5 Free Top-Rated Apps for ESL learning
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This presentation was developed for the TEAM conference in May 2016. In this session, we will look and explore 5 applications that can be used by ESL teachers and learners for a variety of activities: self-study, pair and group work or extend the learning beyond the classroom walls.
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5 Free Top-Rated Apps for ESL learning
- 1. 5 Free Top-Rated Apps for Learning ESL Presented by Natalia Aleko and Johanna Schmidt, English Online, for TEAM 2016
- 2. 5 Free Apps for Learning ESL 1. Benefits of using mobile devices in education 2. Criteria 3. Our 5 favourites 4. Honourable mentions 5. Play time
- 3. Benefits of using mobile devices in education • Increased student motivation • Greater access to information • Portability of the device • Ease of organizing work • Variety of resources used • Students can work at their own pace • Improved reading experience • Development of students’ IT skills • Development of teachers’ IT skills Karsenti, T., & Fievez, A. (2013). The iPad in education: uses, benefits, and challenges – A survey of 6,057 students and 302 teachers in Quebec, Canada. Montreal, QC: CRIFPE.
- 4. Benefits of using mobile devices in education • Decrease in student expenses • Use recommended course-specific apps • 75% of students agreed that the iPad enhanced their learning experience. iPad study by Oklahoma State University (2010), Executive Summary
- 5. Criteria: Must-haves • Free • 4+ stars • Available on multiple platforms
- 6. Criteria: Nice-to-haves • Online and offline capabilities • Translatable interface • Ability to select appropriate level • Broad skill set, or strong at single skill • Fun factor - engagement
- 7. Our 5 Favourites • Quizlet • Learn English, 6000 Words • Duolingo • Learn to Speak English • The Free Dictionary
- 8. Quizlet JS • Study/Quiz app for any subject with user- generated content • ESL practitioners can create content, or direct students to browse content created by others • Multiple study methods – Flashcards, games, quizzes • Broad skill set – spelling, vocabulary, writing, reading Screenshots and logo are copyright by Quizlet. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 9. Quizlet Screenshots and logo are copyright by Quizlet. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 10. Quizlet Screenshots and logo are copyright by Quizlet. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 11. Quizlet Highlights • Can download the app or use within browser (in browser has some extra features) • Login is same for app use or web • Large amount of content to choose from (but because content is created by users, quality can vary) • Variety of study modes – learners can practice same words in different ways
- 12. Learn English, 6000 Words • Select a topic, subtopic, and game type • Game types include – Match Words, Write Word, Listen and Choose, Listen and Write, Vocabulary, Find Image, and Choose Word • Broad skill set – pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary • 3 levels – Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced • Can do sequentially or pay to get higher levels – $3.99 for intermediate or $9.99 for advanced Screenshots and logo are copyright by Learn English 6000 Words. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 13. Learn English, 6000 Words Screenshots and logo are copyright by Learn English 6000 Words. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 14. Learn English, 6000 Words Screenshots and logo are copyright by Learn English 6000 Words. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 15. Learn English, 6000 Words Highlights • Nice option to receive a daily email with new word • Can select native language and all instructions show in selected language • Great way of selecting theme, sub-theme and activity- type – engaging and personal, creates variety • Self-directed within each level, but levels are progressive • Visuals are suitable for adult learners • Appropriate for literacy learners
- 16. Duolingo • Practise speaking, reading, listening and writing • Basic verbs, phrases and sentences • Content organized in lessons; lessons are progressive • Users sets daily/weekly/monthly goals; track their progress, earn rewards for achievements Screenshots and logo are copyright by Duolingo. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 17. Duolingo Screenshots and logo are copyright by Duolingo. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 18. Duolingo Screenshots and logo are copyright by Duolingo. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 19. Duolingo Highlights • Cute, engaging interface • Optional placement test • Can set your native language, translatable interface • Not self-directed, mostly progressive (but can go back to strengthen weak skills) • Adaptive – reviews and retests your weakest points • Instant feedback with explanations • Can get reminder notifications or turn off in settings
- 20. Learn to Speak English • Read about and listen to English words in use • Skills: reading, speaking, listening, pronunciation • Suitable for high beginner - high intermediate ( CLB 4-8) • Useful phrases for different life situations Screenshots and logo are copyright by TalkEnglish. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 21. Learn to Speak English Screenshots and logo are copyright by TalkEnglish. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 22. Learn to Speak English Screenshots and logo are copyright by TalkEnglish. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 23. Learn to Speak English Highlights • Can download the app or use within browser (in browser has some extra features) • Comprehensive coverage of diverse topics • Built-in search • Option to create a list of favourite lessons • Can be used to complement F2F lessons • More challenging interface (lots of text, no visuals) • Lots of ads (option to remove adds $2.99)
- 24. The Free Dictionary • Collection of facts and activities to promote vocabulary expansion • Dynamic content (updated every day) • Includes: this day in history; quote, article and word of the day; word games; definitions • Suitable for intermediate to advanced learners Screenshots and logo are copyright by The Free Dictionary. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 25. The Free Dictionary Screenshots and logo are copyright by The Free Dictionary. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 26. The Free Dictionary Screenshots and logo are copyright by The Free Dictionary. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 27. The Free Dictionary Highlights • Flexible word search options ( starts with, ends with) • Translation to 40+ languages • Creating your own vocabulary list • Includes Medical, Legal, Financial, Idioms, Acronyms dictionaries, Wikipedia, Encyclopedia • Available offline • Good cause: Feed your brain, feed a hungry child
- 28. Honourable Mentions • Phrasalstein • Google Translate • Merriam Webster Dictionary • Speaking Pal • Live and Learn Logos are copyright by respective apps. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 29. Choose an app and try it out! • Quizlet • Learn English, 6000 Words • Duolingo • Learn to Speak English • The Free Dictionary Logos are copyright by respective apps. Used under fair dealing exception.
