 3 minutes recording for free plan -  if you want it longer, you have to pay
2. The link to Twitter and Facebook could be a distraction for the students
3. Need internet connection and microphone in order to do the recording. 
4. The recording is viewed globally (through twitter, itunes and youtube). Therefore, there is no privacy for the users. 

WORDLE

WHAT IS WORDLE
It is a tool to generate 'words clouds' from a text. This tool could be used for analysing and visualising a text. The clouds will show the most frequent words in larger font size and the less frequent words in smaller size. 

AGE AND LEVEL OF LEARNERS
# Age of learners - Eleven years old and above (at this age, students are expected to be able to analyse a text)
# Level of learners - All levels be it lower, intermediate or advanced


HOW TO USE WORDLE
# Go to the Wordle Website 

# Paste your text in the box provided and click 'Go' (You need to install Java Player to view your Wordle)
# Then, your paste text will appear in which the most common words will be in the biggest font size
# You may change its language, font, layout and colour
# You also can randomise the words based on your preference (a lot of choice are available)

# You can save your Wordle in the public gallery and in the future, if you wish to delete it, you may do so (but remember to save the URL provided!)

EXAMPLE OF WORDLE
Below is an example of the text cloud that I have made using Wordle. The text is a short story entitled 'Hansel and Gretel'.

Example 1: 

Example 2: 

SUGGESTION OF ACTIVITIES
Few suggestion of activities in using Wordle for language teaching:

1. Pre-reading activity to activate prior knowledge - Teacher can paste the reading text in Wordle and show it to the students. Then, teacher asks the students to guess what the text is about.
2. Elicit speaking - Teacher shows a word cloud and asks the students to give their own opinion about the text. Students may talk about: what the text is about, key points in the text etc. Another option could be that the students work in group and use Wordle for a basis of discussion. 
3. In writing essay - students write a draft of an essay then, they can paste their draft and analyse their writing. They can see what are the most words or phrases that they tend to use and it can also help to spot cliche.
4.  Could also be used to summarise big ideas of a chapter or passage of a text. For this activity, the teacher could ask the students to work in pairs and use Wordle to summarise the text. Then, some students need to present their summary.  

*Some of the activities provided would develop collaborative learning since they need to work in group and discuss some of the ideas. In addition, this would enhance the students' speaking skill*

*Using Wordle is parallel with constructivism approach in which learners learn knowledge by constructing their own understanding of what they have learnt. This refers to Activity 1, 2 and 4.*

WHY USE WORDLE

1. It is FREE!
2. Print version is available - so, you can print it
3. Could be used for both colour lovers or colour blinders (the Wordle available in black and white as well as coulourful)
4. Suitable for visual learners especially
5. It can enhance students to speak 
6. Creative way to present ideas or key points
7. Develop critical thinking skills - use Wordle to analyse main ideas, make predictions and to critique and revise essays. 

PROBLEM(S) WITH WORDLE

1. Wordle has a very short memory of the image that it creates - If you forgot to save your Wordle and you open a new image, the image of the old one will lose. 

MY BRAINSHARK

WHAT IS MY BRAINSHARK
It is a free web tool that enable users to create, store and share multimedia presentation (including powerpoints, videos and photo albums). Then, users can add audio in their presentation.

AGE AND LEVEL OF LEARNERS
# Age of learners - Fifteen and above because this tools is quite complicated (need to prepare presentation, record your audio)
# Level of learners - suitable for intermediate and advanced students


HOW TO USE MY BRAINSHARK 
Go to this webpage: My Brainshark Website

Then, you need to sign up - need to include few information such as username and e-mail address.You can start to upload content - there are five choices available; add voice to powerpoint, narrate a    document, upload a video, make a photo album and produce a podcast

Add voice to your content (if you wish to). Finally,you can embed your presentation in your blog or sent it to others. 

For step by step instruction in using My Brainshark, you may refer to this website: 

My Brainshark Tutorial


EXAMPLE OF MY BRAINSHARK
This is an example a presentation made by me using My Brainshark:

SUGGESTION OF ACTIVITIES

1. Could be used for students to practice their speaking skill - Teacher asks students to make a power point presentation and add audio using My Brainshark and then show it in the classroom and teacher can also asks other classmates to comments on the presentation
2. Story telling activity - Students create a story and being as the narrator and present it in the classroom
3. Could also be used for a listening activities in which students listen to the presentation and at the same time, teacher can provide an activity during the while-listening and post-listening stage.
4. Ask students to upload the pictures by making it as a photo album and narrate it. The topic could be about 'My vacation' or 'My family'.

