Video Apps to study English

As a foreign speaker of English or an English language student, we had better take all chances to improve and learn more.
One of the best ways is through videos. They enable us to observe intonation, facial expressions, gestures, current use of language, slang...
The Apps below have proved to be just what you need to practice anywhere!

This is an audio and video app from the British Council with lots of free features and also paid ones.
There's a great series of videos about cultural aspects of living in Great Britain called "Britain is Great" consisting of 8 free episodes.
The videos are short, interesting and come with subtitles and a support glossary. In my point of view this is really a cool and important feature for learners of English.
At the end of each video there's a quick test to check your understanding of what was shown.
I had a great time and could hardly wait to share this.
There are other videos available , such as "You're hired", a series of job interviews, hiring and firing situations. The first episode is free and for the rest there's a modest fee.
I personally recommend  getting acquainted with the app by using all free stuff available before actually buying a new feature.

The next video app is target to young learners and has classic stories as well as some new ones.

Classics such as "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and "Little Red Riding Hood"  beautifully illustrated and told.
It also features new short stories such as "The Monster Shopping Trip"and "My secret Team".
They can be part of a parent-kid  or one sibling telling  a younger one a bedtime story.
All stories have subtitles in English for better comprehension.
As a complement,there is a section for parents with articles on children development, learning English from childhood and practical tips.
Well, now it's up to you!
Download the apps, have a go and if you like, share this article so others can get to know about them. :-D
"Teaching & Learning should bring joy".

Teacher Raquel
       

                                 

Tired ? Renew the motivation to study

You've been studying English for some time and have gotten to the point when you feel really stressed out , right ?  

Firstly, ask yourself these questions:

* When did I start to study English ?

* What was my initial impulse and motivation ? Is this motivation still the same or is it different now ?

* In what situations can English be helpful in my life ?

Yeah, it is always important to reflect first !

Well, choose from the tips below the ones which are more suitable for you.

1) Small doses of the content you are studying, listening exercises , videos ... Call it homework then ! These follow up practices can guarantee you challenge your brain :)

Pam Sammons, a professor of education at Oxford University, said that time spent on homework reflected the influence of the school ...

"That's one of the reasons Indian and Chinese children do better. They tend to put more time in. It's to do with your effort as well as your ability.

http://www.education.ox.ac.uk/about-us/study-emphasises-value-of-doing-homework/

2) Separate a short but regular time to study. I strongly suggest setting a reminder in your smartphone agenda if possible.Suppose you study English twice a week, it's a good start to do this follow up at least during 10 - 15 minutes at least two other days during the week. 

3) You can also study using other resources such as apps that tell you short stories or revise vocabulary. Ideally choose the ones which can be downloaded for free and used offline.

Basic and Pre Intermediate Levels:

Speaking Pal App
Busuu English App

Intermediate & Upper:

Johnny Grammar_British Council App
Phrasal Verb Machine_Cambridge App

Advanced & Proficiency:
Below more details on apps which are suitable for a more experienced learner.
Apps for English Language Exams
Apps for the advanced learner

4) Take part in Cultural or Extra classroom activities in your school or if you are not currently in a language school , check out events that might be promoted by local language schools.
The main goal is to have students socialise and have fun with other language learners by using the foreign language. This can be an excellent opportunity for you !

5) Last but not least: Talk to your teacher.
Even if you missed classes or have doubts he / she can guide you with your studies J

Cheer up !

What do you think ?    
Please mention the two tips you like most in the comments below.

Irish Culture on Saint Patrick's day !

from website: http://nierocks.areavoices.com/2013/03/11/st-patricks-day/

St Patrick is one of Ireland's patron saints and many Americans with Irish ancestry remember him on March 17.

It is a public holiday in Northern Ireland.

The most common St Patrick's Day symbol is the shamrock or four-leaf clover. 

This plant is associated with good luck. 

Other symbols include:

Almost anything coloured green,
  

Brands of beer associated with Irish culture.

Other Irish-related symbols seen on St Patrick’s Day include the harp, which was used in Ireland for centuries, as well as the leprechaun and a pot of gold that the leprechaun hides.

On March 17th there are parades and the most famous ones are in Dublin (Ireland) and New York (The USA) , where many Irish descendants live.

Come take a look !  See and learn about Ireland and this typical celebration:

And .... How about a peek at an Irish mob dance? Such a fever in many places! Check it out :

Enjoy the Irish week :)

Cheers !

Teacher Raquel

Passive Voice_Game !

Hi guys !

I came across this cool on line basketball game on the subject of Passive Voice.
Yeah , I'm surprised too for it is a challenging topic.
How about learning and having some fun ?
You can play on your own or against another player.

The name of the game is Hoop Shoot, it's in the middle of the page.

Off we go, here's the link :

http://www.eslgamesworld.com/members/games/grammar/basketball/active%20vs.%20passive%20voice/active%20vs.%20passive%20voice.html


Way to go ESLgamesworld !

