Tag Archives: best

Recommended Videos for ELT

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I am a big believer in using video in our classrooms – bringing rich context and “the real” into the artificial laboratory that is our classroom.

We have thousands of teacher recommended, curated videos on EFL Classroom 2.0. All specific to teaching English. A marvelous resource for our profession. But I always get asked – What are the best videos? While this depends a lot upon your teaching environment, I’ve finally put up an interactive presentation that makes it easy to find what I think are the real gems for teaching. This compliments a previous Top 100 list you’ll find linked on that page.

Enjoy these wonderful videos. Share with friends and colleagues. Comment and tell us how you use them in class. Would love to know what other videos you’d like on this “Recommended” list.

My Blog Year in Review: Part 1

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2011 was a big year for myself as a blogger. I blog for several organizations in addition to this blog (both this public one and the one on EFL Classroom 2.0). So I’m always shocked by my output – over 270 posts on this blog alone in 2011. However, even more suprised by the joy and pleasure I have making a blog post. I don’t count, or do it as a duty. I enjoy sharing, I enjoy the thought I suck upon like a gum drop, when I make a blog post. [but I am totally surprised by how many people do visit - thank YOU for visiting. I've had many days this year of over 1,000 unique visitors (readers)]

2011 for me was a time of big change and a lot of turmoil. I shared a lot of personal stuff on my blog. That was my goal and I think for the most part it was achieved. You can read an interview with myself. I wrote about the death of my coach and teacher. I launched my open source coursebook – Teach | Learn. I published a book of selected writings about teaching and education. I wrote about being a curator of content. I wrote about a new job and challenge at a new university. I wrote about my failures and triumphs with technology over the years. I wrote about “Keeping Up” and my new treadmill desk. I wrote about my own “Egyptian Moment” while teaching in the Ukraine. I wrote about how EFL teaching has changed since I first started 20 years + ago and what I know now but didn’t then. I wrote about teaching during a disaster.

Amid the hundreds of blog posts this year, stand a number I believe didn’t get the attention they deserve and others which did but deserve even more attention!

This post, I’ll detail my top posts I think need more readers and “light of day”. Next up will be the Top 10 that would welcome even more eyes of readers. To end the year, I’ll list my best Practical and best Language oriented posts. – See here a mid year review of Simply The Best posts.

Top posts 2011 (that need more readers)

Jan: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

Feb: How to discern a fit and fun classroom.

March: The other side of being a teacher. Making school so it doesn’t stink anymore.

April: Nothing breeds success like success. We keep what we give.

May: Myths and Maddness on both sides. My favorite graduation speech.

June: Memory and Language

July: Cursing and Swearing. The future of the tech book. . Assembly Line Education

Aug: The new way forward.

Sept: Extensive Watching. The 4 Freedoms

Oct: Dancing to the pied “textbook” piper. Philosophy of education at the movies. Disrupting ELT

Nov.: Minimally Invasive Teaching. The #1 factor effecting student success.

Dec: Yes sir, No sir, sorry sir.

Top 5 Funniest Videos about Teaching English

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Time for some levity!  It helps us survive our day in and day out teaching grind. It brings things into perspective. 

 

I’ve written previously some top 5 lists about teaching/studying English.  Hilarious stuff there. However, I think I have some equally hilarious but showing teachers in classrooms. So let’s go. Here are my top 5 funniest videos about teaching English. 

 

1. Katerine Tate and Comic Relief.Imagine her in your class!  Sterling – ‘nough said. 


 

2. Stripes: Harold Remis. I think this typifies many English teacher’s first time in front of a class.





 

 

3. Mind your language. Classic series that really is worth watching in full. Try this other one about vowel sounds!







 

4. Bud Light Super Bowl Commercial 2007



Find more videos like this on EFL CLASSROOM 2.0

 

 

5. English Teachers: Low key series from Japan.





Bests Posts 2010-2011

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I’d like to share as the year comes to a close – My best “Teaching Advice” blog posts. Also, my best “Practical Teaching Posts”.

