Success in English: Guide #1
This is #1 in a series of guides to online resources for learners and teachers.
Here are 20 links to websites dealing with various aspects of successful learning. These range from Speaking exercises (#3, 4, & 5) to sites that allow downloading of podcasts for learners (# 5 – 12), English vocabulary and the skills and strategies to acquire items and use them (#13 – 17), and sites concerned with learning strategies (# 18 – 20).
Links
1. English study and Learning materials at:-
http://www.eslgold.com/speaking/something_talk_about.html
2. 35 speech topics - http://www.speech-topics-help.com/list-of-informative-speech-topics.html
3. Make a one-minute speech - http://www.kfmaas.de/opin_gap.html
4. How to make a one-minute speech - http://www.ascd.org/ascd_express/vol4/417_barnwell.aspx
5. Speech podcasts - http://www.podbean.com/search?k=tag&v=speech
6. Podcast directory - http://esl.about.com/od/podcasts/Podcasts_for_English_Learning_and_Teaching.htm
7. Simple language – podcasts for learners - http://esl.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=esl&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eltpodcast.com%2Farchive%2Fbc
8. Podcasts in English – all levels - http://www.podcastsinenglish.com/pages/pieteam.shtml
9. ESL podcasts – more advanced topics to listen to - http://a4esl.org/podcasts/
10. English for everyone - http://www.eslpod.com/website/index_new.html
11. British Council podcasts - http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-podcasts.htm
12. One for the boys – teaching English through football - http://languagecaster.com/
13. English vocabulary builder - http://esl.about.com/od/engilshvocabulary/English_Vocabulary_Builder_Beginning_Intermediate_and_Advanced.htm
14. Interesting things for ESL students - http://www.manythings.org/
15. Activities for learners - http://a4esl.org/
16. Use explicit instruction of vocabulary.
17. I believe all students need direct instruction of vocabulary, but it is especially imperative for ELLs. They need much more exposure to new vocabulary than their native-English-speaking classmates (August & Shanahan, 2006). ELLs need to learn cognates, prefixes, suffixes, and root words to enhance their ability to make sense of new lexicon. Understanding context clues such as embedded definitions, pictures, and charts builds schema that ELLs need in order to comprehend the text. New vocabulary needs to be explicitly taught, and each new word should be directly linked to an appropriate strategy. ELLs should actively engage in holistic activities to practice new vocabulary because learning words out of context is difficult for these students. Even if they memorize the meanings of the words on a list, they will not be able to use the words in their own writing or verbal production until they really understand the meanings. -http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/vocabulary_instructi_language__80932.php
18. Successful learning strategies - http://www.lafayettehigh.org/Course%20Guide/vocabulary_strategies.htm
19. Cooperative Learning is one of the best researched of all teaching strategies. The results show that students who have opportunities to work collaboratively, learn faster and more efficiently, have greater retention, and feel more positive about the learning experience. - http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/cooperative/front_cooperative.htm
20. Study Guides and strategies - http://www.studygs.net/
Robert L. Fielding
