Teach(Now)logy
Here are some platforms you can use to improve your students' listening skills.
1. Booktrack
Want to make your written outputs creatively heard? Booktrack is an awesome, free tool that enhances both reading and writing by encorporating music. Students can create soundtracks for poems, plays, e-books, stories and even in their own output. After that they can share their creations online and with the world. BookTrack also features up to more 1000 eBooks.
By using BookTrack, the three targeted skills can be improved; reading, writing and listening. You can make use of BookTrack as teachers, making your own presentation then share it with your students for them to listen to it or for your students to let them make their own output using it. You can visit BookTrack online or by downloading their application. Available in Apple Store and Play Store. Try to visit and it’s free!
2. Spreaker
Become a host, broadcaster, commentator and more on go using your device. Talk, discuss, listen and more!
Create and share Live audio broadcasts on the go from your mobile devices. Listen to a variety of podcasts and live broadcasts created by users all over the world. Spreaker allows you to mix and broadcast your voice with sound effects, share quick audio updates on the social networking sites wherein your students are into. You can also let your students listen to Audio guides and commentaries. Or even let them host their own live show! If you want to focus on their listening skills, you can as the teacher use it and let your students watch it and answer some questions or worksheets online or in the classroom. This can enhance the language skills of your students, speaking or listening knowledge.
3. Go Animate
Been into Spoken-word poetry lately? Your students must have loved listening to this! Booming with new ways to listen to Podcasts anywhere, everywhere! AudioBoom allows you to listen to spoken-word from all over the world! Just create your account, search and browse spoken-words you want your students to listen to. After logging in, you can choose the categories and subcategories you are interested in then BOOM! You can already let your students listen to it.
4. AudioBoom
Been into Spoken-word poetry lately? Your students must have loved listening to this! Booming with new ways to listen to Podcasts anywhere, everywhere! AudioBoom allows you to listen to spoken-word from all over the world! Just create your account, search and browse spoken-words you want your students to listen to. After logging in, you can choose the categories and subcategories you are interested in then BOOM! You can already let your students listen to it.word from all over the world! Just create your account, search and browse spoken-words you want your students to listen to. After logging in, you can choose the categories and subcategories you are interested in then BOOM! You can already let your students listen to it.
5. Logamp
Want your students to learn language through different artforms? Use Logamp! Whether it be music,art or even literature. Logamp specializes in sharing creations with the world. It allows your students to make and create and share their outputs with users all over the world. However, this site can be a little confusing for your students and also can be difficult for you as a teacher to make listening materials. Logamp is a free webtool and application.
6. BBC podcast
This is my favorite tool and the easiest one to use! Since Podcasts are one of the most effective way to use as listening tool and materials. Podcasts are now available covering almost any topic including history, entertainment, language teaching or English, films, sciences and others. Podcasts are an excellent way to work on your students’ listening skills. The said features are all the specialty of BBC Podcast. BBC podcast allows you as a teacher to download podcast and you can use it for your students to listen inside the classroom or if not you can let your students explore the site and give them instructions on what podcasts they are going to listen to.
Once you’ve had found a podcast, what can you do to it as a teacher?
1. You can use it to introduce a new topic.
2. Play 2 different clips; one from the coursebook the one from a podcast. Then let them compare the two.
3. Use excerpts from podcasts to focus on features of connected speech. Edit the podcast or use it as mini dictation activity.
4. incorporate podcast to different activities or even use the podcast to conduct engaging activities.
There are lots of ways to use podcast available from BBC podcast page in language teaching. It depends on the teacher on how you will made use of it creatively and interesting! Go and visit www. bbc.co.uk/podcasts. It’s free and educative!
