National Board Certification

The Journey Begins 2016-2017

CourseSites by Blackboard online learning Environment

Blackboard Learn

I have been using "Blackboard Learn" for all of my university online courses. Well now individual teachers can use the same learning environment to create a virtual classroom for their students and it is completely FREE!  The options for online video/voice chat are wonderful for getting students to practice their FL outside of class. They can also send voice e-mails to classmates and record assignments on voice board. Classes can be set up totally online, as hybrid classes or simply as a supplement to your face-to-face environment at school. Students will learn to use the same technology they will be using at the university level with Wikis, blogs, mashups, and so much more! This is exactly what I have been looking for and it it better than many sites that charge a high fee for less (as with Moodle hosting). If you have wanted to create your own online course, This is the best I have found!  Students can also access Blackboard through Blackboard learning apps for their smartphones or iPad which can be downloaded at iTunes and android stores.

Peace Corps Resources

The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship.
We can utilize the experiences that are shared by those volunteers to learn a lot about the countries we are studying and cultural differences. 
WorldWise schools help to connect these volunteers with schools in the U.S to share what they have learned.
 There are valuable resources for teachers available here:    WorldWise Schools 
that include videos, podcasts, lesson plans, letters from volunteers, photos, and so much more!
You can even apply for a guest volunteer to visit your class and/or correspond with your students.
What a great way to bring culture to life for your students and show them the value of learning a second language. 

CLEAR

Although Clear is not new, many language teachers have not tried the various internet applications that are available for free.
 It is definitely worth checking out:   Center for Language Education and Research

Veinte Mundos Magazine

A Spanish newspaper for students.

Read and Think online Magazine

I liked the book but the online magazine offers current information on a monthly basis for a yearly subscription price. Also all pdf/audio files available for download and use offline. Read and Think French and Italian also available.

check it out at:   Read and Think Spanish

Language Cloud

Finally...a free learning platform developed specifically for language learning. Teachers can set up classrooms, post assignments, upload ,learning videos , and students have a dropbox for turning in assignments, recordings, etc. There are flashcard tools and other goodies to come. Check it out at:
Language Cloud

Senor Wooly

If you have never heard of Senor wooly, then you really should check out his website. A fellow Spanish teacher who is using his talents to motivate middle and high school students to learn.
Here is a link to my favorite video:   Soy Guapo     
but my students love his other videos which can be purchased at:   Senor Wooly     A yearly membership also allows for student access so they can play games, do cloze activities, and
re-watch their favorite videos (with Karaoke). What a great way to learn!

Spanish Current Events-Selected for Teens

If you have even wanted to have your students read and report on current events, then you should really check out this link for       Tween Tribune   .

Students can choose from a variety of articles on various themes that have been pre-selected with Teenagers in mind. Students can be asked to post a comment on the site which can be approved by teacher prior to publishing. The wide range of topics help motivate students to practice reading in the Spanish language. 

Foreign Language Portfolio

I love to follow the progress my students make with the use of portfolios. Online portfolios can be useful for teacher and students.
click here to find out more about one that is specific to foreign language learning. The self assessment tools can be downloaded and utilized in the classroom.

  LinguaFolio  

Google Play Books

Like most teachers, I spend a lot of my own money purchasing resources for the classroom, so I am thrilled when I find "free stuff" such as with Google Play Books. I found many beginner level Spanish readers for free download on google play and a few that I am enjoying reading myself in the target language. I have not searched for other languages, but I feel sure there will be some available. 

ClearRecord app for iphone

This is a voice recorder that allows a slower playback speed without modifying pitch and distorting the voice. This allows a new language learner to play back a recording of a native speaker so they can listen better and comprehend more. The app stores recordings with AAC compression (m4a so a one hour recording would be less than 20 MB) to save space on your device. Can be used on iPad or iPhone and is also available on android devices from Google Play. Also has a repeat mode and study mode for multiple repetitions of phrases. Teacher can use this to record self reading a story, pronouncing vocabulary terms, etc. It will send the recordings to Evernote (or store then on another site such as www.box.com, google drive, skydrive, etc.) and can sync recordings to all designated devices. Teacher can share all recordings for student download on their own device or sync recordings across all classroom devices. Great for when a student is absent and needs to listen to something missed.

"SimSimi" the chat robot

SimSimi iphone and android app

SimSimi is being used by many to learn a variety of foreign languages. Since students love to text, why not have them learn to text in the target language with an imaginary friend? If Simsimi does not understand a question, the user can teach Simsimi the correct question and response. A word of caution should be noted, that with any technology, there are some users who try to mis-use it and want to train Simsimi to use offensive language. An improvement has been made that allows users to flag offensive material which will have it removed. A great little app that can be found in the itunes or android stores for a nominal fee. click the link above to try it out.

