MailVU

MailVU is a useful website for video recording. It serves as a tool where users can record videos of themselves by via webcam.

What I like about MailVu?

• The best thing about MailVu is the fact that it is free. No sign-ups or registrations are needed for users to use it. This website is totally affordable to everyone.
• MailVu is also one of the easiest video recording websites ever created. It only takes three simple steps for users to record themselves. The videos can then be sent to others and to users’ own email address.
• Although MailVu is intended for business purposes, I believe that it can also be used in ELT classrooms, especially in conjunction with the idea of ‘connected classroom’. For example, as a homework, students will have to record themselves presenting about the topic that they learnt in class earlier. This acts as supplementary or ‘follow through’ exercise so that the learning process does not stop when schools end.

What teachers should bear in mind:

• Proper equipments (computers, microphones, webcams, decent internet connection) are needed in order for this website to work properly. This may be an issue as not every student has these facilities at home.
• There is a limit of 10 minutes per recording for free users. Subscription of premium account is needed in order for users to record longer videos.

For video on how to operate MailVu, please click here.

If you find MailVu interesting, you may want to check out Keek.

Brainshark

Brainshark is an online tool that is very useful in making presentations interesting. With this website, users will be able to combine their Powerpoint Presentations with their own voice presenting the slides.

Here is an example of how useful Brainshark is:




For video guide on how Brainshark works, please click here.


What I like about Brainshark:

• This amazing website is currently free to be used by everyone. Therefore, it is affordable and accessible to everyone. 
• A majority of second language learners are afraid and not confident to communicate using the target language in public. This issue can be addressed by having them to do presentation slides with Brainshark, in which they can do it personally and with confidence. 
• Getting students to speak and use the target language verbally will also assist them in improving their pronunciation.    

However, bear in mind that:

• Teachers should assign students with easy and accessible topics depending on their proficiency level. This is important as for second language learners to speak using the target language is considered as a big test for them. Teachers should start easy and gradually increase the difficulty level as students progress. 
• This website is not accessible for first tome users. Basic training may be needed in order for students to operate this website. 

Lyrics Training

Lyrics Training is a website that transforms music videos into useful ELT tools. On this website, users (either teachers or students) will be able to listen and watch their favourite music videos from a range of music videos provided. Each music video is included with its lyric, and certain words in the lyric will be left blank. While the music video is being played, students will be given time to fill in the blanks.

What I like about Lyric Training?)

• Songs and music videos are part of teenagers’ life. Therefore, the use of songs and music videos in ELT will make lessons more interesting and help teachers to grab students’ attention. 
• This activity covers all four language skills which are reading (students read the lyrics), writing and spelling (students fill in the blank), listening (students listen carefully for missing words), and speaking (karaoke version are also available for students to sing along).
• Activities are divided into three different levels which are beginner (10% missing words), intermediate (25% missing words), and experts (100% missing words). Hints are also provided if students are unable to get the correct answer. 
• Students can upload their score each time they completed an activity. This will promote the sense of healthy competition where students will try their best to beat the top score, and therefore improve themselves.

In addition, I will put these points into consideration before using Lyrics Training in my lesson:

• In order to play the music videos, stable internet connection is needed. This might be an issue in certain countries. 
•  Some music videos are inappropriate for young learners as it contains explicit images and languages.
• It is usual for songs to use ungrammatical structure such as ‘wanna’ and ‘gonna’, as well as incomplete sentences. This might caused confusion students thus leads towards fossilisation of incorrect grammar.

For more info on Lyrics Training, click here.