FluentU

FluentU is a really good tool for autonomous learning. It has a variety of videos learners can choose from. Once you complete 'study settings', FluentU will provide you with appropriate videos.

This is an example. Language: English, Level: Intermediate

Videos vary from language learning videos to film clips.

Each video is accompanied with subtitles.

Also, if you put the cursor on each word, it provides you with explanations with images if possible. The video stops while the cursor is on a word.

If you click on the pop up window from a word, you will find divers examples using that specific word usually with some video clips.

Those videos will help you understand how the word is actually used with various contextualised examples.

You can also choose 'Learn' to actually learn some words.

If you click on 'LEARN', you will have instructions to focus on certain words.

One of the big problems in language learning is that whether or not materials are authentic, whether or not learners are exposed to the real use of their target language. It is good to use textbooks designed locally for learners in a specific context because the approaches might suit learners in that specific context. However, each individual has his/her learning style, interest, motivation, or preference. Some might not be satisfied with textbook-based teaching. FluentU will be an ideal tool for those who would like to learn languages by using films, different teaching approaches, and various materials which are not from textbooks. However, it would make learners frustrated if there were problems in accessing Internet or finding interesting materials. I also wonder what could the teacher do to help learners make a good use of this tool.


Here is the link to FluentU. You can sign up for free!

http://www.fluentu.com/

Jing

Jing is a tool which allows you to capture a image or a video and to add your voice instruction over it. You need to download it but it's free of charge.

This is useful when you want to show Internet pages, videos or any documents with your voice guidance. Unlike my brainshark, it doesn't allow you to put your voice instruction slide by slide or page by page, but once you select the area you would like to capture, you can go any pages or sites. It keeps recording the pages and your voice unless you stop recording.

I tried capturing a Youtube video and adding my voice over it. Below is one of the famous scenes from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

I recorded my voice over this video using Jing. Once I finish recording, Jing sends me a link of the page where the the video with my voice is found.

http://screencast.com/t/dO1BdtLe

I can send this link to whoever I would like to share with the video.

I should know more about how Jing works and what it can do. I think it would be better it could allow us to see the original video and the video with our voice. Or maybe any possibilities to embed the voice-added-video on Blogger??


Here is the link to Jing.

http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html

This is the link to the training video provided by Russell Stannard.

http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/screen-casting/jing.html

My brainshark

My brainshark allows you to upload Powerpoint slides or Word documents or even make podcasts. It's free for signing up and basically it's free of charge. You can add your voice instruction to help your learners to follow your lectures/presentations. The students can also record their voice and listen to their recordings. It can serve to listening, speaking, and would be useful for writing and reading as well.

It allows you to make comments on each slides. It's easy to edit once you understand how it works.

The audience can leave comments, which encourages interaction between the producer and the audience.

Although this is a great tool, as is often the case with other tools, the teacher should spend quite long time preparing the materials and giving feedback to the students.


Here is a powerpoint document I made just to see how my brainshark works. The content is rubbish and my English is rubbish, very embarrassing, but I could somehow manage to make slides with audio guidance. Please be nice and kind if you listen to it!!!


 



Here is the link to my brainshark.

http://www.brainshark.com/mybrainshark


This is the instruction given by Russell Stannard. He can tell you how to use this step by step.

http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/video-youtube/mybrainshark-part-1.html

http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/video-youtube/mybrainshark-part-2.html