VOICETHREAD vs VOXOPOP

When we talk about technological instruments, we must know that they can bring the extra flavor in our class. But for us to enjoy it in such way, we need to establish first the utility this tool would bring; besides, we must be into some extend familiar with the product so that is not a headache for us.

Having said so, we have here two great ways to make the class interesting, Voxopop and Voicethread. Which do I prefer???...

 

To me is a matter of appliances and uses each program gives; for that reason, I consider Voicethread as my favorite because it allows not only the teacher but the students have more interaction via different means. The typing, voice recording, and video are just few ways you can transmit or communicate something through this program.

You can also upload a picture, a video using an URL, generate discussion, etc. This program seems to be really useful and easy to manage.

 

The experience I have had with this tool has been pretty good; I did not have any problem when using it. It was just a matter of getting used to. On the other hand, Voxopop required me to make some changes in my computer, some missing plugins, etc but in general my lack of support to this tool is because is too simple, you can’t do much but record your voice. It brings benefits I know; for example if your students are shy, they can gain confidence by not being videotaped instead they are voice recorded. But I insist, those same appliances can be found on Voicethread.

The way I would use this tool with my students will vary depending on the topic. We can easily make group works and make them upload an image or video they feel important to be shared, and some other things that can come up in the future.

Technology brings us the opportunity to get rid of the traditional boring classes and turn it into a significant experience.

 

 

SARA's INTERVIEW

What Sara is mentioning is what most of us had faced in one time or another. When we are learning another language, the listening part is one of the principal skills for us to learn about pronunciation, words, accents, etc.

 Most of the time is a matter of getting used to this new vocabulary and being constantly working on it; indeed, the listening skill we’ll help us to develop the rest of the skills, reading, speaking, and writing.
She mentions that the base for her to overcome this weakness was the practice she had on some web pages. This made a significant progress in her learning, to the point this is not a problem anymore.

The activities she had were very appealing to her. Some examples are the simple games, the different kind of practices, singing song, writing , reading , listening, etc all of this in order to learn more.

If you are a good listener, you can get better results in every area of English; for doing so, the best piece of advice I can make is to keep yourself practicing because there’s no other way for you to make your ear get a costume to the language in general.

As Sara's recommendation, practice is the base for improving the four macroskills.
Do you have any other piece of advice???.....
Share it…

Transparent backpacks....Good or Bad???

As everybody knows delinquency is taking the best of our society away. The Educational area has been strongly affected by it, proving somehow the lack of interest the government has. This blog is not made to criticize the government at all, I just want to retell to you about something that intrigued me these days in which students finally started school again.

 

I notice that many teenagers were carrying some transparent backpacks with them, something really strange, though. I asked a couple of them what was the reason for not to be carrying the regular kind of backpack, and they answered me so sincerely that was to some extend shocking to me. They told me that they were asked to use these transparent bags because of a couple of students were carrying some knives, which were used to black mail some students inside as well as outside the school.  I am going to keep the name of the institution because as a matter of respect for the ones who labor there. Many of students complained about these frequent problems, but they didn’t do it openly because they were afraid this people made an attempt against their lives.

 

The school had a very good reputation, but when started applying different things the law asked as accepting students with overage, expelled from their previous schools, and some other things as part of “not letting someone without been educated project”, all this was done without checking their school or personal record, leading the problems they have now. Indeed, this had students concern about their safety even their parents were asking for some kind of protection for their sons and daughters. The institution presented this idea which was accepted by the majority of parents. All this lead the institution to take some drastic decisions, for the welfare of the same students. Transparent backpacks, students being checked at the entrance of the school, frequent police officers visits, a selection method to enter and be a student from the school, and some other things that guarantee students’ optimum development.

 

Some students and even parents were kind of reluctant to this approach of the problem because they felt privacy is an aspect that is been affected; they highlight the fact of having a transparent bag, for gals, is kind of uncomfortable because they need to carry sanitary products, which now can be seen for everyone becoming into an awkward situation where they can be easily fool for it. This were some of the reasons or ideas this teens told me about their discontent, but they also feel as well as the administrative personal that this is a way they can have more control over the situation they are facing in the school because if nothing is done, they say, this problem will increase over and over again making it impossible or perhaps harder to be solved later.

 

 

I consider what the school is doing as a good way to finally start fighting against delinquency, though. Perhaps is attempting against some rights students have, I know, but It has a reason to be done, students safety. We can perfectly see many cases like this of robbery and black mailing are happening in front of our eyes and all over our country. The lack of interest or perhaps fear is pulling us back to do something about it. We must see that the education area is suffering real damages. For that reason, some of the schools affected are taking their own solutions, expecting the best of them. Hopefully all this new ideas work, so we finally can stop listening different news about dead, kidnapped, or robbed kids.

 

Here I am uploading a video related to this topic....