British council websites for learning and teaching English

I have found three connected websites from the British Council which are absolutely great both for teachers of English and also for students as they are learning to speak English as a foreign language. To be able to use these ICT resources you will need a computer with an internet connection and a web browser. It is also possible to download files so that they can be viewed offline.

The websites are divided into three parts; one part for children which is called “Learn English Kids” (http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/), one part for older students called “Learn English” (http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/) and one part for teachers called “Teaching English” (http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/). Everything on these sites is free of charge and on all the sites you have an option to become a member. Therefore you do not need to do anything to be able to start learning or teaching English with the assistance of these sites. All sites encourage the students to both listen and interact in various ways.

On the site “Learn English Kids” there is plenty of fun for the children such as games, craft downloads, songs and short stories that they can enjoy at the same time as they learn a new language. There are a wide range of topics to choose from like time, witches and wizards, animals, family, dinosaurs, football and much more. The site is divided into ‘games’, ‘listen and watch’, ‘read and write’, ‘make’ and ‘explore’. The children can choose to become a member of the site and are then able to enter competitions, make comments and create their own characters. Teachers and parents are also encouraged to become members so that they are able to watch videos and read articles regarding learning a language. There is also a parent’s forum where parents can share their different ideas. For teachers, there is a section with information on how you can use the site in the classroom. A special section on the site, “Little Kids”, is aimed at very young children, where you can find nursery rhymes, play games and do crafts.

The “Learn English” site caters for older students. This site also contains games, stories, grammar exercises and listening activities. The site is divided into ‘listen and watch’, ‘grammar and vocabulary’, ‘fun and games’, ‘business and work’ and ‘IELTS’ (the International English Language Testing System). To make it easier to find out where everything is there is a search facility and a site map. If the student chooses to become a member, he or she can get help with their English and be able to comment on the site.

The last site of the three is the “Teaching English” site which is a co-operation between the British Council and the BBC. For the teacher, there is an abundance of activites, tips and other inspiration. As a teacher you will find lesson plans with activities, procedure and worksheets to download as well as teacher development and teacher training material. The site is divided into ‘teaching resources’, ‘teacher development’, ‘training courses’, ‘articles’ and ‘community’ (forums and networks). The articles that you find range from methodology to pronunciation and vocabulary. On this site you can also become a member so that you can contribute in the various discussions on the site.

As I mentioned previously, I think these sites are brilliant as there is so much to discover. They are also free providing you have access to a computer and the internet. I especially like the children’s site which my children found very easy to use. This site is also very colourful and inviting so that the children really want to work on it. My own children love it!

//Maria Jeffs

Digital Camera

The digital camera is an underestimated resource in teaching. The teachers use the camera to take pictures and document the pupils learning processes. But why not let the pupils use the camera? This way they would be able to actually use it as a resource in their learning process.
To make the camera work you just have to know how you turn it on and how to take pictures. Then you´re free to go!

With the camera you can document different things like,

- What the pupils do in the classroom
- How the pupils corporate
- What they are learning

The camera helps the teacher and pupils to go back and look at the pictures and discuss what they have done and what they can do to develop the assignment, so the pupils can learn more. The camera becomes like an extra set of eyes and a way of going back to look at the assignments and the results from perhaps even a different view. It could also help you as a teacher to develop your lesson planning for the class. The camera is also a help to show parents and other teachers what you are doing in your class.
The teachers can also use the camera to take pictures to use in their teaching. You could for instance take pictures of imaginary characters for a role-play or simply have the pupils discussing the pictures.

If you let the pupils take control of the camera to document what they think is interesting and what they see in the assignment the pupils enhance their learning and involvement in the assignment at hand. All this at the same time as you´ll get another view of the assignment as the pupils might see it from a different angle than you as a teacher. When you let your pupils take the pictures they might not see same things that you as a teacher would. You might not document the same things.

Other ways for the pupils to use this resource are to:
• Take pictures and make PowerPoint fairy-tales and presents for the friends in the class.
• They can also take pictures in the same way that the teachers and use the pictures for role-play or just discuss.
• Take pictures of colours and furniture in the classroom. Or take pictures of family members. Then the pupils can show it to their friend and they can discuss it in class.

These are just a few examples of how you could use a digital camera in class and learn English.
This resource could be seen as a powerful learning tool. It could be a different and useful way of learning, a way to involve the pupils in the learning process.

My StoryMaker

My StoryMaker

http://www.carnegielibrary.org/kids/storymaker/embed.cfm

I have just found an absolutely wonderful website to inspire students to write in English.
The applications name is My StoryMaker and it is published by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
The program is free and easy to use.

In this interactive picture book pupils get help on their way through a story. Can a Fox be in love with a mermaid? Nothing is impossible only the pupils’ imagination sets the limits. The pupils have full control over characters and objects and the program helps the pupils to create sentences to the story. When the pupils are done with their story, they can print it out or share it with others.

What you need
You need Adobe Flash Player and Adobe reader, and both these programs are free to down load on internet.

How to use

First you select a main character in your book. Then you decide what the book should be about. When that is completed you choose different characters, items, objects and settings depending what you want shall happen in the book. Only your imaginations set stop for the story.
There is so much you can do; move objects, change feelings for the characters, write texts. When you are finished, with your story, you can share your book with others or print it out. And then it’s time to write a new one.

Why and Who

I have some students that find it difficult to work with different texts. Often it takes stop when it's
time to construct their text. This is a website I think really can help these students. In Lgr 11 it says in the purpose text that the student should be able to; formulate in writing, use linguistic strategies to make them understood and customize language for context.
In the central content it’s written that the student shall work with dramatized stories and fairy tales for children and young people, which I think is well consistent with this interactive book.

Today students are accustomed to make use of different types of technology, it is not alien to them. Many students will be encouraged to work with computers, and it becomes more fun,
which really get them to work more active. I’m also of the opinions that with this program it’s easy to work in different levels in the class, as we all know, our pupils are in different stages in life.


//Lotta Lundberg