Web tools

Hello Readers!

We all know, how, with the arrival of the internet as well as rapid technological advances, language learning has become easier than ever. We no longer need well built and equipped classrooms to learn language. Neither do we need a set time to do so. There are numerous web tools available today which make language learning, a fun and learn activity. This post is dedicated to the discussion of such web tools. Following are the web tools (some old, some new) and the description of the language element they focus on:

1) Duolingo:





This tool helps with learning a foreign language. This tool allows users to use their home language/mother tongue, and learn a foreign language. It focuses mostly on listening and speaking skills. The tool is available in, both, website as well as mobile application format. It also includes gamification element and allows the learner to set day to day learning goals.


2) Penzu:






This tool focuses on the reading and writing skills. Like Duolingo it is also available in both, the website as well as mobile application formats. Penzu can be used to keep notes as well as read people's ideas on various topics. It also can be helpful in developing the learners' diary and journal writing skills.

3) YouTube:

Though YouTube isn't specifically designed for language learning; it can be used for development for the development of LSRW skills. Learners can watch as well as listen to videos and audios related to the target language. YouTube can prove particularly useful for teaching pronunciation patterns; learners can listen to the pronunciation of the target language words and sounds as well as watch various videos on how the words are arranged to create meaningful sentences.

4) Grammarly:


Grammarly can be useful for enhancing the learners' grammar skills. The tool specifically focuses on writing skills but can also be used for reading skills. The learner learns what are the correct sentence patterns and grammatical structures. The tool corrects the learners' typing errors and suggests which grammatical form is correct. The tool also includes plagiarism check and spell check features. It also checks the tone of writing; it tells us whether our statements sound formal or informal.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Metaphysical poetry: critical analysis of George Herbert's Love (3)

Whether it was religion or love, the metaphysical poets had their own way of writing poetry on topics concerning the human experience. Though history doesn't speak much about them, their contribution to English literature speaks a lot. Anyways, the poet I'm going to talk about is George Herbert, one of the major metaphysical poets, with special emphasis on the critical analysis of his Love 3 . Love 3 is the last poem of Herbert's poetry collection "The Temple". Written in the form of a dialogue, the poem is the third in the series of love poems of the collection. Spending the later years of his life in religious activities, George Herbert, through this collection, wanted to draw his readers' attention to the experience of true eternal love i,e God's love. Which is why, in the earlier two poems, he explains how, the love for God is higher than the human experience of love, which mostly is an "usurping lust", in his opinion. Love 3, being the la...
Read more

Oulipo-Creativity through Constraints

Image
Imagine a blank page. Imagine that you are told to write, paint, draw, anything you wish to. At first, this exercise would make one feel happy with the fact that they are free to express whatever and however they wish to. But the next moment the same freedom would lead to confusion. What should I write about? What should I paint/draw? Without the constraint of a context, creating or inventing something would seem nearly impossible for many of us. A constraint isn't always an imposition or bondage. It can also be seen as a foundation for creative impulse. To better understand this idea, watch the following video on the power of creative constraints: The Oulipo group created by Raymond Queneau and  François Le Lionnais in Paris in 1960 championed this idea of creating literature within the constraints of linguistic, mathematical and logical boundaries. Oulipo is a French acronym for "Ouvroir de littérature potentielle" and can be translated in English as "The Workshop...
Read more

Survey: DELL Software

This post is in response to the questions (7-10 and 13) asked here 7) The five advantages of language learning through software include: Development of basic language skills Ease of assessment for the teacher The software is easy to operate, provided the tools are in good condition Teachers can also easily monitor learners' performance Convenient for group work 8) Following are the disadvantages of the language learning software: Inconvenience of time and place Affordability and availability of digital tools Lack of awareness regarding the usage of the software and the usage of the digital tools 9) Following are the few things related to language skills which can be learnt from the software: Communication skills A good vocabulary Standard accent and pronunciation patterns 10) Following are the five new words, in terms of vocabulary and pronunciation, learnt during the survey: Wonk Psychometric Veneer Xerophthalmia Debonair 13) Comparatively, the N...
Read more