BBC Learning English
Explore some of the various sections of the 'Learning English' website, watch some of the video clips and try out some of the activities. What is your favourite section and why? How do you think you could use this website in your teaching practice?
BBC Learning English website provides us with many resources for developing English skills like those on grammar, vocabulary, and features for the reading course. Each section comes with different lesson accompanying with the video or the audio as well as the exercises that will help you improve your English skills. My favorite part is the one on Grammar which could be used in my English class at school. What I like is that the material provided on this website is somewhat different from what can be seen in grammar textbooks. The videos shown in the grammar section do not directly explain the grammatical rules like the textbook but come in the form of a TV show which makes the class enjoyable. Say, if I am about to teach the students about the structure and the use of Present Simple, I will download the exercise on it from the website and use it as the material in class. Then, I will let the students watch the clip of the TV show on the website and do the exercise the check their understanding.
ReplyDeleteNice post, Ohm! I just had a look at that section - the Grammar Game Show. I think it would be a hit among your students, because it presents grammar structures in a 'novel' way. All the best with your plans to use it in your classroom. I would advise other trainees to check it out as well.
DeleteDavid :-)
^_____^
ReplyDeleteHi Aom. Glad you like the website, but I want more from you than a smiley face. Tell me which section of the website you liked best & why. You need to demonstrate that you have explored this site in some detail. Add more details as a reply to your original post.
DeleteDavid :-)
I can be developing my English skills from BBC Learning English website. My favorite part is Grammar which could be used in my class that will help my students improve their English skill. On this website you'll find a range of basic grammar to boost your language skill. On this different form textbook and easy to understanding. I will download some past to teach my students.
DeleteHi Aom, thanks for your response. Can you go still a little deeper? What grammar lessons on the website do you particularly like and why?
DeleteCheers,
David
I like this website and I think I will use this website to my students because It has many activities and I think my students will enjoy with this website.
ReplyDeleteHi Ying, I am glad that you like this website, but you need to go deeper. Which of the sections of the website do you like best & why? You need to show evidence that you have explored the site in careful detail.
DeleteDavid :-)
Which of the sections that I like the best of this website is Grammar that I can use it in my class there are many grammar series for beginner level learners. On this page you'll find a range of basic grammar programmes to boost your language skills. Each programme covers a key grammar point with all the explanations, examples and activities you need to become a basic grammar champion - in just 6 minutes. Grammar topics include present simple and present continuous tenses, the present perfect, prepositions, relative clauses, modal verbs, adjectives, the first conditional, phrasal verbs and much, much more.And can check our grammar knowledge with complete basic grammar reference guide.
DeleteI will download the video clip and exercise to use with my students in my class and I think they will enjoy with the lesson.
Hi Ying, thanks for your response. You're right there are a lot grammar exercises available for elementary students. I wonder what video clip(s) you are talking about though? There are audio podcasts available in the 6-minute grammar section. This section though is linked to some video clips where target forms such as "like" are used. Which video clips where grammar is practised have you had a look at?
DeleteI had a look on 6-minute grammar section 2. Topic adverbs of frequency. The video show the explanations of grammar that is more interested than let the students read from the book.If we do not understand we can try to listen to more and more and we can see transcript if we want .It is good for the students to learn by themselves at home or in their freetime .the students can download the podcast of 6 Minute Grammar and they can listen to it whenever they want!
DeleteHi Ying, thanks for responding to my question. All good. The 6-minute grammar podcasts, I think, would be a good resource for students.
DeleteDavid :-)
It's good instructional media for teachers because it's really easy to get many media or audio for using in class.
ReplyDeleteHi Jang, I agree with your statement, but you're going to have to give me more details. What sections of the site did you like best? Which sections do you think would be most helpful for your students?
DeleteDavid :-)
For BBC website I love many parts of the lesson especially in the part of English in a minute and Small talk. For English in a minute, I can learn about grammar which it shows the easy way to understand in the video clip. For example, it shows how to use few and less which are very confused in using in the sentences. Also Small talk, it is really interesting for me because it gives many knowledge of language or tips that we can use in our daily life such as culture about avoid asking salary.
DeleteHi Jang, thanks for adding those details! The 'English in a Minute' site is indeed useful for teachers with its 'bite-sized' takes on language points such as less vs. fewer and the Small Talk section includes useful cultural knowledge.
DeleteCheers,
David
BBC Learning English website has many sections including audio and video,It can show details and transcripts.My favorite session is Shakespeare speak courses.I will adapt an idea to use in my class.
ReplyDeleteHi Namyen, thanks for sharing. You're right about the versatility of the website. What in particular though do you like about the 'Shakespeare Speaks' section? Tell me more!
