The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators

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The Best Resources for ESL/ ELL Teachers English Central has engaging and current video clips from news shows and movies, and shows the text as the words are spoken. Users are then prompted to repeat the words that are shown, and the online software “scores” how well the student has pronounced the text. The free site, financially supported by Google, is so sophisticated that it takes into account the particular native accent of the speaker. Users can register on their own, or a teacher can create an online classroom to monitor student work. (http://www.englishcentral.com/en/videos) U.S.A. Learns (http://www.usalearns.org) is an excellent multimedia self-paced (and free) site for Beginning and Intermediate English Language Learners. As with English Central, users can either register on their own or as part of a class to develop their listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills. It’s a joint project of the Sacramento County Office of Education and the University of Michigan. It’s designed for adult learners, but is also very appropriate for others. MABE (https://abeweb.mpls.k12.mn.us/) is a great free “one-stop shop” for all levels of English Language Learners. It comes from Minnesota Adult Basic Education, but is appropriate for others. It provides a massive and well-organized set of activities touching all aspects of language-learning. Mingoville (http://www.mingoville.com) is an exceptional free site for younger English Language Learners. It’s colorful, has lots of games and interactive exercises, and also functions as a “one-stop shop.” Surprisingly, it’s based in Denmark, and has a worldwide audience.

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