Hello Elllo!

Assalamualaikum and Hi to all.

In this entry, I would like to share a website that can be used for listening activity. It is called Elllo. This website offers thousands of listening materials either audio clips or video clips uploaded by people all around the world such as England, United States of America, China, Vietnam and a lot more. It  provides numerous activities that the students can benefit from such as vocabulary, information gap, quizzes, comprehension as well as games. The clips in this website are clustered into five different sections which are News, Views, Games, Videos, and Mixer and users will be able to search the clips through those sections. However, because there are massive number of clips as well as their functions, the organization of this website seems a bit problematic that it makes the users difficult to search their favourite clips. Nonetheless, this website is still a powerful tool because it allows people to upload their materials based on any topic that they like which is very good because it promotes personalization. This means that people can talk about whatever topic that they like and appeal to them and then upload it onto the website.So the topic will be more authentic because the speaker speaks based on his or her personal experience.

Listen and Learn the language!


Apart from listening to the clips, there a lot of activities that come together with the materials which help the students in language learning. There are vocabulary practises as well as comprehension exercises that assist learners in understanding the materials and improve their language. One particular thing that I like about vocabulary practise is it does not only say the word and gives definition, like most of the website do, but also demonstrate on how to use it in a suitable context. I found this very helpful because sometimes you may know the definition and how to pronounce certain words but it is different when putting them into context. This is very helpful for students because they will be able to know how to use the words in their writing. Apart from that, there is also transcription of the clips which the students can refer to while they are listening. This is also important for them to familiarise with the language.

Have a glance at the page!

The following pictures are taken under Video section.

More than one thousand clips to choose from!

Good quality of video.

Video quizzes.

Lesson relating to the video.

Advantages of this website.


1. There are various topic to choose from. Students will be able to choose clips based on any topics that they prefer.
2, Audio clips can be downloaded into a playlist available in the website or even into the computer which is very convenient and easy.
3. The handout can also be downloaded or printed.
4. variety of English accents. This is because there are more that one thousand people of different countries speaking and the students will be able to hear variety of accents which will help them in the future context. For example if they further their study in a foreign country where there are multicultural students speaking the language.
5. Develop autonomous learning; students will be able to learn on their own.
6. Promote multiple intelligence. This is because the students are not only limited to the listening skills but also exposed to visual and writing.
7. Promote Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). Students will be able to learn the language through a particular content such as sports or culture.

Disadvantages of the website.


1. There are too many advertisements which may be confusing. Users sometimes may find it difficult to differentiate between content and advertisement. It will definitely be disturbing if we accidently click at the advertisement.
2. The video cannot be downloaded. The video clips are available for online streaming only and they cannot be downloaded.

I hardly found any other disadvantages to this website as I personally like this tool very much and I believe that it will be a great tool for language learning.

Here is the link to the website:
http://www.elllo.org/

Meet the Boo!

Assalamualaikum and Hi to all.

In this entry, I would like to share a website that is very useful in doing Podcasting. For those who are new to the term, Podcast is a way of recording either audio or video and usually can be downloaded from the Internet. Using Podcasting as a main medium, Audioboo allows people to upload their voice recording onto the Internet, which can be access by anyone who are using the tool. This website is currently one of the famous website for information sharing and is very useful for people who are doing business as they can use this platform for online promotion. Not only that for business purposes, most of the users use this tool for leisure purposes as they can speak about everything that they like or even sing a song!

Audioboo and language learning.

Despite the huge advantages on business, Audioboo can also be used a medium for language learning, especially those who are learning a second language. Students can exploit this website to practise communicating skills as they can upload their audio and listen to their own recording as well as share it with their friends or teachers. By doing so, it will likely to enhance their confidence in speaking as they are not communicating face-to-face but rather speaking to the computer. It is important to know that some students are less confidence to speak in the public due to poor language proficiency but this website allows them to practise their script beforehand yet they still get to share their thoughts with public.

How to do it?


