Great Tools in the World Language Classroom

Elke Sommers, German Teacher, and Joanie Rueth,

Technology Coach, Elmbrook Schools

Our Philosophy on Technology:

Elke: Technology is a tool that actively engages my students, encourages self-directed learning, facilitates collaboration, and connects them to other cultures.

​

Joanie: Technology is a tool to make learning and teaching more effective and efficient.

​

​

What technology do your students primarily use on a daily basis?

Technology means easy access to Google translate. What are your rules and expectations as far as Google translate is concerned?

Technology Tools for Interpersonal Communication

(real time conversation between two people or a small group)

SKYPE

• Great for author visits
• My experience with Karin Gündisch

Example for using vocaroo

Canvas LMS: Discussion Boards

• Focused Discussions or Threaded Discussions
• Increase Participation in Course
• Examples of use:
• Read Article and Discuss
• Watch Video and Discuss
• Listen to Podcast of Native Speaker and Discuss
• Project Sharing/Discussions

​

FlipGrid (Video Discussions)

Technology Tools for Interpretive Communication

(Reading comprehension--text, visuals, video)

PearDeck

Why I like PearDeck:

• Alternative to Kahoot!
• Interactive
• Perfect for formative assessments
• Pop up grammar lessons
• Great vocabulary feature
• It’s an Add-on for Google slides
• Paid Version: Teacher Dashboard

EdPuzzle

Why we like EdPuzzle:

• It’s interactive
• Great for listening activities
• Can be used with Youtube videos

​

Here is an example

​

​

Google Drawing

• Example of Use: Demonstrate comprehension of a story by drawing or making storyboards
• Why use it? Familiarity with tool, Collaborative
• Other Ideas:
• 6 Ways To Get Creative with Google Drawings
• Google Drawing Resources Post
• Visible Thinking Activities
• 5 Brain Friendly Activities in Google Drawing

​

​

​

​

​

Google Forms

Great for Formative Assessments:

• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• Comprehension

​

”How To” Resources

Tip: Preferences in Google Forms

Google Forms: Question Breakdown

Canvas “Quizzes”

• Surveys
• Formative Assessments
• Summative Assessments
• Time Saver: Import from Curriculum
• Free Version or School/District Version

Canvas Quiz Options

Canvas Quiz Statistics

Technology Tools for Presentational Communication

​

LyricsTraining.com

Why we like LyricsTraining.com:

• It’s interactive
• Great for listening to music
• Improves listening skills
• Students fill in gaps
• Different levels from beginners to expert
• English, Spanish, French, German, Italian

​

​

​

​

MovieTalk

Why I like MovieTalk:

• Developed by Dr. Ashley Hastings to teach ESL at the university level
• Brought to the TPRS world by Michele Whaley
• Teacher circles and discusses what’s visible on the screen
• I use short Pixar movies that have no dialogue

​

Tutorial on doing movie talk

​

​

​

​

​

Blogs in the WL Classroom

Why are student blogs a good idea?

• Students need an authentic audience for their writing.
• Should be free choice.
• Could be a great way to communicate between schools and levels
• Classroom blogs are a great tool for collaboration and discussion
• I used blogs as an option for passion projects
• Possibility of worldwide, real-time feedback!

Article on whys and hows of classroom blogging

Social Media

• Use Twitter as a story-writing activity. You tweet the first line and have students tweet a certain number of lines over a determined period of time, then read the finished story in class. These never disappoint.
• As a communication tool (homework)
• Can connect you with experts (genius hour)
• Instagram: teacher posts picture and students describe it.
• Consider using contracts and aliases

NPR article about social media

​

WeVideo

Collaborative, Online Video Editor

Resources

Quizlet

• A great tool for vocabulary learning.
• If you pay for subscription you may record your own voice.
• Great study features.
• Quizlet Live! is a great interactive feature

​

Playing Around the World with Quizlet

Duolingo

• Allows teachers to track student progress (could be a great motivator).
• Offers stories for intermediate learners.
• Podcasts are great but only in Spanish.
• Disadvantage: It doesn’t always line up with what’s taught in your classroom.
• Students could be assigned a specific duolingo skill, maybe one they struggle with

​

​

Storybird and Book Creator

• Book Creator: simple tools for writing and publishing tools. Books can be published online and/or printed. Students can make picture books, photo books, comic books etc. They can record their own voice and read it.

My students’ projects 50 ideas

• Storybird: Unlike with Book Creator, where students are responsible for their own artwork, Storybird curates artwork from illustrators and animators. They are supposed to inspire your students to write stories.

​

Kahoot Jumble! Quizizz etc

• Jumble questions challenge players to place answers in the correct order rather than selecting a single correct answer (quote from Kahoot website). I use Jumble to practice word order.

​

• Quizizz: like Kahoot! Quizizz can be teacher-led Kahoot! but it can also be assigned as homework as students may play on their own. Works for formative as you can review what students got wrong.
• Two separate classes could play against each other using this tool

​

​

Additional Tools To Explore

Google Sites - Student Portfolios (demonstrate proficiency and reflect on growth)

What other technology tool would you recommend? How do you use it?