[Next - I'll outline the Best posts about "Language". ]

Note: all posts link to the EFL Classroom 2.0 blog which is now public. If not a member – join us!

Also invaluable - 

The #1 in ELT Series of posts and my ebook – The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Teacher. .  Supporters will also benefit from the“I”m a Newbie Teacher” group - a complete directory of great resources!

 

Best Teaching Advice Posts:

1. Lessons For Teachers from “The King’s Speech”

2. Faking It.

3. Making what you do “Stick”.

4. In Praise of Slowness

5. Teaching Is ……

6. Using Video – The Coming Revolution

7. Surviving As A Teacher

8. Follow Your Nose

9. Giving Students Room to do their own thing.

10. Stepping Back to Jump Ahead

11. What Makes A Classroom Fit To Live In?

12. The 5 Enemies

13, Chopping Wood – A metaphor for teaching

14.25 Ways of being a good teacher

15. The 7 sensational sins of good teachers  AND  Deadly Sins

16. In Praise of Praise

17.My Teaching Village advice posts.

18. The Future of Learning

__________________________________

“Practical” Teaching Posts

1. Classroom decorating ideas

2. Song Lyric Sheets

3. Teaching with a blank piece of paper

4. Authentic Materials

5. Going to Pieces

6. Making a Doodle Video

7. Using Flashcards

8. Drawing Resources

9. 2 Way Tasks

10. Blank Dialogue Videos

11. Making Storybooks

12.PPT Games Series

13. Poetry in the Classroom

14. Kinetic Typography videos

15. Using Silent Video and Using Video

The #1 … (“personal” resource in ELT)

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Number One** Not your ordinary, endless list – just what’s number 1.

Larry Ferlazzo

larryLarry Ferlazzo does so much to help the wider English teacher community, I’m almost lost at how to begin…..
With that in mind and with the thought that he is not as appreciated as he should be (and there are a few others in this category) – I’m happy to add him to the #1 series.  This series wouldn’t be complete or have any integrity without him.
Larry should be added to any teacher’s reader, to any twitter account, to any blog sidebar. If you haven’t – do it now, so others will “get the goods”.
What I really like about Larry is that he is so fair and impartial. That’s always a sign of a great educator. He doesn’t judge a tool or resource – like a good journalist, he just notes the pluses and minuses and let’s you decide.  I wish I could be so impartial and non-interfering!
To end, let me list the ways Larry helps the wider community.

1. His “Best” lists. Larry is a great lister, probably the best around.
2. His blog. Full of great categories and information, always updated!
3. His teacher’s website.  Lots of links for students, all categorized. And more.
4. His published materials. Larry writes on practical topics.  Strategies / Motivation / Parent Engagement
5. He writes for numerous other blogs as a guest blogger.  Engaging Parents in Schools, In Practice, The Huffington Post and others.
6. An interview series with other great educators.
7. His twitter feed of incredibly useful references/resources.
8. The ESL / EFL / ELL blog carnival which he organizes and promotes.
All this and he teaches!  Thank you Larry and hope every new teacher finds you and gets the help they deserve.

Simply the Best 10 – for any toolkit

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web-tools350pxhThere has been A LOT of consolidation online, over the last 7-8 years. Sites, tools have come and gone. The web can be a cruel marketplace and particularly so when it comes to tools that help teachers and get students learning/creating.

There is so much out there! So, in order to help new teachers especially, I’m going to list those that are “Simply the Best” and have stood the test of time. Simply the best sites for students to create, share, produce and work with language. They won’t vanish and they won’t fail you….. Educators all over the world are using them to help their students learn.

Here they are with a link to my hundreds of website reviews on EFL Classroom 2.0 or ELT and Tech. There you will find examples, ideas and more thoughts….. Further – see my larger presentation about great web “places” – Teach / Learn (below).   I also welcome any “debate”. Let me know what is on your Top 10 and not included/mentioned.