- 30. Questions? Contact us: Natalia Aleko: naleko@myenglishonline.ca Johanna Schmidt: jschmidt@myenglishonline.ca English Online: myenglishonline.ca livelearn.ca realizeforum.ca Thank you for attending our session!
- 31. More resources • Use of Tablet Technology in the Classroom • Adult Learners and Digital Media: Exploring the usage of digital media with adult literacy learners • How Do You Say That? The 10 Coolest Pronunciation Tools for ESL Students • 10 Great Ipad Apps for Learning English • Mobile Learning: Improve Your English Anytime, Anywhere • Online Resources for Developing Your Writing Skills • Top Free Apps for Learning English • Best Online Resources for Learning English • Online Resources to Improve English Pronunciation
Notas do Editor
- Morning, my name is …. To day we are here to share with you our favourite apps that can be used for learning English. Who is our audience: How often do you use apps in your daily life? DO you use mobile devices in your classroom for learning purposes? If no, why? Have you ever recommended a language learning app to your EAL students? If no , why? State agenda for this session.
- JS – if you have tried any of these apps, feel free to share when we’re discussing it. If you want to download and look through it as we speak, go right ahead, but we will also allow time at the end to download and test.
- We truly consider mobile technology to be the 8th wonder of the world. With just one portable device we can access limitless amount of information, connect with people in different parts of the world, make payments, do shopping and, of course, learn. Recent studies show benefits of using mobile devices in education and positive impact on student performance, engagement, motivation and learning outcomes. In 2013, Karsenti and Fievez conducted a study on uses and impacts of touchpads in education. They surveyed teachers and students in 18 Canadian schools )6,057 students and 302 teachers in Quebec, Canada). Some of the key findings demonstrate that using the iPad at school provided many benefits, as highlighted by both students and teachers. 8 Studies Show IPads in The Classroom Improve Education http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/8-Studies-Show-iPads-in-the-Classroom-Improve-Education The iPad in education: uses, benefits, and challenges http://www.karsenti.ca/ipad/pdf/iPad_report_Karsenti-Fievez_EN.pdf
- Also, in the fall of 2010 Oklahoma state university conducted successful pilot testing of iPads in its classrooms, finding that the tablet offered benefits all around. According to OSU, it found that student expenses went down in the classes featuring iPads, since students were able to use cheaper electronic textbooks, rather than hard copies. 75% of students agreed that the iPad enhanced their learning experience. Among other benefits highlighted in the Executive Summary https://news.okstate.edu/articles/ipad-study-released-oklahoma-state-university , Faculty were able to explore and recommend course-specific apps (i.e., software) to enhance the learning environment. Students also benefited greatly from Apple's App Store, OSU found. They were able to find "thousands of educational software possibilities" in the App Store to help complement Web-based tools they employed. There are thousands of mobile apps for language learning, offering authentic materials (podcasts, videos, e-books, and textbooks), practical language tasks and learning progress tracking options. They are the perfect way to reach all students, regardless of their learning needs. By choosing the type of apps that work for them, the students themselves can create a personalized program that fits their language needs. For ESL students with limited resources or who are unable to attend full time ESL classes, apps can provide a way to supplement their basic knowledge with an understanding of cultural factors, idioms, and slang. In addition, the use of apps is cost-effective, convenient, and customizable to fit the ESL student’s individual learning needs. In this session, the applications that we will explore can be used by ESL learners for a variety of activities: self-study, pair and group work or extend the learning beyond the classroom walls.
