Using Websites #4

Improving Speaking skills - EnglishCentral
: http://www.englishcentral.com/

What is this?

• This website is a great tool for improving speaking skills on learner's own and provides plenty of video clips to watch from easy level to difficult one.
• There are three sections to try: Watch, Learn, Speak.
• Students can repeat segments of the video and compare their pronunciation with the pronunciation in the video.
• When you do the free registration, you can keep recording what you are doing with scores and compete with others in the world. 

How might you use it to foster language learning?

• Get the students to record their voice and compare the scores
• Use 'Send this video' when the teacher finds a good one and wants to send it to the students
• Encourage them to do the work regulary and evaluate weekly to choose the winner
• Give homework to practice recording for difficult or wrong parts of their recording

What limitations should the teacher consider when using it?

• Needs to sort out the contents for young learners and adults
• Good technological functions, but lack of contents for elementary schoolers
• Some recording sounds unclear and broken while listening