A basic presentation on the importance of multimedia and the necessity of using websites and tools that help incorporate it.

1. MULTIMEDIA AND ELT
University of Caldas - Master’s program in English
didactics
Yamith José Fandiño - Manizales, Colombia

2. CALL E-Learning B-Learning
A form of computer-based
learning that allows
bidirectional learning and
individualized learning.
A specific mode to attend a
course or program of study
where the students study
online.
An approach that combines
face-to-face instruction
with computer-mediated
instruction.

3. Introduction
 Multimedia offers great teaching and learning opportunities as an educational tool to
be used in our classes of foreign languages, and combined with more traditional
methodologies, promotes much more effective and meaningful learning.
 There are many resources and materials on the Net for teachers and learners of
foreign languages, but the purposeful selection of these resources and materials has
to be taken into account.
 Teachers can also create multimedia-based materials, which can be adapted and
contextualized to the needs of their students.

4. The use of multimedia technology in
teaching
 Multimedia refers to computer-based interactive applications that use both
the hardware and so€ftware, allowing people to share their ideas and
information. It is a combination of text, graphics, animation, video and
sound.
 The systematic use of audio, visual, and animation can play a positive role in
improving activities and initiatives of students and teaching effect in the
classrooms.
 The premise should be to incorporate new technologies in lesson and
assessment planning without taking over the role of the teacher and without
limiting the functions of traditional teaching methods.

5. Advantages of the use
 Motivates Students to Learn English
Multimedia, with the help of audio, visual and animation effects, motivates the students to
learn English quickly and effectively.
 Develops Students' Communicative Competence
Multimedia helps students understand the structure, meaning and function of the language in
an integrated way.
 Widens Students' Knowledge about the Culture of English
Multimedia offers students more information than textbooks, and helps them be familiar with
cultural backgrounds and real-life language materials.
 Improves Teaching Efficiency
Multimedia breaks the teacher-centered traditional teaching method as it allows teachers to
find ways to create more real-life environment for English teaching.

6. Advantages of the use
 Enhances Interaction among Students and between Teachers and Students
Multimedia can create a context for the exchange of information among students and
between teachers and students, emphasizing "student engagement in authentic,
meaningful interaction.
 Creates a Conducive Teaching Environment in the Classrooms
Multimedia can make the language class lively and interesting, which motivates
students to participate in the classroom activities.
 Provides Opportunities for English Teaching outside the Classrooms
Multimedia provides time and space for expanding activities out of the classroom
through asynchronous tools, such as e-mail or conferencing systems.

7. Disadvantages of the use
 Emphasis on the Supplementary of Effective Teaching
If teachers become dependent on multimedia in their teaching, they may turn into slaves to
technology and will not be able to play the key role as facilitators.
 Lack of Communication between Teachers and Students
The overuse of multimedia may replace the interaction and dialogue between teachers and
students that takes places when the class works issues such as pronouncing words, or
comprehending sentences.
 Loss of Students' Logical thinking
Multimedia helps students understand contents easily, but it may hinder or affect their
development of knowledge from perceptual recognition to rational apprehension.
 Expensive Way of Conducting Language Classes
Multimedia demands investment in hardware, software, staffing, and training.

8. Recommendations
 Teachers Should Play the Leading Role in Teaching,
 Teachers Should Not Consider the Computer Screen as a Blackboard or Whiteboard
 Teachers Should Encourage Students to Use their Own Mind and Speak More
 Teachers Should Use All Possible Teaching Aids and Techniques
 Teachers Should not Overuse Multimedia Technology
The main purpose of using multimedia technology in language teaching is to promote
students’ motivation and learning interest in the English language.
The utilization of multimedia technology should aim at improving students’ thinking,
communication and practical language skills.

9. Multimedia resources on the Net
Over 1,500 flashcard images, hundreds of
worksheets, crafts, games, jobs and lots more.
ESL stuff for kids including flashcards, worksheets,
classroom games and children's song lyrics.
Free resources for teachers of young learners: flashcards,
worksheets, handouts, phonics cards, ESL games,
printable certificates, printable stickers and activities all
ready for printing.