SIMPLY THE BEST

1. Voicethread.

2. Glogster

3. Quizlet

4. Wallwisher

5. Wordle / Tagxedo

6. Storybird

7. Voxopop

8. English Central

9. Prezi

10. Xtranormal

*** Please note – these sites are good for any educator but especially listed as important for language teachers.

Top “Education” related posts of 2010

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best_2010_50._SS50_V195655205_Last week I posted up my “Top Teacher Training related posts of 2010″ – titled, “On the shoulders of Regular Joe Teachers”. Today, I’d like to share my “Top Education related posts of 2010″.

I’m incredibly proud of the level of resources and thought, I put into my blog this year. Over 250 quality posts. It truly is my own Phd (as David Truss often states about his own blog). Enjoy these posts and next will be my “Top language related posts”.

Don’t forget to download the “#1 in ELT ebook” – share, offer, click and discover. A true ebook full of serendipity!

1. Teachers. Who needs them?
2. Chopping Wood (as a teaching metaphor)
3. Teaching is ….
4. Let me list the ways I’m subversive
5. The competitive side of schooling.
6. Fire All English Teachers!
7. Educational Philosophy: A dialog between Plato, Dewey and Marx.
8. The Unbearable Lightness of being a teacher.
9. Using Technology the Right Way.
10. The Buying of Knowledge.

On the shoulders of regular Joe teachers

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giantsThese few words today are in thanks to all those I’ve learned from. The thousands of teachers I’ve trained and spoken with, the thousands of teachers sharing online and who’ve I’ve “nudged mouses” with, the many teachers I’ve had the pleasure of joining in their own classrooms, the teachers who’ve I’ve corresponded with by email AND even the teachers I’ve never even touched bases with (for all knowledge flows, like water). Hat’s off to you all, each and every one.

We often think we rest on “the shoulders of giants”. However, I really think that when it comes to professional development and teaching – this isn’t the case anymore. We all learn from “regular Joes” and social media is having an impact by knocking down the old statued authority and replacing it with information flowing between classrooms and teachers. No longer do books and a tomb such as H.D.Brown’s Principles of Language Learning and Teaching, rule the roost. The emperors are wearing less clothing!

I’ve had the honor of being nominated by a number of people as “Best Teaching Blog” in the Edublog Awards. I feel honored and humbled. I put a lot of work in this, my public blog and feel proud of the information here. Over 240 comprehensive posts this year, with loads of references/links and downloads. All possible because of what I’ve learned from “regular Joe” teachers – the true giants of ELT.

In this vein, I’d like to share my Top dozen Teacher Training posts from 2010. Next week, I’ll list my Top 10 posts on education.

1. Every lesson should have its hook
2. The Draw of Drawing
3. In Praise of Praise
4. Making a Doodle Video with your class
5. Top 5 pieces of advice on using technology
6. Storybook Making
7. New Teachers – Essential Stuff on EFL 2.0
8. Student Created Content
9. Top 60 Websites
10. Manufactured Teachable Moments
11. Culturally Specific Content
12. Using the Guinness Book of World Records

The #1 Series now a carry ’round (printable)

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It has now been a year since I first started the #1 series.

Here it is faithfully edited, updated and relinked, facelifted. Lots of stuff that might remain as important  reference.

Download and purchase a hardcopy to print, carry around, use as toilet paper and win paper airplane contests with. Most importantly, print and give to your colleagues, spread the inspiration. It costs $5 and all the proceeds go to support the work here on EFL Classroom 2.0. See the sample below.

Let me know what you think. Should I continue? Which one has helped you or which one do you love best? Let’s talk!

Top 60 Websites for teaching/learning English

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This presentation is often visited and I’m proud I took the time to distill and filter and come up with what I think are “winners”. Takes teachers so much time to find “gold” and this will help. Not a full answer but ……

Sit back and enjoy a cool CC tune from CCmixter!

