Online Material for English Classes

There is a wide variety with material for English classes on line. They can address to learners of various ages or levels.

1) Super Simple Songs for kids. Available on the URL: http://www.supersimplesongs.com/

(available from: http://www.supersimplesongs.com/)

This site contains a collection of simple English songs for children or even young learners or beginners. It combines audio, visual and typed material, which can be used in different ways.

Songs can be a very usefully material for language learning. They can be used in teaching vocabulary, grammar and cultural elements in an interesting and amusing way.

In fact, especially for adult learners, it can also be useful in other ways too, such as integrating activities. For example, it can familiarize them with buying material on-line too, which itself might have to do with English learning too. This happens as it introduces relevant vocabulary among with other social issues.

2) English Geography. Available on the URL: http://www.geographic.org/geography/geography.html

(available from: http://www.geographic.org/geography/geography.html)

This site refers to young learners or beginners too. It is mainly about English Geography, which again can be combined with English language and culture. Moreover, by studying texts, grammar and vocabulary can be enhanced too.

Assessment might include writing about our country or maybe text analysis.

3) Lesson plans. Available on the URL: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/mother-goose-nursery-rhymes/

(available from: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/mother-goose-nursery-rhymes/)

The particular website addresses mainly to English language teachers who can find here a variety of material for lesson planning.

The lesson plans available may have to do with English or even integrating English with other subjects. The learners may be of a variety of users, as far as their age, level of English proficiency or interests are concerned.

4) Youtube. Available on the URL: http://www.youtube.com/

(Available from http://www.youtube.com/)

What makes the particular webpage very useful is its popularity, which increases its practicability.

The learners who can benefit from such a webpage may be of intermediate or upper level. The teachers who use youtube as material can find audio or video material of various areas of interest, which can make the lesson plan and activities more flexible.

Teachers might show a video of news, music, TV show and focus on grammar, vocabulary, cultural elements and many other things. This website can also familiarize the learners with the process and vocabulary of downloading or uploading.

Assessment might focus on analysis or discussion around a piece of video or audio or even publishing a comment in the target language.

5) Tripadvisor. Available on the URL: http://www.tripadvisor.com/

(Available from: http://www.tripadvisor.com/)

Another popular website. It mostly refers to people of intermediate level or higher and interested in journeys and meeting new places.

As with Youtube, teachers can find in this website can come up find audio or video material or typed material.

Teachers might show the learners description of sights, hotels, places. These can be opportunities to learn about grammar, vocabulary, writing and other things. It may also familiarize them with the process and vocabulary of booking a hotel online, a very popular activity nowadays.

Assessment might include analysis or discussion around a comment or description or even publishing a comment or description of a particular hotel, place or sight in the target language.

6) British Broadcasting Corporation – BBC. Available on the URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk

(Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk)

As with youtube and tripadvisor, BBC is a very popular website. It contains articles, information and materials around many different topics, presented in texts, audio or video material.

Teachers might take articles to teach grammar, vocabulary, writing and other things..

Assessment again can involve analysis or discussion around a comment or description or even publishing a comment or personal experience in the ‘have your say’ section.

In short, there are many websites, popular or not, that can be used as material resources for English classes. The teacher has to be flexible and creative enough to come up with different resources in order to benefit in lesson planning and effective teaching (Loveless & Ellis, 2001; Fisher, Higgins & Loveless, 2006).

References:

Ellis, V. & Loveless, A., (2001). ICT, Pedagogy and the Curriculum. London: Routledge / Falmer, Taylor & Francis Group.

Fisher, T., Higgins, C. & Loveless, A. (2006) Teachers Learning with Digital Technologies: A review of research and projects Bristol: Futurelab, Available online: www.futurelab.org