YouGlish: a Controversial tool for Pronunciation?

Hi everyone, welcome to Runping’s Blog!💓

I aim to be a good English teacher in China in the future

I am exploring some technologies or tools to be applied in my future teaching practice and glad to share my findings with you

I sincerely welcome the potential and experienced English teachers in China or other countries to communicate with me and please feel free to leave any comments 😀

 

For this week, the topic is pronunciation. Pronunciation is a basic element for learners in language learning. Correct pronunciation is important not only for communication purposes but also for building confidence in the learner. A strong foundation in pronunciation can lead to better language proficiency and more effective communication in real-world situations. Today, I want to share YouGlish with you, which may be a controversial tool as it may be a little bit excessive to use long videos to learn word pronunciation!😆

 

💬What is YouGlish? 

https://www.helpforenglish.cz/article/2020030401-youglish-pronunciation-on-youtube

YouGlish is an online platform that allows users to search for and watch videos containing specific words or phrases. It is an excellent tool for language learners because it allows them to hear real people using English in authentic contexts. YouGlish draws from a vast database of videos, including news clips, speeches, and interviews.

 

💬Why use YouGlish?

Improving Pronunciation and Listening Skills: By listening to how native speakers pronounce words and speak English, students can improve their pronunciation and practice listening by exposing them to authentic English spoken in real-world situations. 

Expanding Vocabulary: YouGlish provides learners with real-life examples of how words are used in context, which helps them understand how the word fits in the sentence and expands their vocabulary. 

Intercultural Communication: It can make students expose to all kinds of authentic English materials, not just English textbooks, which may improve students intercultural communication through knowing about Western knowledge and culture.

 

💬How to use YouGlish?

https://www.myfluentpodcast.com/e54-youglish-to-improve-your-speaking-skills/

It is simple to use YouGlish. As English teachers, you can access the website and type in a word or phrase related to a lesson. The site then generates videos from YouTube that include that particular word or phrase. From there, students can watch and listen to the video clips, which come from real-life situations, to practice listening and pronunciation skills.

 

💬Limitations

Firstly, the quality of videos can vary greatly, which means it may cost your time to filter the appropriate videos for lessons. The videos may contain language that is not appropriate for all students, so it is essential to preview any videos before showing them in class. 

Secondly, YouGlish is not suitable for beginners as it may be challenging to understand the videos' context.

Finally, although YouGlish is free to use, teachers in China need to use VPN to access this website.

In conclusion, YouGlish is a powerful tool with amounts of videos can be used by English teachers to help their students improve their language skills. It allows students to hear authentic English spoken in real-world contexts. However, it is essential to keep in mind that Youglish has its limitations, and it should be used in conjunction with other resources to ensure that students receive a well-rounded language education.

The below video is an interesting introduction of the Pros and Cons of YouGlish by VIRTUALLY NATIVE. However, a thousand Hamlets in a thousand eyes. Maybe you can find it really helpful to your teaching. So, why not have a try?😆

VoiceThread: A New Collaborative Tool

 

Hi everyone, welcome to Runping’s Blog!💓

I aim to be a good English teacher in China in the future

I am exploring some technologies or tools to be applied in my future teaching practice and glad to share my findings with you

I sincerely welcome the potential and experienced English teachers in China or other countries to communicate with me and please feel free to leave any comments 😀

 

Hi, everyone! Nice to see you again!😄 With the development of technology, there are more and more tools that may be helpful to engage your students in language learning. As a future English teacher, I always think if some new tools could be used in the class to facilitate students' language learning. Today, I want to recommend an new online platform called VoiceThread to you, which may make you surprised at its pattern.

 

💬What is VoiceThread?

https://kb.ecampus.uconn.edu/2021/07/13/an-overview-of-voicethread/

VoiceThread is an online platform that allows users to create and share multimedia presentations. Visitors can leave comments on the slides in the form of voice recordings, images, videos, and text. It is a collaborative tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, including classroom presentations, group projects, online discussions and language practice. The VoiceThread presentation can be shared via a URL link or embedded into your course.

 

💬Why use VoiceThread?

Engage your students: VoiceThread is a highly interactive platform that can help engage your students and encourage them to participate in class discussions.

Promote language practice: VoiceThread allows students to practice their speaking and listening skills, as well as their reading and writing skills.

