A collection of TOOLS for EFL teachers (Part 2)

For this post, I'll be sharing sites with which you can create podcasts and different wordclouds.
It's always nice to know different alternatives for a tool you use a lot. Say, the tool you're planning to use is not working properly on the day you need it. Then it's time to look for similar tools.

 PODCASTING                

WORDCLOUDS  

                     

Super easy PODCASTING - Audioboo + Posterous + iphone

PODCASTING can't get easier than this. After reading a great post by NIK PEACHEY I decided to give it a try.

 First, I downloaded the audioboo app to my iphone.
Then, I went to my audioboo account and changed the settings to synch my audioboos with my posterous blog. (You can also synch your audioboo with your facebook and twitter)
To make the recording, I used my iphone (audioboo app), published my recording, attached an image to it, wrote a description and VOILÁ , it was automatically published in my posterous blog.

HOW TO USE THIS WITH STUDENTS

• record students reading dialogues and then with a simple click publish it in a class blog. 
• record yourself reading a text and then add comprehension questions to your posterous post.
• record yourself reading a text for your students as a dictation to be done at home.
• record your students interviewing each other.
• record interviews when you go to workshops / conferences and automatically share them in twitter.

If you don't have an iphone, the same can be done using an ipad or recording directly in the audioboo website.

AUDIOBOO   +  POSTEROUS

Creating PODCASTS with Myna

I normally use AUDACITY to make my recordings, however I'm aware it can be a bit challenging to newbies due to the fact that you have to download the program and then also download Lame to convert your recordings to MP3s.

I was looking for something simpler to show to a group of trainees I have for the online course I facilitate and remembered AVIARY's audio editor MYNA.

This is a short TUTORIAL I've created to help teachers record themselves so that later they can use the mp3 file to make a screencast at slideshare.net



Next month, I'm starting a new course for ESL / EFL teachers who are familiar with the tech world but would like to learn a bit more.



During CULTURA EDTECH "Moving Beyond" , teachers will be able to learn how to create their Blogger blogs, explore webtools and post mini lesson plans, try out online video editing tools, create screencasts and presentations they can share online. Interested? Just send an e-mail to anamariacult@yahoo.com.br and I can send you more information.

12 seconds

This is a site I had heard before but hadn´t tried yet, you need to have an invite though. You can record 12-second videos with your webcam or mobile, then post it or have it sent directly to twitter. So, instead of having written updates you can also use video.As you might have imagined 12 seconds is a very short time so you have to be very objective in what you say or show (just like in twitter). Just below is my first trial.

How can we use this tool with students?

Well, the best post I´ve read about this was written by Nik Peachey and my suggestion is that you go straight to his post to read all the great suggestion he´s given to teachers. Really worth reading.

• Nik Peachey´s post
  

testing 12seconds on 12seconds.tv

Odiogo

Thanks, Gladys, for the hint. Odiogo is really something. It adds voice to the content of your blog. And how can you do that? Go to Odiogo and at the top of the screen add your blog URL, your e-mail and click on GO. They transform your blog posts into podcasts that can he heard as you read the posts or that can be downloaded as mp3 files. The ID Feed is sent to your e-mail in a few hours. When you have the ID Feed, go back to Odiogo , look for the part which says BLOGGERS and click on your blog host (Blogger, Wordpress ...). Then just follow the simple steps. Very easy and simple. I guess it´s very appropriate for blogs aiming at EFL, ESL learners.