DeleteDavid :-)
This topic, of course, is about the story that the website has made in the form of cartoons. It's easy to motivate children. Each session is not long.In every session, there are questions to check the understanding of learners and transcripts to practice reading and listening together. Vocabulary is not difficult and It has the helper; Vocabulary reference and Grammar reference also. I can use it as an intensive listening or it is not difficult for students to do extensive listening.
DeleteI like the Shakespeare speak courses,too. It's very interesting lesson and not too long for the intermediate students. There are many wonderful step of practice, from beginner to higher level. It's easy to do intensive and extensive skills. In addition, Some students can learn this by themselves because it's easy to learn.
DeleteThanks for elaborating Namyen. I agree the Shakespeare Speaks units offer lots of repetition and support. Some of the idioms they address, though, such as "wild goose chase" have quite a complex origin and are only used on occasion. How useful then do you think the Shakespeare Speaks units really are for 'children?'
DeleteDavid :-)
Delete Comment From: PCSHS TESOL '19
ReplyDeleteBlogger Palin said...
My favourite section is grammar. Since I have tried to find any interesting ways to improve my grammatical teaching. After I watched this VDO clip, I get an idea for adapted teaching by using role play. All students can join the activity and grammar won't be boring anymore.
Hi Ni, thanks for sharing. Which part of the grammar section of the BBC Learning English site are you talking about - the '6 minute grammar' part or the 'grammar gameshow' part? In addition, can you explain how you're going to use role play for teaching grammar?
DeleteDavid :-)
I just pick the competition scenes from Grammar Gameshow part as a role play activity. I will set a Present tenses game competition. First, Students will be divided into 2 teams. Each has 12 members. The competition has 2 rounds and 12 sentence cards (what's tense & why) will be prepared per round. Next, one of each team comes to the front then teacher read aloud each sentence card. The one who can answer the question completely will get points. However, if it's wrong, the another team will have a chance to answer instead.
DeleteSmart response Ni! The game you have devised, I think, would work well. It would be compelling with twelve pairs facing off against each other.
DeleteFinally can you clarify your activity's 'role play' nature? Are the trainees' role playing quiz show participants?
The students act and speak as if they were the characters of competitor such they would be excited and strive to gain the score. Anyway, in this game, teacher as a trainee or host will join the activity too.
DeleteBBC Learning English website it's great! I think that I will use it to teach my students.
ReplyDeleteThat is great, Tum, but I want more from you. What section do you like best & why? You need to show me evidence that you have carefully explored this site!
DeleteDavid :-)
My favourite section is pronunciation reference because there are a lot of sentences to learn and each sentences are easy to understand. I can use this section in my teaching practice. I will use the exercise in this website to practice my students because all exercises are suitable for students in grade 9.It is useful to study.I am happy to show this exercise to my students.I hope the students happy too.
DeleteTum, I also like the section of Pronunciation too. It's easy for the students to understand and practice the pronunciation. I also like Tim's pronunciation workshop. I think I will use this section in my class the same as you.
DeleteHi Tum
DeleteI'm not quite sure which section you are talking about. I have found 'the sounds of English' section but this section teaches the English phonemes and uses words rather than sentences as examples. Please explain.
David :-)
Thank you for your response, David, I watched Video from BBC Learning about Tim's pronunciation Workshop: Assimilation of /t/ followed by /่j/
DeleteHi Tum, thanks for your response. All good.
DeleteDavid :-)
My favorite section is vocabulary because I can use many tasks for teaching in my class. I can improve about my teaching. I think my students will enjoy with many tasks.
ReplyDeleteHi Khae, thanks for sharing which section of the site you prefer. Which of the vocabulary-focused parts do you prefer though - 'English in a Minute,' '6 Minute English" or 'The English We Speak?' Also was there anything, in particular, about the nature of the tasks that drew you to them?
DeleteDavid :-)
My favorite part is English in a minute which can be used in my English class. I can learn about minimal pairs that may confuse English learners and I can also learn the different meaning of words, such as "do and make". I can check my understanding of the lessons by answering the quizzes that provided from the videos. I will use this video as a teaching material for vocabulary lesson.
DeleteHi Khae, I also like English in a minute that produces the new vocabularies. So it's easy for the students to learn and practice the new words.
DeleteGood response Khae! The English in a Minute videos certainly are 'fast & snappy.' They could certainly add something to a class or could be assigned for homework.
DeleteDavid :-)
I like a section of writing interview question because it's easy to do as the activity, especially, weak learner with writing. Before writing the questions of interview, there is an activity for them by rearranging the sentence of questions. It's interesting and fun for the students. They can check the answer in each sentence. Then, the students try to guess the answer of the questions that they do before listening the clip video. After that, answer the true/false questions. The last, practice the interview question with partners.
ReplyDeleteThat's great activity! The student get all of the skills: (integrative skills)
Thanks for sharing, Bee! I wonder what kind of interview questions you're talking about though? Are you referring to questions you might use as a researcher to interview a subject or questions you might use as an employer to interview a potential employee? What do you say?