Get the ebook version with direct clickable links below. Enjoy and please tell us which ones you use a lot, what gold YOU”VE bought.

The #1 … (commercial about learning English)

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Number One** Not your ordinary, endless list – just what’s number 1.

The German Submarine

I’ve use this video a lot during my workshops and presentations to practicing or pre-service teachers. It makes a serious point but also has levity that really relaxes everyone and gets us ready for the session.


Find more videos like this on EFL CLASSROOM 2.0

A few notable mentions:  The Cat and Fish /   The Laundromat.

If you liked this – you will like Using Commercials in the Classroom! Part 1 and Part 2

Best Web 2.0 tools for learning / teaching languages

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I made this awhile ago and forgot to put up on my blog! Click on any picture to go to that tool. Only the best garnered from my actual experience using all these. It is a follow up to my Teach/Learn Prezi presentation.

Get the powerpoint of this HERE. Also, see this voicethread discussion by teachers for lots of great thoughts on the use of technology in education!

Top 100 Youtube videos for EFL!

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youtube_logoYoutube recently celebrated its 5th anniversary. Wow! See the video karaoke I made with Breakingnewsenglish content.

However, today, in honor of youtube and what it does for our classrooms – I’ll leave you with a great gift. My 100 top youtube videos for students! Yes, I took HOURS to collect these together and find only the best. This is a treasure trove. ** this link updated from that in the player below.

Many others I wanted to include but alas they weren’t on youtube – but find them where I’ve collected them against father time – on EFL Classroom 2.0.

youtubeAlso, get the ebook which includes loads of link lists plus the best commercials for teaching English.

If you liked this post – you might also like The Best Commercials for the EFL Classroom.

Here too are some of my fav. video tags on EFL Classroom 2.0: Best / Funny / Grammar / Children / Geography / Professional Development / Lectures / Music / Karaoke / Technology / Young Learners / Stories / Reading / Inspiration

Top 100 Youtube Videos for Teaching English
Top 10 The Elephant Song Where the Hell is Matt Lemon Tree ABC Song 5 Little Monkeys Lily and the Map C is for Cookie Can Do Kid Slippery Fish We are sinking!
11 – 20 Hey Jude Kid Who Stole the Cookies? The Message Mr. Morton is the Subject of the Sentence We are the World What a Wonderful World “I have a dream!” Stop and Go – Lisa Loeb Mr. W 6 Billion Others
21 – 30 The Appointment Free Hugs Always on my Mind Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus Alma What happens next? Brown Bear, Brown Bear Urban action Doing a Bradbury I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
31 – 40 Chocolate Man Ages/Numbers Michael Jackson Medley A short love story Aha – Take on Me Moments Man with no arms/legs Validation George and Rosemary The Big Snit
41 – 50 I gotta feeling (Lip Dub) World on Fire Pen Story Asics Origami Honda commercial Xbox commercial Cat/Fish – Learn English! Deadline Story of Stuff F is for Fail
51 – 60 Banana Pancakes Coldplay-Yellow Don’t Worry, Be Happy Flying Penguins Gold’s Gym Grammar Bruce Lee Table Tennis Astley – Never going to give you up Hoyt Family Zoo Animals Ten in the Bed
61 – 70 Adora Svetak – Writing The Girl Effect We didn’t start the fire E eats Everything The Hummingbird story Lemon Tree in the Class Chocolate Rain A Korean Love Story African Rain storm A picture every day
71 – 80 One year in 90 seconds The Word is NO! I am a Pizza Google Logos Without You – Bulgarian Bob’s House commercial Pepsi vs Coke Shiffty Five Happy Dance A Close Shave – Wallace and Gromit
81 – 90 Taiwan – I will always love you Dr. Seuss’ ABCs The Prediction Kung Fu Fighting I got a feeling – photo song If I had a MILLION dollars Mr. Xs Amazing Yesterday Gabriel and the Vagabond Top 50 tourism countries Sesame St. – Song of the Count
91 – 100 Be Remarkable Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Eminem – I’m not Afraid Lift the Label New Dork Harder Better Faster Stronger I.T. Monks The Little Mole Best Photos of All Time A Dark, Dark, Tale