*Using this tool could help to reduce the students' affective filter. This is because, some of the students are very shy to speak in front of others. But, this tool would help the students to practise their speaking confidently because they do not have to speak in front of the class.*

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MY BRAINSHARK

1. Helps the students to practice their speaking skill
2. It is FREE
3. Can embed it to a blog or share it with friends or teachers
4. Useful for students who are afraid to speak in front of the class
5. Users can edit their presentation - in case they want to change their presentation 
6. Students can view others' presentation - available in the My Brainshark 
7. Can foster the learning development for communities - ideas can be exchanged freely. 
8. Autonomous learning - students can upload their own presentation at home and can get the feedback/comments from real audience
9. Students have real audience whom will view their presentation - this could be a motivation for them. 

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS 

1. Limited space to upload files -It is only up to 200MB
2. Needs internet connection whenever you want to view your presentation 
3. For the speaking activity, it might not suitable for the beginner whom has limited vocabulary and unable to speak using second language. 
4. Students does not engage in real presentation - real presentation usually requires students to speaks lively in front of others
5. Students might get inappropriate comments from viewers as their presentation could be seen by other from all over the world. 

BUBBLR AND BOOKR

WHAT IS BUBBLR AND BOOKR
Bubblr and Bookr are creative tool from PimPamPum. These tools allow people to create their own images strips generated from pictures that they can find in flickr. In Bubblr, people can drag images onto their strips and in each of the images, they can add speech or thought bubble. As for Bookr, it is more like a picture story books. It works the same ass Bubblr in which people can search the images from flickr and drag the picture on the book screen.

AGE AND LEVEL OF LEARNERS
# Age of learners - Twelve to fifteen years old (depending on stduents' language competency)
# Level of learners - Low and intermediate level of students - advanced students might feel bored using this tool since they can't use much language in it (they can just write one or two short sentences for each images)


HOW TO CREATE A STRIP USING BUBBLR AND BOOKR 
For Bubblr: 
Go to Bubblr Website and you will be directed to this page:

Then, go to the search box and type the topic/type of image that you want to search. Then, you can start drag the picture into the column provided and you can add bubble in the picture to describe the picture. The example is:

Finally, you can publish the image strip.

For Bookr: 
Go to Bookr Website and you will be directed to this webpage:

Then, type in the search box the picture that you are looking for. Drag down the picture into the book editor and you can write a description below the picture. Example is:

Finally, you can publish your book!


EXAMPLE OF STRIP MADE USING BUBBLR AND BOOKR
This one is the example of strip made using Bubblr:

This is the example of picture story book made using Bookr:

SUGGESTION OF ACTIVITIES

1.  Writing and speaking activity - The teacher can asks the students to use Bubblr or Bookr to write any story of their interest. It could be about their personal experience, their favourite holiday, food etc.They need to choose interesting pictures and put some description on it. The teacher may fix the number of pictures that they want them to put as well as the word length for their story. Then, if possible, they need to present their work in front of the class. 
2. This tool also suitable for teaching grammar form such as conditional form of 'if'. The teacher can use constructivism approach of learning for this activity. This means that the students need to construct the meaning of the knowledge on their own. In this activity, the teacher provides few example of sentences which includes conditional form and the teacher also includes attractive image which relate to the sentence. Then, the students need to try guess the form that teacher wants to teach and they also need to try to elicit the rules for this grammar form. I the students unable to guess, the teacher might need to give some guidance for them. 
3. Pre-teaching vocabulary items - The teacher can prepare the strip in advanced using Bubblr/Bookr to introduce a set of vocabulary. Then, the teacher can proceed with while-reading or while-listening activity. This would arouse the students interest as they can see the image which relates to the vocabulary presented. In addition, the teacher also put example of sentence which contain the vocabulary. 

*This website is highly recommended for those who prefer visual and linguistics learning styles. This is because this website provides a lot of images that the students choose and at the same time they can insert few sentences to describe the image* 

*This website also allows personalisation for the students. This is because in certain activities, the students are allowed to choose any topic on their preference and interest.*

*This website also provide a room for learning multiple skills such as writing, speaking and learning vocabulary* 

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BUBBLR AND BOOKR

1. It is FREE, public and does not require any account to be created. 
2. Easy to use 
3. Promote and develop creativity among students
4. A lot of choices for presentation and images
5. Fun way to present a variety of topic 
6. Could improve students' speaking skill - if they need to present their product
7. Fun and interesting for those who like visual
8. We do not break the copyright 
9. Suitable for language learning opportunity - they can enhance their writing skill as well as speaking skill if they need to present their work. 

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS 

1. The aim of the lesson might be diverted as students might search for inappropriate pictures. 
2. Distraction - too much images and sometimes, the picture can't fit in the page 
3. Can't resize the bubble in Bubblr and thus, it is not suitable for writing long sentences.
4. Time consuming in choosing the images since there are too many choices 
5. We can't edit our work 
6. Sometimes, the picture of our choice is not there. 
7. We don't really use the language - more likely to use chunks of words
8. Might not suitable to be used for advanced students because they might find this tool boring