DeleteDavid :-)
Thank you for your response. The interview that I said is to have questions for successful people. I forgot to tell you that there is a lesson of successful people in my class which I've tried to find some appropriate activities until I find this video in BBC and your question, it makes me hit on the idea of interviewing in the higher graded students later: interviewing for a job and/or interviewing for subject of researcher.
DeleteThanks a lot.
Bee
Thanks for clarifying the kind of interview questions you were discussing. It was a third kind, wasn't it: The kind of questions a journalist might ask 'a person in the news.'
DeleteIn addition learning how to construct questions is useful in general English communication too. That goes without saying.
David :-)
I like BBC Learning English website and I think I will adapt to my classroom. And this website can improve my English all of skills and students too.
ReplyDeleteHi Toiting, I am glad that you like the BBC Learning English website. You need to go deeper though. Which sections of the site do you prefer? In what ways in particular might they be used to help your students improve their English?
DeleteDavid :-)
Hi David
DeleteWhich of the section that I prefer is Courses (Getting to know each other) because this section have got together to ask each other some question and I think the questions are easy to understand and this section is a guide for me to adapt in my class that mean about conversation part (getting to know each other in the class).Ways in particular might the be used to to help my students improve their English are 1.get students practice about conversation in pair or group. 2.teacher review about lesson after the class and ask and answer about that lesson after the class in pair or group.
A good response. Questions to help us get to know others are useful. I wonder though in which course section you found this unit? Was it from the lower-intermediate section, for instance?
DeleteDavid :-)
i surf BBC and found that there are a lot of interesting materials which we can apply to teach in my class.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Rin, but I want you to go deeper. What are your favourite sections of the website & why? You'll need to give me evidence that you have carefully explored this website and examined its potential for your students.
DeleteDavid :-)
I found that BBC Learning English is really useful. It will be a priceless source for my teaching and help my students improve their English as well as mine.
ReplyDeleteHi Somanat
DeleteThanks for your response. I need you to go deeper though and discuss what sections of the website you think are most useful & why. You need to demonstrate to me that you have carefully explored this website and carefully considered its usefulness.
David :-)
Hi David,
DeleteThank you for your comment. Actually I like the Features the most because it combines many parts in itself such as Small Talk: Subjects to avoid in Everyday English section which I could learn different culture from this part and my young students would love to listen to the cross culture from me. They usually love when I share and compare the different culture which make them want to learn English and have experience on their own in the future. This also good for my teen classes as well because after they watch the clip, they can check their understanding by working on the quiz which is interactive. They would know right the way whether their answers are right or wrong. There is also a part of We say-You say which I also like it because it explained how to use idiom as native uses it regularly. This is also a quiz at the end to make sure that I understand and know how to use in which situation.
Yes, what makes reading class fun is the cultural study that comes after reading. Teenagers are active. It will be good if we let them share opinions towards the points presented in the feature.
DeleteSmart and comprehensive response, Somanat! That section found in 'Features' is called 'The Experiment.' There are certainly lots of cultural insights to be gained from studying these units.Doing so should add to one's sociolinguistic competence.
DeleteDavid :-)
BCC Learning English is very interesting for my class, especially in the grammar section. However,grammar is very challenging to teach for my students and it is extremely hard to convey the lesson. But I really appreciate videos that were made by BCC which are easy to understand grammar.
ReplyDeleteHi Nong. Thank you for your intelligent response to the website. I agree that the podcasts and videos on the website are useful tools for teaching grammar. Would you be able to tell me in which part of the grammar section you found the videos you liked?
DeleteDavid :-)
I really like the grammar gameshow's section, for instance Present simple and Present continuous Tenses. It's kind of fun to learn it.
DeleteAgreed! It would be fun to learn grammar through this gently satirical take on a gameshow.
DeleteDavid :-)
BBC have many learning English websites with the English teacher’s,I think that BBC helping with me in my class and it’s guidance for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Normy. You need to go deeper though. Which section of the BBC Learning English website do you like best and why? How could you use this section in your classroom?
DeleteDavid :-)
This website is great! I can improve my English skills and teaching skills significantly. Although I am not quite good at English grammar, but my best part of the website is still Grammar, in particularly The Grammar Gameshow. The show is easy to watch and so fun. I think I will adapt this show suitable for my class. My close friend teaches history, he usually uses gameshow technique for his class and it works. I think I will start with quiz show. ^_^
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Benz. Better late than never, as they say :-). I agree with you that the Grammar Gameshow is easy to watch and fun. So how do you think you would adapt this show to make it suitable for your class?
DeleteDavid :-)
I think that BBC Learning is really useful. It will source for my teaching and help my students improve their English.And I will adapt to my classroom.This website can improve my English all of skills.
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy, hanks fo you response. Can you go deeper, though? What section of the website do you like best & why?
DeleteCheers,
David