Language Learning apps

Here are just a few examples of apps that can be utilized for language learning and how I use them in the foreign language classroom. I have an LCD projector (compatible with ipad / Macbook pro with specific adaptors that permit screens to be visualized by class). I also utilize the app Splashtop that allows my ipad to serve as a remote device. When I want students to input data, they can pass the ipad around the room so that each student gets an opportunity to answer a question/ take a turn) I utilize a sound system that uses bluetooth to sync with ipad and/or laptop.

ChoiceBoard Creator: this app allows teacher to create multiple choice questions with answers. I create practice tests as review questions prior to a test on my ipad. Students take turns choosing the right answer and immediate feedback can be given if the incorrect answer is chosen.

See-Touch-Learn Pro: This app was actually developed for helping students with language difficulties. It provides photo images of items with pre-recorded voice in English to hear the name of the item shown. Although there are no current versions in languages other than English, the app allows for your own voice recordings to be made in another lanmguage and new pictures can be taken and imported into library. In the FL classroom, I allow students to create their own vocabulary flashcards (using a pic provided or by taking a photo) and record their own voice as they pronounce the word in target language. Students love taking silly pictures of each other and memorization of vocab is easier when they have a meaningful visual representation.

Book Creator/ Pictello/ ibooks Author: These are only a few of many apps that can be used for students to create their own digital storybooks in the target language. Photos or drawings can be imported for illustration and narration in their own voice promotes pronunciation practice.  ibooks author is a new app currently being offered for free at the itunes app store but I have not yet had the opportunity to utilize.  With this app, students books can be uploaded to itunes.

Language Learning App: Hello-Hello

               
hello-hello

Apps available for ipad in app store but also available for Droid.
Developed in collaboration with ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages)
About Hello-Hello
Hello-Hello is an innovative mobile language learning company that combines language learning with social networking allowing users to connect with native speakers around the world. Hello-Hello’s Spanish-focused app, Hello-Hello Spanish, was included in the limited 1000-app grand opening of the iPad App Store in 2010, and it was featured as Apple’s Staff Favorite. Hello-Hello World comes directly at the heels of several sister apps developed by Hello-Hello, which continually appear in the Top 5, and often the top slot, of iTunes’s Educational category in Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, China, Russia, and the US.
LEARN a new language anytime, anywhere with online, interactive lessons that develop all skills you need.
TEACH other members your language and learn from native speakers.
COMMUNICATE with native speakers and make friends all over the world.

Click here to add a verb conjugator to your website

If you would like to give your students an opportunity to practice Spanish verb conjugations, you can obtain a free conjugator at above website to add to your webpage.

Spanish Music Videos and More

Fotografia On Yabla

I use Yabla player in the classroom and my students love it! Click on the link  above to try out the Yabla player with this free music Video "Fotografia" by Juanes. You can show or hide both English and Spanish lyrics but what I love most is the ability to slow the music down so my level 1 students can hear the words. As a monthly subscription it will cost you  $14.95 but I feel it is well worth it.

If interested in subscription, go to Yabla

My Fake Wall Idea for the Classroom

Just an idea on how a Spanish teacher might utilize  http://www.myfakewall.com/   within the classroom. I had my students create a wall under my account after reading portions of Don Quixote in class. You could have them reseach various characters before making a post (assign each student a character).
http://www.myfakewall.com/w/Don+Quixote_2

I just made a new Voki. See it here:

Create free Avitars

Create your own avitar and have it give instructions to your students. In the foreign language classroom, I allow students to create their own avitars. They record their own voice as they inroduce, describe themselves and tell likes and dislikes. This works really well for those timid students who dread having to speak in front of the class. The students e-mail their "voki" to me and I post it on our class web page. After everyone has created an avitar, we use projector and laptop with internet to view all vokis during class. The students love trying to guess the true identity of each Avitar. http://www.voki.com/  

Free File Conversions

Free online file conversions without the need to download software at  http://zamzar.com/
Just convert video you need to one that can be played on your computer
and viewed in the classroom. After conversion your new converted file will be sent to your e-mail.

Power Point Games

These PP games even have sounds effects of real game shows. Many are available for free downloads. http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/PPT-games/

Comic Strips

create your own comic strips or have students create their own. I've utilized thse for quizzes by having the student fill in the bubble with what comes next. http://www.toondo.com/

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