Two
Secrets for Using Online Software
December 5-7
Carolina TESOL 2008
Francis Marion Hotel
Charleston, SC
www.carolinatesol.org
Pearson
Longman presentations:
More and more ESL teachers are trying out online software. …
There are
plenty of tips to help make the process easier for you and more
pedagogically useful for your students. Here are 2 secrets (from
conversations with teachers all over ESL) that will save you time and
help your students learn.
More Communication in Class—Use Software for Controlled Practice
A big problem for many teachers is not having enough time in class for
communicative activities. The main cause: too much time spent on
controlled practice. The solution: move more controlled practice
outside of the classroom. Online software allows students to spend more
time on their own problem areas and then come to class better prepared
for more communicative practice. By letting a computer do what a
computer is good at, you will have more time in class for the things
that only a teacher can do. More Learning About Writing in
Class—Use Software for Writing Practice
Ask your students to submit their writing online. You will save paper
and have all of your students’ writing in one place. Better
software allows instructors insert feedback into the essays and assign
a grade as well.
The huge advantage here is teachers don’t have to take up class
time with students sitting in silence as they write. This time is much
more productively spent studying other aspects of writing. For example,
students can learn about the writing process and even advanced students
need to study sentence mechanics. All of these activities will then
help students to produce better writing when it’s time to go
online and turn it in.
Time saved in class results in better student writing. Controlled
practice online results in more classroom communication. Check out the
options available to you. Go to Longman English Interactive and Focus
on Grammar Interactive—and sign up for a 30-day trial while
you’re there!
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