Encourage collaboration: VoiceThread is a collaborative tool that allows students to work together on group projects and presentations.

Enhance multimedia presentations: With VoiceThread, you can incorporate images, videos, and text into your presentations, making them more engaging and effective.

 

💬How to use VoiceThread?

Screenshot from Voicethread.com

Create an account: Visiting the VoiceThread website and clicking the "Sign up" button.

Create a new VoiceThread: To create a new VoiceThread, click the "Create" button and select "New VoiceThread". From there, you can add images, videos, and text to your presentation.

Choose your comment types and comment: Click "Comment" from the menu at the left; click the Comment button at the bottom of the slide; select from the commenting options (audio, webcam, type, etc.); finally make your comment.

Share your VoiceThread: Once you've created your VoiceThread, you can share it with others by clicking the "Share" button. You can share it via email, social media, or by embedding it on a website.

The below video is a detailed example of creating a presentation using VoiceThread, hope it be helpful to you.

 

 

💬Limitations

Requires internet connection: Because VoiceThread is an online platform, you'll need internet access to use it. This can be a challenge in areas with limited connectivity.

Limited editing capabilities: While VoiceThread allows you to add images, videos, and text to your presentations, its editing capabilities are limited compared to some other sophisticated multimedia tools.

In conclusion, VoiceThread is a versatile tool that can be used to enhance language learning in the English classroom. By incorporating multimedia presentations and encouraging collaboration, it can help engage students and promote language practice. So why not try it?🙋

BBC Learning English: A Good Resource for English Teachers

 

Hi everyone, welcome to Runping’s Blog!💓

I aim to be a good English teacher in China in the future

I am exploring some technologies or tools to be applied in my future teaching practice and glad to share my findings with you

I sincerely welcome the potential and experienced English teachers in China or other countries to communicate with me and please feel free to leave any comments😀

 

As an English teacher, are you always on the lookout for learning materials or resources to help your students improve their language skills? I find an excellent online resource with amounts of learning materials, and it is time to share with you. This tool is called BBC Learning English.

💬What is BBC Learning English?

screenshoot from https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/

BBC Learning English (website link） is a well-known and free resource for learners of English all around the world, which offers a wide range of materials, such as courses, news reports, videos, quizzes, and podcasts. You can use these high-quality and authentic materials to help students improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. in addition, it is necessary to mention that there is a part called Teachers, which provides a variety of classroom teaching tips for different contexts. So you can not only choose learning materials for your students, but also can learn some teaching methods.

💬Why use BBC Learning English?

Different levels: The materials of many sessions are divided into different levels, which provides convenience for teachers to choose materials that are suitable to different-level students. 

Range of materials: The website offers a wide range of materials, including news reports, podcasts, videos, and quizzes, that can be used to help students improve their language skills in a variety of areas.

Test: Teachers can use the platform's quizzes and exercises to check their students' knowledge of the English language in the class.

Completely Free: All of the materials on the BBC Learning English website are free to access, making it an accessible resource for all students.

 

💬How to use BBC Learning English?

BBC Learning English can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Here are some suggestions:

Use the News Report section to introduce current events and topics of interest to your students. This can help to make the content more engaging and relevant to their lives.

Use the Grammar, Vocabulary and Pronunciation section to supplement your lessons on these topics. The section includes a range of exercises and activities that can be used to reinforce key concepts.

Assign Quizzes as homework or in-class assignments to help students test their knowledge and reinforce key concepts.

Play Podcasts from the 6 Minute English section in class to help students improve their listening and speaking skills. You can use the podcasts as a basis for class discussions or debate. (The below video is one learning material from 6 Minute English)

 

💬Limitations

Time-consuming: The amount of materials in BBC Learning English is enormous, so it may take teachers much time to look through and find the material they really need. 

No resources for kindergarden pupils: BBC Learning English primarily focuses on providing learning materials and resources for non-native English speakers of all ages, from beginner to advanced level. Although they have resources for young learners, there are no learning materials specifically for kindergarten pupils.

Lack of interest: There are few interesting learning materials like cartoons, which may not effectively draw young learners' attention in language learning. 

 

In conclusion, BBC Learning English is a great tool for English learning. It is a good material resource for teachers, but it can also be a learning platform for students. You can also introduce this website to your students if they enjoy self-study. 💖