Internet Resources for Learning Foreign Language

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What is Internet? What is WWW ? Web Enhanced Language Learning (WELL) and WELL SLIDES give a very good overall answer to this basic question. Why use WWW ? Language teachers can exploit WWW resources to Use ready-made materials (free or almost free) such as reading texts, graphics , CALL tools etc. Make your own materials for classroom use or self-access use Improve your own language learning (non-native speaker) Make contact with other teachers from all over the world; sharing and exchanging information Build up a material bank Any other thoughts? Exercise Visit this French page. How would you use this page? http://wizardry.free.fr/worldcam.html

First things first, You need a PC or a Mac, Internet connection and Web browser (e.g. Netscape, Internet Explorer)  You do not need to have complicated IT skills to begin with. You only need to be able to browse/surf the Web download for local use When you feel comfortable, you can try to use other skills such as, creating own pages creating lessons/assignments using web browsing skills creating interactive exercises using various programmes

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WWW Resources for Language Learning

Categories of Resources;

• Information Delivery medium
• Interactive medium
• Communication medium

WWW could offer learners;

• Reading exercises (from simple recognition of letters to advanced reading)
• Listening exercises using on-line broadcasting (Real Player, Microsoft Media Player, Quick Time, etc.)
• Writing - using e-mail and publishing own web pages.
• Search information and sharing information, collaboration with other people (e.g. WebQuest)
• On-line Lessons
• On-line learning tools (e.g. dictionaries, translation and concordances)
• Real-time communication with other learners (e.g. Video-conferencing and Chat rooms)

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Where can I find resources quickly?

Many sites offer a lot of language links. The following list is only a few of those.

• Well index page; Quick to find resources according to language, level and topics
• Well examples of web resources; Another page from WELL listing some examples of resources.
• University of Essex Modern Languages; Visit each language page and click "links".
• BBC: This is BBC's on-line lesson site.
• Lingu@net; Linguanet's link page is also linked from CILT.
• ICT Modern Languages; ICT Modern Languages' internet resource page
• Dave's Internet Cafe; "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
• ALL; Homepage of the Association for Language Learning

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WWW Experience; try the following pages by yourself.

Treasure Hunt; Beginners guide to cyberspace. This page introduces various European pages and some ideas that you might use for your students. Download adn print TR page

Japanese Treasure Hunt: This is an example I used for adult  novice users some  time ago.
The exercise  will take students through the above mentioned resource types. Students explore  sites they like at their own pace.

Other samples; You can find more samples of WWW use for language classroom.