10. LearnEnglish-Kids is for children who are learning
English. Find games, songs, stories and lots of
activities. British Council
A fun study site for learners of English as a Second
Language. Word games, puzzles, quizzes, exercises,
slang, proverbs and much more.
Free resources with no registration required.
Printable ESL Worksheets, Games for ESL Classrooms,
EFL Videos, PPT Lessons Videos, Interactive Kids
Vocabulary & Grammar Quizzes, Powerpoint downloads
for English teaching and learning.
Multimedia resources on the Net

11. LearnEnglish Teens can help improve your English with
reading, writing and listening practice, tips for exams,
grammar and vocabulary exercises, games and videos.
ESLvideo.com provides educational resources for English as a
Second Language Students to improve their listening,
speaking, grammar, and vocabulary skills.
There are quizzes, word games, word puzzles, proverbs,
slang expressions, anagrams, a random-sentence generator
and other computer assisted language learning activities.
Multimedia resources on the Net
All of the ideas, materials and lesson plans in this
section aim to inspire and engage teenage learners
of English and activate learning across all four
skills.
Free downloadable materials for teachers.

12. Lesson plans, tips and suggestions for teaching
children.
The resource bank for CLIL Teachers.
ESL / EFL. Primary and Secondary Education.
Multimedia resources on the Net
Pictures to colour.
Free colouring pages, games, jigsaw puzzle

13. Free website for learners and teachers of English.
The internet place for ESL+EFL teachers and students around
the world.
English-Zone.com
Multimedia resources on the Net

14. Online tools
A Blog is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual
with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other
material such as graphics or video. (example 1 , example 2)
Wikis are simple web pages that groups, friends, and families can
edit together. They are fast, free and easy to use. (example)
YouTube is a video sharing website on which users can upload
and share videos. It can be used with educational purposes, as an
educational tool.

15. A podcast is an audio file that you download from the
Internet. After you download it, you can listen to it on your
computer or on an MP3/portable music player (for
example, an iPod or iRiver). You can subscribe to a
podcast so that it is delivered to you automatically each
day, just like a newspaper.
Delicious is a social bookmarking web service for storing,
sharing, and discovering web bookmarks.
Online tools

16. Software
A set of computer applications that are used for carrying out different types of
educational activities: puzzles, associations, text exercises, crosswords... The
activities are not usually used alone, but packed in projects.
Hot Potatoes includes six applications, enabling you to create interactive multiple-
choice and short-answer activities (JQuiz), jumbled-sentence exercises (JMix),
crosswords or puzzles (JCross), matching/ordering exercises (JMatch), gap-fill
exercises (JCloze), and The Masher, which compiles all the Hot Potatoes exercises into
one unit. Hot Potatoes is freeware.
It’s used for the elaboration of multimedia activities. It includes video, text, animations
and audio. Some activities that can be done are: interactive tales, presentations, didactic
units, simple games, electronic magazines.
It is an authoring computer tool designed to create multimedia and interactive didactic
units to be used by learners as a means to practice their learning skills in technological
environments.

17. Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing
sounds. (very easy to use)
The Teacher's Pet toolbar is a unique add-on for your word
processor that can transform any text into fun classroom
activities. Created by a teacher, the toolbar can make
crosswords, bingo cards, jumbles, word search puzzles,
flashcards, cloze tests, pair-matching puzzles and much more.
Phonmap makes it easy to write/represent spoken words in
'phonemic script' without having to search through large font
tables.
Software

18. Create, share, embed and collaborate on interactive, visually
engaging timelines that integrate video, audio, images, text, links,
social media, location and timestamps.
A simple web tool that empowers anyone to create and share
powerful visuals (infographics, posters).
A presentation tool for both teachers and students.
Other useful websites
Easily create colorful mind maps to print or share with others.
You can use it to organize what comes to your mind: concept
maps, network diagrams, workflows, etc.
It creates animated presentations and videos. Free and
amazing.

19. Create any type of survey—from simple to sophisticated—
with our powerful and easy-to-use survey builder.
Create, embed, and share your own quizzes.
Drag, Drop and Delight. Simply upload your document
and we’ll convert it to display beautifully everywhere.
Other useful websites
Create and print customized word search, criss-cross,
math puzzles, and more-using your own word lists.
A toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide.

20. References
Milán, M. (2008). The use of ICT in the Teaching and Learning of
EFL/ESL. Retrieved from http://anae.biz/download/ICT_EFL.pps
Pun, M. (2013). The use of multimedia technology in English
language teaching: a global perspective. Crossing the border:
International journal of interdisciplinary studies, 1(1), 29-38.