Best practices in using technology in ESL instruction

1. www.nvcc.edu/workforce

2. EDUC 1754:
Using Technology in ESL
American Culture & Language Institute, TESOL Certificate Program
Northern Virginia Community College
www.nvcc.edu/workforce

3. Overview
• Discuss the types of mobile and webbased technology used in ESL.
• Explore the benefits of using technology to
engage students.
• Share examples of student work.
• Complete a 10-minute mini lesson using
technology.
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4. Reflection
• What kinds of mobile technology do you use
most often?
– To relax
– To learn
– To communicate
– To teach
• What challenges have you experienced, or
anticipate, using technology in ESL instruction?
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5. Why use technology in ESL?
• Promote collaborative and self-directed
learning
• Provide instruction in digital literacy
• Engage students with mobile course
content outside of the classroom
• Allow students to create, edit, and share
their own content
• Use devices students use recreationally
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6. Podcasts
• Present authentic, theme-based listening
• Bookmark content for later listening
• Allow sharing via social networks
• Provide an outlet for student-created
content
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7. Podcasts (cont.)
• Free podcasts grouped by themes:
– www.thisamericanlife.org
– www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home
– www.cdlponline.org
www.nvcc.edu/workforce

8. Online Courses
•
•
•
•
Make learning mobile
Make learning free!
Allow sharing via social networks
NOVA on iTunesU:
www.nvcc.edu/current-students/technology/itunesu/
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9. YouTube
• Utilize pop culture familiar to students
• Present authentic, theme-based,
supplemental listening/viewing
• Focus on a specific speech act:
describe, debate, explain, sing, etc.
• Search, save, and share content
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10. Blogs
• Present authentic, theme-based,
supplemental reading
• Promote connection to content outside of
class
• Provide an authentic reason for writing
• NOVA blogs:
www.nvcc.edu/about-nova/blogs/index.html
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11. Blogs (cont.)
• Free blogging sites:
– www.wordpress.com
– www.tumblr.com
– www.blogger.com
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12. Facebook
• Update students on current departmental
news and activities.
– www.facebook.com/ACLIManassas
• Conduct polls for research.
• Post videos or links for students to comment
on.
• Utilize a familiar environment students use
recreationally.
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13. Facebook (cont.)
• Creating a closed Facebook group
provides the following benefits to learning:
– Foster classroom community.
– Collaborate on projects outside of class.
– Create a space for students to connect after
they return home.
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14. Texts
• Replicate spoken exchanges in writing
• Foster collaborative research and
information sharing in real time
• Organize and share information via hash
tags: #edchat, #edtech, #esltech, #esl
– https://twitter.com/#!/search/edchat
www.nvcc.edu/workforce

15. Student-Created Content
• Encourage greater output: speaking/
writing
• Allow space for more negotiation of
meaning
• Promote self & peer evaluation during
viewing
• Celebrate student-created content
• Provide authentic content for future
classes
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16. Student Examples
• Giving Advice
– YouTube video as input:
http://youtu.be/ozHBcFZIMh8
– Student-created version:
http://youtu.be/Lr7klHcB8w4
• Rapping the Benefits of NOVA
– YouTube video as input:
http://youtu.be/4T1RMuoQnKo
– Student-created version:
http://youtu.be/-fttmF1Dn-8
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17. Space for Peer Review
• Peer feedback on student-generated
introduction videos:
– “Her pronunciation was pretty good. She
spoke slowly and clearly.”
– “She used eye-contact while she's saying, but
it's not often. She still looks at the note.”
– “It will help the conversation between the
speaker and the listener that is more exciting.”
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18. Mobile Devices
• College apps enable students to:
– Look up homework
– Complete homework and post on Bb
– Communicate with staff
– Provide campus-wide information in a mobile
format
– www.nvcc.edu/future-students/app/index.html
www.nvcc.edu/workforce

19. Put it into Practice
• In pairs, choose the following:
– One theme: health, economics, science,
school, etc.
– One type of media to teach the topic: iTunes U,
Podcasts, YouTube, etc.
– One passive skill (listening/reading)
– One active skill (speaking/writing)
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20. Put it into Practice (cont.)
• Combine the media & skills to teach a
10 minute mini lesson.
• Teach us something using technology!
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21. Useful Links
• How to blog using Wordpress.com
– http://learn.wordpress.com
• How to tweet using Twitter
– www.which.co.uk/technology/computing/guides/
how-to-use-twitter/writing-your-first-tweet/
• How to create a closed Facebook group
– https://www.facebook.com/about/groups/
www.nvcc.edu/workforce