OMLTA Handout- Integrating Technology into the Language Classroom
1. OMLTA Spring 2010 Conference- INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO THE LANGUAGE CLASSROOM
BARB HIRSCH, NORTH PARK SECONDARY SCHOOL, PDSB
barbara.hirsch@peelsb.com
AUDACITY (free audio recorder)
Recording and saving
1) Ensure that microphone volume is up before recording (top right hand corner of Audacity screen).
2) Click on record (red circle button) to begin recording.
3) Click on yellow square to stop.
4) When saving, files are automatically saved as Audacity files (.aup).
5) Most programs will not accept that as a valid sound file to upload, therefore you must click on File Export
as WAV or Export as MP3 and save to your desired location.
Listening:
Spanish- http://newsinslowspanish.com/home.php
Weekly newscasts in (yes, you guessed it!) a slow-paced Spanish. Free content, but can subscribe for more
content and access to more resources.
Spanish- www.audiria.com
Variety of short podcasts in Spanish, usually with accompanying gap fill exercises, listening comprehension
questions, sentence ordering.
Spanish- http://www.notesinspanish.com/spanish-audio/
Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced level podcasts on topics and grammar. Sometimes with mini exercises
integrated within.
Spanish- http://www.spanishnewsbites.com/
Accompanied by transcripts, include short comprehension exercises.
Spanish- http://text-to-speech.imtranslator.net/
Type text, reads it back in decent accent.
Spanish- http://lewebpedagogique.com/hispadictos/
Podcasts on various topics.
French- http://web.mac.com/sanferminuk/Advanced_Level_Listening/French_/Archive.html
Variety of topics accompanied by listening comprehension questions.
French- www.languageguide.org/francais
Vocabulary sound bites on multitude of topics.
Multilingual- http://text-to-speech.imtranslator.net/
Type text, reads it back in a number of languages with a decent accent.
Creating podcasts
www.audacity.com
Free downloadable programme to record yourself.
www.podomatic.com
Create a podcast and store on their site, must register first.
2. OMLTA Spring 2010 Conference- INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO THE LANGUAGE CLASSROOM
www.mypodcast.com
Create and store podcast, must register first.
www.podcastmachine.com
Free storage of up to 1GB for your podcasts per registered user. More with paid subscription.
www.potionfactory.com/voicecandy
15 day trial. $12.95 to purchase. Allows to record your voice with 8 different effects (Darth Vader, chipmunk,
etc.), could offer students great amusement !
Speaking:
www.wikispaces.com
Can include voice recordings.
www.voicethread.com
Students can record opinions, stories, etc. related to an
uploaded image or video.
www.blabberize.com
Add a voice over to a picture.
Reading:
www.puzzlemaker.com
Free site allows you to make word searches, crosswords, and other useful vocabulary related games.
Spanish- http://cvc.cervantes.es/aula/lecturas/
Inicial, intermedio y avanzado, but in my opinion quite advanced.
Multilingual- http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/news/language/other.shtml
Somtimes reading accompanied by audio track.
Multipurpose sites :
www.languagesonline.org.uk
Excellent site for online vocabulary and grammar practise and short readings. Great for the ICT suite.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize
French, Spanish: excellent site with something for each of the 4 skills
http://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/Curriculum/modlang/index_teaching.htm
French, Spanish, Italian, German: 35 video quizzes on various topics, podcasts, exercises
http://www.sunderlandschools.org/mfl-sunderland/resources.htm
French, Spanish, German, Italian: various
http://tre.ngfl.gov.uk
All kinds of resources made by other teachers.
www.tes.co.uk/resources
Resource bank for all subjects.
3. OMLTA Spring 2010 Conference- INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO THE LANGUAGE CLASSROOM
Writing:
www.goanimate.com
Create multi scene comic strip on any subject. Add voice recording as well.
www.edu.glogster.com
Create posters with any kind of information you want.
www.wordle.net
Create word clouds.
http://web.nmc.org/5cardstory/play.php
5 card flickr, random picking of 5 photos, have students try to write a story using them as inspiration, or you
could even make it a speaking activity.
www.animoto.com
Limited to 30 seconds. Turns pictures into video productions, can add text to tell a story. Paid subscriptions
available for longer productions.
http://www.imagechef.com/ic/word_mosaic/
Similar to wordle, can make “cute” shapes with text.
www.piclits.com
Photo background, you write on top. Can be saved on site. (poetry, story based on picture)
French videos:
www.pubstv.com www.culturepub.fr
French advertisements French adverts
http://www.curiosphere.tv/
French videos from around the world
Animation:
www.goanimate.com
Animations, with sound.
www.toondoo.com
Animations, no sound.
www.memoov.com
Animations, no sound.
Saving youtube files:
www.zamzar.com
www.keepvid.com
www.kickyoutube.com
http://nikpeachey.blogspot.com/2010/01/cropping-youtube-videos-to-create.html
Cropping youtube videos to use only the parts that you really need.
4. OMLTA Spring 2010 Conference- INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO THE LANGUAGE CLASSROOM
Slideshow/Videomaking:
www.stupeflix.com
Make 1 minute videos and store.
www.flixtime.com
Turns your photos and videos into 1 minute videos.
www.slideroll.com
Create photo slideshows.
www.photopeach.com
Create photo slideshows with music.
iMovie
Photostory
Windows Movie Maker
Digital camera- Nowadays, most of these come with a video option. Easily uploaded to a computer and manipulated.
Bits and bobs:
www.flickr.com/creativecommons
Licensed photos for public use.
http://www.magixl.com/heads/cliparts.php
Caricatures (face only) of celebrities
http://www.cameroid.com
Takes your picture and allows you turn into fun looking images.
Twitter?
http://www.frenchteachers.org/technology/Twitter.pdf
Article on use of Twitter in the French classroom
http://hcmc.uvic.ca/clipart/
Collection of clipart.
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/
Rubric maker
http://docspal.com
Converts numerous file types when your computer doesn’t have
the necessary programs.
www.sketchcast.com
Sketch something and record voiceover. Useful in language class….
who knows?!