“Simply The Best” of my blog posts

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simply the bestLately, I’ve been asked by several people about putting up a list of my “BEST”. For quick reference. I’ve written quite prolificly and believe it or not, really take my time to prepare and write a blog post. Like at the moment, been reading for well over a month in preparation for a blog post on “Sound and Fury – Semiotics and Teaching”. Stay tuned.

So I really think there is some valuable stuff I’ve written that is archived. New is good but gold is found “deep”. While I find it really hard from all the hundreds of comprehensive posts I’ve made, to come up with a few “BESTs” — here’s a list of what I consider many of my best. For quick handy reference. Comments always welcome!

Number 1

People

Teacher Training

Education

Websites

Linguistics

Technology

Teaching

Resources

Commercials

Voicethread

The Best

My top 10 sites for Language teaching/learning – 2009

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Jane Hart, bless her heart, runs a nice collection of THE TOP 10 TOOLS LISTS OF LEARNING PROFESSIONS. Check them out and lots of diverse entries. Here’s her own top 25.

I’m too late to participate but find my list for last year HERE. Here is my list for this year. The major thread/theme that runs through all these is SIMPLICITY. No fuss and no muss.

My Top Ten Tools for Language Learning/Teaching.

#1 English Central.
This ousts Voicethread this year. It is an amazingly independent learning tool which could be adapted by teachers for full class instruction also. Students speak dialogue from a video and get instant feedback on their “production”.

#2 Voicethread
I’m amazed at my own voicethreads and how so many teachers are using them! Post a pic, tell students to visit and speak. Simple but complete.

#3. Bubblejoy!
This might be a controversial choice but I believe in simplicity and this allows students to quickly, easily , send video postcards. Very attractive and motivational!

#4 Tarheel Reader
Oh, I can’t say enough about this place to make books, hear books, share books, download books and just find such awesome contextualized resources for teaching. Thank you Gary, you are a saint.

#5 Posterous
There are many new applications for teachers to instantly share documents/videos/mp3s/ppts etc…. with students. Posterous is the best. Instantly makes your own website and you just send your stuff by attachment in your own email. So simple!

#6 EDU 2.0
This is by far the best place to set up your classroom and/or school personal learning network. It has it all. Gradebooks, chat, video, nice interface. Simple too!

#7 Karafun Karaoke on EFL Classroom 2.0
Yes, why not toot our own horn! I’m so proud of the hundreds of teachers who use and share karaoke files and use karafun to provide students with text supported content for language learning. Not just songs, but news, articles, books and all at your fingertips with a simple click.

#8 Storybird
OMG! This site offers students the most complete educational writing experience. Choose from great illustrations, write and then share your story with classmates. Simply the best.

#9 EFL 2.0′s Talking Bot
Yes, let’s toot our horn again. What’s better than your own private conversation partner? Safe, smart and attractive! Students overseas need this kind of thing for practice and being creative in producing language. Our English Tutor is a close second but she isn’t as pretty!

# 10 Voxopop
Still a wonderful place for students to listen to authentic audio and for teachers to get their students speaking and having conversations online. Works like a charm. You just need a headset!

*** Honorable mention (because it IS so simple) – WORDLE. See our full set of games based on this amazingly simple tool. Just enter some text and make beautifully designed “word images”. Learn some of the secret symbols to enter and even make them nicer!

Top 5 Videos to Inspire Teachers

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Continuing on from our other BEST Videos series (Funniest / Inspiring Students), here are my picks for favorite videos to inspire teachers. They all contain important messages and I consider each and every one MUST viewing for any long term teacher. Honorable mentions to the following: Did you Know Pay Attention , Educational Quotes, Teaching How to Learn and Making a Difference.