Have fun guys  :)

Teacher Raquel

Webinars : FAQs and considerations

webinars for teachers
www.informedteachers.blogspot.com.br

★  Webinar = A web based seminar or training where people from the different parts of the globe are able to connect  via a video classroom with slide integration and chatting.     


There is usually a team of tech professionals to help out with the sound , image and connection quality, to mediate the questions being asked, among other things.

■ Reasons to attend a webinar
The possibility of  exchanging experiences with colleagues from all over the globe is one thing, the fact you can attend a webinar even from home or any other place where a good internet connection is available are two key reasons from my point of view.

The interaction in a webinar is very dynamic, while watching the speaker and following the presentation slides one can also ask questions and clarify doubts which can be addressed during or right after the talk.

Meanwhile, there is a very intense exchange of ideas  from most of the participants via live chat.

■ My experience & tips
When I first heard of it, I must say I had no idea what to expect exactly. 
But my curious and investigative nature made me check it out.
Well, it took me a while to get used with all the resources offered, the layout, the number of participants interacting via chat  (on average about 200 - 300 people)
In case it's your first webinar, I'd recommend logging in at least 10 minutes before in order to familiarise with the interface.
Another thing: The webinars I took part were all hosted from England, so it's important to check the corresponding local time from where you are. 
This can be done by using a time zone converter:   http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
I must say that the lectures I've attended so far have given me precious professional insights as well as the opportunity to get to know colleagues from many parts of the globe and their diverse teaching scenario.

■ Giving it a try
I'd strongly recommend all the teachers, regardless of your teaching time experience to make an effort and see what is out there. 
We're living in such a fast changing world and the challenge of keeping up to date is latent. 
Also, how often do oversea teachers get the chance to hear from the authors of the books which are part of their everyday classroom practice ?

■ Useful webinar sites /  calendar
Below there are some trustworthy teacher development sites I have tried myself and I totally recommend.

Oxford University Press Webinars for teachers
http://www.cambridgeenglishteacher.org/webinar-resources
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/webinars/
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/webinars

If you feel like, do share your experience or ask questions about this topic  :)

Cheers ,

Teacher Raquel   

   

QR CODES_ My article for Oxford University Press blog

This is the link to another article I wrote sharing my positive experience with the use of QR Codes. It was published on the Oxford University Blog and I'm both happy and proud to share it here in my blog Informed Teachers where this experience  exchange started.
Cheers
=)
QR codes – using mobiles in the EFL classroom « Oxford University Press – English Language Teaching Global Blog @OUPELTGlobal

How can a busy teacher keep up with educational advances ?

Let's define the target audience for this post: busy teachers.
Many classes to prepare, papers with deadlines to correct, tests, meetings to go, among other things and also... a passion for teaching.
Can you relate ?
Yeah, most teachers such as myself have this drive for education and delivering a class that is truly meaningful to the students lives.
And it's not that we don't have fun or love our job, but the demands of a daily routine are tough. My point being: so many things to cope with and little time left.
So , how to keep updated with the latest educational news ?
A great way to go is to subscribe to major publisher's in order to receive their post and news. From my experience so far I recommend:
 Oxford University Press http://oupeltglobalblog.com/,
Cambridge University Press http://peo.cambridge.org/, there's also a great educational website, EmergingEdTech http://www.emergingedtech.com/about/.
Also, the major authors in English Language Teaching usually keep in touch with their audience via sites or blogs where they can share their findings and receive feedback from fellow teachers all over the globe.
And that's precisely where we come in : You and I, the everyday English language teachers , who work with a variety of levels and age-ranges on a daily basis. We have precious experience and collect valuable data on the effectiveness or need of improvement of any activity, approach or coursebook, to mention a few!
We have on our side the intense contact with our students ,and the fact we can measure their progress as an individual and within a group throughout the levels they course along a semester or a year.
So in order to be part of something bigger, to share our burdens but also precious findings, insights, experience... it's vital to belong to a group of professionals who seek similar goals.
The internet has made distances shorter , and enabled the contact between people who, otherwise, would most probably never have the chance to meet.
Food for thought :
Have you ever subscribed to a blog or website on English language teaching ?
Have you liked a Facebook account of a publisher or education-related site?
Have you ever taken part of a webinar ? (I shall go deeper into this topic in a future post)
These are some possibilities which can be easily incorporated to your busy routine and , who knows,can provide you with a great opportunity of learning and exchanging ideas!
I dare you spice up your teacher development routine, do something new!
We are not an island, the internet is our bridge to the world! Even if you live in a far away country , city, neighbourhood... It doesn't matter any longer.
Let's keep on walking, learning, progressing, moving forward !
You could also share your views and experience on the comments below, it's all about getting started .
Maybe this is the first step :-)
And all long walks start with a first step, right ?