- Free with minimal interruption by ads 4+ stars and mostly good reviews Available on multiple platforms (specifically checked in Apple App Store and Google Play) and versions are similar
- IN addition, we thought of additional features that would be nice to have in an app and used them as our secondary criteria: Online and offline capabilities - We thought , it would be nice if an app could be used without internet connection Translatable interface – or could have an option of translating its interface to many different languages, so learners with lower language proficiency could still be comfortable using the app. Ability to select appropriate level – Another nice-to- have feature is to select appropriate level of instruction/exercises. Broad skill set, or strong at single skill – there are Fun factor – engagement – different types of language tasks, quizzes, games, bonuses, rewards that motivate /encourage learners to The apps we’ll be looking at today will have one or more of the secondary criteria.
- SO out top 5 apps for today are : If you tried any of those please fill free to chime in when we discuss a specific app.
- A great app that you can download on your device or use within your browser
- Same login saves progress in both the web version and downloadable app – can go back and forth between the two Large amount of content, variety of levels – learners who are more advanced could try a variety of topics Web, extra features: teacher can add images to definitions, additional games/study modes – Scatter, Gravity, Space Race, Speller
- This app contains 6,000 words arranged in 15 themes and 140 subtopics supplemented with images, phonetic transcriptions and audio. There are 3 levels of difficulty, for beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced students. The Beginner level comprises 1,000 words of vocabulary. After mastering these, the Intermediate level unlocks, giving you access to another 2,000 words. Finally, upon completion of the Intermediate level, the Advanced level will unlock with yet a further 3,000 words. So, you will enrich your English Vocabulary with more than 6,000 words”
- Students can choose a topic, the difficulty level, game modes (e.g. writing game, matching game etc.), and then review the words they’ve studied. They can also select their preferred interface language from 59 pre-programmed languages. This is an extremely useful feature for literacy learners.
- Reviewed very highly by many sources, I’ve been using this app to learn French Guides you through activities that include pronunciation, spelling, listening (uses your speakers and microphone) Able to go backwards to practice previous skills, but not skip ahead unless you either complete the lessons or pass the level test
- Optional placement test –your level in test determines which lessons are unlocked Bars on level will increase if you go back and strengthen weak skills
- Simple, fully translatable interface Immediate feedback
- Can also use in browser - Web has some additional features
- This app contains over 900 lessons and 8,000 audio files to improve learners’ fluency. Most of the sentences in the lessons are supplemented by audio recordings, so learners can click on the sentence to listen to pronunciation and intonation. They can also record themselves reading those sentences and compare their samples with the original. All lessons are arranged in categories (such as Regular English, Business English, Interview English, Travel English etc.) and built around real life topics and situations which makes this app appropriate for different age groups and levels.
- Learners have to identify on their own the content appropriate for their language level. If used in by the classroom teacher, can recommend specific lessons for learners to add to favorites and study on their own. To complement the classroom content, teachers can refer learners to a specific lesson, i.e. workplace ethics – Business English – Late or No show lesson
- A bit ugly but extensive possibilities within one app $1.99 to remove ads
- Games are addictive Because it gets updated every day, you can keep returning and finding new content Can approach with a specific need (to look up a word or phrase) or for general learning
- Can expand and explore further on everything – when you get correct answers to game you can click words for definitions, click more sources in definitions, etc
- Great motivation to learn and use this app: good cause: Feed your brain, feed a hungry child - by playing, learning and reading user are earning badges and neurons. The more badges and neurons the more meals for hungry kids. ( the app developer partnered with World Food Program’s School feeding program to help fight hunger and promote learning) Different word search options if unsure about the spelling of the whole word ( starts with, ends with) Bookmarking your favorite words/ creating your own vocabulary list ad free – $1.99
- These are the apps that did not make to our list for one reason or another ( time, title restrictions, etc.) but still deserve an honorable mention, in our opinion Phrasalstein Skill: Vocabulary Level: intermediate As they claim in the description, this app will help your students “lose their fear of the horrifying phrasal verbs once and for all”. Phrasalstein has fun and engaging interface inspired by the classic “horror movie” genre. There are 100 commonly used phrasal verbs illustrated with humorous animations. Each phrasal verb has a definition (a well-known meaning), translation into a chosen language (English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, German, and Russian), example sentence, and other meanings, if any. After studying the verbs, students can take a quiz to check what they have learned. This app requires Adobe Air that you can download for free from iTunes or Google Play Store. Speaking pal: beginner to intermediate. listen to, read and practice conversations with video recordings, free version is not extensive – 3 lessons in each of the 7 levels Live and Learn: Web app, read articles about settlement and check your understanding with quizzes, practice listening with Canadian idioms lessons, practice English with literacy, beginner, intermediate, or language explorer activities. Can register for extra activities: practice writing in forums, join coffee chats, connect one-on-one