This document provides an overview of free digital resources that can be used to enhance speaking activities in the foreign language classroom. It begins by stating the objectives of understanding available resources and how technology can strengthen speaking practices in and out of the classroom. A number of free voice, video, and presentation recording tools are then described that allow students to record and share speaking content individually or in groups for formative and summative assessment. The resources vary from straight voice recordings to social audio sharing to video, narration, and presentation tools. Embed codes are suggested to integrate student work into blogs and wikis.

1. Digitally Speaking
Free resources to enhance speaking in the
Foreign Language Classroom
ACTFL Annual Convention
Philadelphia, PA
November, 2012
Catherine Ritz
www.catherineritz.org
www.ritzyfrancais.blogspot.com
www.ritzyespanol.blogspot.com

2. Objectives:
– To have a general understanding of
available resources
– To understand how to enhance existing
classroom practices through the use of
technology
How can technology strengthen speaking
activities for my students in and out
of the classroom?
Why bother?

3. Why not?
• Increase use of whole language
• Emphasize communicative speaking goals
• Give more individualized speaking practice
to all students (especially for large
classes!)
• Make speaking fun!
• Transform homework assignments
• Update old language labs for free
• Add third dimension to projects
• Easier to personalize/differentiate
• Evidence of student progress in oral skills

4. New Teacher 101…
• Find out what your students’
interests are
• Guess what? They ALL love technology!

5. Think Communicative Goal
• Interpretive Communication
– The Interpretive Mode is characterized by the appropriate cultural
interpretation of meanings that occur in written and spoken form where
there is no recourse to the active negotiation of meaning with the writer
or speaker.
• Interpersonal Communication
– The Interpersonal Mode is characterized by active negotiation of meaning
among individuals. Participants observe and monitor one another to see
how their meanings and intentions are being communicated. Adjustments
and clarifications can be made accordingly.
• Presentational Communication
– The Presentational Mode is characterized by the creation of messages in a
manner that facilitates interpretation by members of the target culture
where no direct opportunity for the active negotiation of meaning exists.
*Definitions from AP French Language & Culture, Course & Exam Description
apcentral.collegeboard.com

6. Think Assessment
• Formative
– Do Nows
– Homework: quick check of student
understanding
– Smaller Project: incorporating various topics
being worked on in class
• Summative
– Part of a Test: complete in language lab, in
class, or at home
– Larger Project: a new layer to a longstanding
project

7. Think Standards
http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students.aspx

8. Think End User
How can technology strengthen
speaking activities for my students in
and out of the classroom?

9. Straight-Up Voice Recording
Set up free account with gmail.
Choose phone number and link
to your phone, then select
“Do Not Disturb.”
All calls go to your inbox and
can be “embedded” or played
online. App available.
Call me at 617-651-0483.
*You can also create groups and text your students!
(Check with your school on policies for having student cell phone
numbers, of course!)

12. Straight-Up Voice Recording
Free basic voice recording site.
No registration.
Students either email, Tweet,
copy link or get “embed code.”
No app.
*New feature: “Embed” vocaroo
in your site so students can
record without leaving your page.

14. Straight-Up Voice Recording
Free recording site designed
for musicians.
Create free account.
App available.
Can post sound to Twitter,
Facebook, email it or get
“embed”code.
Can leave written comments at
timed intervals on recording.
Create groups for each class.

17. Social (Interpersonal)
Voice Recording
Free social audio site
– like Twitter or FB
for audio – find
“friends” to follow
- can “comment” on
audio recordings.
- Link with Twitter
or other sites
- iPhone app.

21. Straight-Up Voice Recording:
for the Language Lab
www.audacity.sourceforge.net
www.mp3mymp3.com
Free download.
Free download.
Saves files as
MP3s.

22. Kooky Voice Recording
Free site where you can
upload a digital photo
and make it talk. Very
fun!
Students email “embed”
code or post on their
own blog.
App equivalent: Babblizer

25. Kooky Voice Recording
Free site where you
make an Avatar talk.
Can record voice or type
text and set accent.
Students email “embed”
code or post on their
own blog.
No app.

28. Narration-Voice Recording
Free site with restrictions
(or $1 per registration for
department).
Students create digital
narrations with text or
audio. Teachers and others
can comment.
Students email “embed” code
or post on their own blog.
App available.

31. Narration-Voice Recording
Free animation site for
individuals (pay for
school account).
Students can record
their voice or type text.
Students email “embed”
code or post on their
own blog.
No app.

34. Narration-Voice Recording
Free note-taking site that
allows for written notes, voice
notes (online, need to upload
audio recording, on phone, can
record directly!), and images.
Students email link to note,
or can Tweet!
App available.

36. Video Recording
Got cell phones in your
class? Use the cameras!
Send kids into the hall
to film. Use Splice to
put parts of the video
together, then upload
to YouTube (or email
if the file is small
enough). You can set
YouTube videos to
private so only you can
view them.

38. Video Recording
Create video messages
(up to 10 minutes) that
you email for free. Can
also get a public link of
the message, but it only
lasts 1 year! (Or you can
set to self-destruct!)
$5 to buy a widget to
place on your website
App available.

40. Presentation/Video/Voice
Recording
Create fun interactive
posters. Students can
record videos or sound
files on their computers,
then upload them to the
glog.
Can “embed” glogs on
other sites.
No app.

42. Presentation/Image/
Voice Recording
Take any image and
make it interactive.
With the use of
SoundCloud, you can add
audio (and with
YouTube, you can add
video)!
Can “embed” glogs on
other sites.
No app.

47. Interpersonal/Class Management
Voice Recording
Set up free “Groups” (i.e. class
accounts) in a Facebook-like feel.
- Chatrooms
- Video/audio posts & messages
- Share documents
- Conference calls
- Calendar
- To-Do list
- Poll students
- Create “sub groups” for
projects
App available.

52. Interpretive/Interpersonal
Voice Recording
http://lingtlanguage.com
Free for a limited number
of exercises, $79 per year
for unlimited use
Record prompts or add
videos/written questions,
and have students respond
orally or in writing
No registration required
for students

55. Class Management
Voice Recording
Online Language
Lab software.
Free for basics.
- Speaking
- Reading
- Listening
- Writing

59. Love the “Embed” Code!!
• Email embed code as homework, you
insert on Blog/Wiki
(use “HTML” editor)
• Student inserts embed code on a
Blog/Wiki

60. Publish their work!
• Blogger
– www.ritzyfrancais.blogspot.com
– www.ritzyespanol.blogspot.com
• Why Blog?
– Audience
– ADVOCACY!!

61. Resources from this presentation
• www.google.com/voice • www.evernote.com
• www.vocaroo.com • www.youtube.com
• www.soundcloud.com • www.mailvu.com
• www.audioboo.fm
• www.glogster.com
• www.audacity.sourcef
orge.net • www.thinglink.com
• www.mp3mymp3.com • www.wiggio.com
• www.blabberize.com • http://lingtlanguage.com
• www.voki.com
• www.schoolshape.com
• www.voicethread.com
• www.goanimate.com • www.blogger.com

62. Additional Resources/Contact
www.catherineritz.org
– Check out my Pinterest Boards
– Email me your creations and I’ll post on
my blog!
(catherineritz@gmail.com)
Questions? Discussion?
Thank you!