It is not difficult to use this tool as it is free and easy to operate. All you need to do is just sign up for free account (which is needed is you would like to put your podcast online) as well as have the microphone ready. The maximum recording that you are allowed to is 3 minutes and the recording will be automatically stopped after that. The recording can be made either by record it instantly or upload other existing audio file from your computer. You can always delete the recording that you have made and make a new one if you are not happy with it, which I found very convenient. Then you just have to follow some simple steps, as shown below:

step 1: click Make a Recording button

Step 2: Choose whether to record
it online or upload it from your file.

Step 3: Start the recording. After finish
the recording, click "Happy? Add title'
button.

Step 4: After editing your Boo, click Publish.
It will then be saved in your profile.

Example of my Audioboo

Advantages of Audioboo.

1. Allow audio sharing from all over the globe.

2. Platform for marketing management;

   a. It is fast and can reach people within a single click.

   b. It is cost free 

   c. Saves a lot of time because marketers do not have to come for meeting but they can just do it online.

3. Allow sharing on Facebook,Twitter, Blogs as well as Itunes

4. You can follow other people's profile and listen to their Boos.

5. You can download this application into your smartphones.

Disadvantages of Audioboo

1. It does not allow video recording as you can only record your voice.

2. No face-to-face interaction

3. You can not record anything longer than 3 minutes.

   a.  If you have a longer information to convey, it will need you to do it in two or more different Boos. 

   b. You have to compress ideas within a short period of time, which may result in less information sharing.

Here is the link to the website:
http://audioboo.fm/

Lyrics training

Assalamualaikum and Hi to all.

In this entry, I am going to highlight another website that is useful for listening activity. It is called Lyrics Training. This fantastic website allows people to not only listen to their favourite songs but to do an interesting activity with the songs. Basically this website offers numerous songs, from out dated to the latest and the users will be able to choose any songs that they like. Apart from that, there are various languages for for the users to choose from, be it in English, Spanish, Germany and even French. While the songs are being played, users are required to fill in the missing words of the lyrics. The music will be paused until the gap is filled with the correct word which I found very convenient. The organisation of the website is not really confusing as there are not too many thumbnails in the website. Apart from that, if you are connected to Facebook, it will automatically connect to your Facebook account and you will be able to leave comments on the website.

Of course it is good for language learning!

Most of the people especially teenagers nowadays are addicted to songs. Almost everywhere, there will be young people with their Ipod or Mp3 player doing their daily activity while listening to songs. Language learning does take place informally when they are listening to songs as they pick up certain language style and vocabulary items in the lyrics. Then why not let the students learn language their own way? This website can be one of the best website for learning languages especially for second language learners. Students will not only enjoying listening to the songs but also have the opportunity to expand their vocabulary knowledge with the information gap activity. They are forced to listen carefully to the lyrics in order to have the gap filled. On the contrary, if the teacher is going to have a traditional vocabulary teaching such as spelling order, it will make the students feel less interesting because it does not involve any visual supplementary. However, it does not necessary for teachers to merely depends on this website for vocabulary teaching rather use it for supplementary purposes. This is because teacher have to consider other factors such as facilities and syllabus coverage. In my opinion, this website is suitable for both students of primary and secondary schools aging between 7 to 17 years old because it is simple yet enjoyable. 

Have a look at the page!

You can search your preferred songs.

There are 3 levels to choose from.

Gaps that needs be filled

The advantages of this website are:


1. Students can practise listening skill in a fun way. They can listen to their favourite songs
2. Students can choose the difficulty as there 3 different levels which are beginner, intermediate and advanced
3. It can accommodate speakers of various languages. There are some foreign languages as well to practise.
4. Allow students to listen to the song carefully and fill in the gaps.

The disadvantages of this website are:


1. Problems in resources. Not all songs available for students to choose.
2. Language abuse; some songs might contain inappropriate words

There are not many disadvantages that I found in this website as it is quite a simple website.

Here is the link to the website:
http://www.lyricstraining.com/
2. Problems in access where not all students have the access to the internet.