ESL teachers face the unique challenge of working with students who speak English as a second language. This linguistic divide can make it more difficult for both students and teachers, occasionally leading to frustration and damaging the teacher-student relationship.
Because of this, many ESL teachers turn to technology to bridge the gap, using e-learning tools to make the process of learning more fun and interactive. After all, having fun while learning can encourage students to take more responsibility – and it can even boost the overall learning outcome.
With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at just a few of the elearning tools that can help ESL teachers and their students to boost learning outcomes.
1. Super Simple Learning
Super Simple Learning features fun resources from experienced educators to help teachers and students alike to navigate the often confusing world of speaking English as a second language. They’re particularly worth a visit because of their award-winning kids’ songs, which help younger students to learn the language in a way that’s easily accessible.
2. ELLLO
ELLLO is a no-brainer – after all, its name is an acronym for ‘English Listening Lesson Library Online’. Created by Todd Beuckens, an English teacher who works in Japan, it’s specifically designed to provide lessons and resources for ESL teachers and their students. Perhaps the best thing about the site is that it deliberately aims to create lessons that aren’t available inside any textbook, and it does a great job of using video to show different people from over the world who speak English as a second language. Pupils can watch the videos and then answer a short set of questions about what they learned from it.
3. AussieWritings
Aussiewritings is a useful resource for students who are looking to boost their English writing skills. When English is a second language, it’s much more difficult for people to write essays and assignments, and Aussiewritings provides plenty of advice on how to structure the written word and how to use different writing techniques to make essays pop.
4. The Academic English Cafe
The Academic English Café aims to give you a more relaxed way to learn and teach English. One of its main features is the ability to take English language quizzes on either your smartphone or your computer, but it also has plenty of other resources such as Martin Luther King speeches with subtitles. Free downloads are also on offer, and the overall goal is to provide some context by teaching English through real-world examples.
5. SIL International
SIL (originally known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics) is a non-profit organisation that aims to investigate the data around language to identify usage patterns. They have all sorts of useful information on offer, as well as resource downloads and scientific studies that will change the way you look at language. This might be a little too much for students, but it’s a huge help for teachers who want as much ammunition as possible in the fight to shape the brilliant minds of the future.
Conclusion:
In the end, there isn’t much difference between different types of teaching when it comes to how elearning can help. The internet has changed almost every aspect of our lives, and the field of education is no different.
The key is for ESL teachers and other educators to adapt their approach so that technology works for them – delivering as much value as possible for both teacher and student. Elearning shouldn’t just be used for the sake of it – it has a place in the classroom, but it needs to be coupled with traditional teaching methods if you want to get the best results.
Good luck.