See more INSPIRATIONAL Videos on EFL Classroom 2.0 HERE.
Also, many of these videos can be found on our unique TED Talks player. Convenience and inspiration for all teachers.

#1 – One Buttocks Teaching.
Although not directly about teaching, Benjamin Zander relates with humor and intelligence, many important messages about teaching and relating/inspiring others. This is definitely number one and of high note!



#2 – Education is destroying creativity.
Ken Robinson delivers in a dead pan style, a crie de coeur, an appeal for more creativity in education. He really questions the goals of education and gives all teachers inspiration to value each and every student.




# 3 Hole in the Wall.
Sugata Mitra shows us how powerful it is when we allow our students to teach each other. A cry for more collaborative learning and for unleashing the power within students. An appeal to the inductive and contructivist approaches with facts and results.



# 4 The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch, really gets down to the nitty gritty – what life is about. A superlative teacher, he gives his last lecture before his death and relates a special message of “what it is all about”.



# 5 The Future of Learning
This video asks us the questions we should ask ourselves – about our own teaching. It encourages us to turn on our students by teaching through their digital world/life.

Top Videos to inspire students!

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I just did a write up about the top 5 “funniest” videos about language teaching/learning. Well received and I got lots of nice comments. So – I’ve decided to continue the series and reveal some more “gems” buried here in the hundreds of videos on EFL Classroom 2.0

I really think a BIG part of teaching is being a motivator. Especially with language where there often lacks a lot of intrinsic motivation (the stuff that lasts). Language takes a lot of time compared to other subjects and we just don’t have that in our classrooms. So, if we can inspire our students to learn English or just to “reach for the stars”, all the better. They’ll be able to get there on our own. So without further ado – here are my top 5 for motivating and inspiring students. Please add your own mentions too!

***** Coming next – the top 5 videos to inspire teachers!

Best Videos to inspire students.

** Honorable mentions. Lily the Geography Whiz Adora Svitak – young writer. Bruce Lee plays table tennis

1. Where the Hell is Matt (Series of 3 videos). – travel the world dancing with Matt!

2. The Message. Powerful and teaches a lot of English too!



#3 Jason McElwain shoot for the stars (and 3 pointers)

#4 Hey Jude Kid. He sings from his heart and shows anyone can learn English!

#5 If you fall down, you can always get back up!

Funniest videos about teaching / learning English

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Time for some levity. Us teachers need to laugh at ourselves, our profession a bit. This is an absolute must. So here are a few of the classic videos I’ve laughed at over the last few years. My top 5.

Each video has to do with learning English or teaching English. If you want to watch something hilarious about education – the funniest video I know is Father Guido’s 5 minute university!

#1. JAPAN – Spare me my life. This is a cult classic – OMG! Yes, it is real!


#2 CHINA – Learning English in University “en mass”


#3 JAPAN – Aerobics English. I have a bad case of diaarrhea.

#4 Ali G Interviews Noam Chomsky.


#5 Do you speak English?

Essential Resource for Language teachers

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It is so important for language teachers to understand “the world” of their students and/or the society they are entering/visiting/living in….

One of the essential handbooks for gaining quick and valuable information about a foreign culture is Understanding Your International Students – Jeffra Flaitz, U. of Mich. Press. / Also, Understanding your Immigrant Students Here is an indepth review.

Both books offer great info. for the teacher about both the wider culture and the educational structure and styles. Handy charts plus info. on such things as greeting, gift giving and other customs. Basic language and linguistic information is also provided.

Here are a few of the example sections offered so you can take a look. But I highly recommend this for anyone teaching foreign students or venturing out to teach abroad. Also, see the site – Culture Crossing for an amazing resource online and in a similar vein.

el salvador.pdf

kuwait.pdf

thailand.pdf

turkey.pdf

uae.pdf

venezuela.pdf