25 Best Learner Resouces

25 Best Learner Resources

Please click on the link to view my slide show on my 25 best list: http://www.slideshare.net/isidra/25-learners-best-epablo-1314858

Here are the summaries of these websites:

1. http://a4esl.org/
Activities for ESL/EFL students
This website has simple activities that ESL/EFL students can learn English such as grammar and vocabulary. The site is easy to navigate through with simple use of language that the learner could understand. There are simple quizzes for grammar and vocabulary. With crossword puzzles and quizzes that are bilingual, with a variety of different languages. This website also has external links to other websites that relate to these activities.

2. http://www.manythings.org/
Interesting Things for ESL students
Interesting Things for ESL student’s website has a variety of choices not only dealing with English grammar and vocabulary but also with reading, sentence patterns, slangs and idioms, etc… This site is fairly easy to navigate through however the webpage is quite busy. But all in all this is a good website and it has a lot to offer to ESL students.

3. http://www.teflgames.com/games.html

ESL Games and Quizzes
This website has games and quizzes in which students can have fun with at home convenience. The page is not busy with simple language and navigation. It has graphics and colors that is not too overwhelming. Games range from easy to advance. There are some advertisements throughout the pages but it is not too much.

4. http://www.eslkidstuff.com/OnlineGamesMain.htm

ESL Online Learning Games

This website is has many interactive games from easy to advanced learners. These games are linked to other sites where the games are located. There are a lot of resources that available to the learner.
5. http://www.usingenglish.com/

UsingEnglish.com
Webpage is helpful with vocabulary, grammar glossary, idioms, test/quizzes, etc… *note: in order to access more stuff a person would need to sign up (sign up is free)*

6. http://www.englishelearning.com/index.php?affiliateid=1

Englishelearning.com
Website has available test, quizzes and exercises but to gain access it has to be bought. *Not Free**

7. http://www.eslcafe.com/

Dave’s ESL Café
This site gives great examples with explanations. It has things for both student and learner. This site has many links that are related to the content.

8. http://fonetiks.org/

Fonetiks.org
This website is focused on the pronunciation of words. These pronunciations are available in nine different languages with easy navigation throughout the page.

9. http://www.internet4classrooms.com/esl.htm

Internet4 Classrooms
This site is geared toward teachers however the site has links to other websites that has interactive games and activities for the students. *Website contains links to other sites*

10. http://englishpage.com/

Advanced English Learning
This website is a good site to learn English it has simple English that the learner could understand. It has vocabulary words like you would here in everyday speech and it offers simple explanations that the learner could comprehend.

11. http://www.eslmonkeys.com/student/esl_learning.php

ESL Monkeys
This page has tools and resources for both teacher and student. The site’s slogan is learn a new word every day and it also gives simple terms, definitions and examples for the learner.

12. http://www.eslkidslab.com/index.html

ESL Kids Lab
This webpage is a good. It has printable worksheets and flashcards for students. It is accessible for the student’s to get it at home. *In order to print the printable pages you would need ADOBE Software*

13. http://www.englishmedialab.com/

English Media Lab
This site is an interactive site with quizzes and exercises that can be accessed at home by the student. It also has media so that the student can hear the pronunciations of words. the exercises start from beginners, intermediate and advanced.

14. http://www.esl-lab.com/

Randal’s Cyber Listening Lab
This site has audio that the student can listen to and the levels range from beginners, intermediate and advanced. The audio clips are voices of both adults and children.

15. http://www.esltower.com/students.html

ESL Tower.com
There are resources for both teachers and students. It has self study grammar sheets available to the students.

16. http://www.esl-galaxy.com/

ESL Galaxy
This has lesson plans and activities. Printable worksheets for teachers and students.

17. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslstudent.html
Online Writing Lab
Just like the others site it also has exercises and quizzes for ESL students. It also features other links to other site where the student can enhance their writing skills.

18. http://www.mrshurleysesl.com/englishpractice.html
Fun and Games for English Practice
This Webpage although very dull and monochromatic it has a lot to offer for both students and teachers. The site gives good examples and it is *FREE*.

19. http://www.jcckc.net/english/links_games.htm
ESL Games and Activities
Website contains links to other Websites for games and activities. The Links are easy to read and comes with a brief description of the sites. However only some websites work and the other sites have expired and cannot be found

20. http://esl.fis.edu/vocab/index.htm
Vocabulary for Learners of English
This site has a variety of quizzes including interactive quizzes with pictures. It is easy to navigate through no advertisements and little graphics. This is a good website for both teacher and student. *FREE*

21. http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/gamezone2.htm
Game Zone
This is a cool website. It has a lot of interactive games. The games range from easy to difficult. The games makes you think quicker because of time limitations. *FREE*

22. http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/quizzes/#five
Grammar Blast
This site is great. The quizzes are interactive and after every two quizzes there is a cumulative review. However the site was made for grades 2nd-5th.

23. http://www.angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner/grammar/grammar.html#adjint
Grammar
Website contains helpful quizzes for language learners however the page is fairly difficult to navigate through and would be suited for advanced learners. *FREE*

24. http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/freeexercises.htm
Grammar Aquarium
The page is good and the interactive games are updated ever so often. The games/quizzes are available to the learner both online or a printable. Recommended for intermediate to advance learners.

25. http://www.1-language.com/audiocourse/index.htm
Practical American English
This website contains scripts and audio clips that will help the learner hear and use the English language in different situations. Scripts consists of practical situations to social conversations. When learner reads the script the audio clip plays so the learner will hear how the spoken language is supposed to sound like.

Online Journals

Cultural Diversity, Pedagogy, and Assessment Strategies
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2668196
By: Serge Madhere

The journal article entitled, Cultural Diversity, Pedagogy, and Assessment Strategies, discussed the academic performances of students of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds (white to non-white students as stated in the article.) Ogbu’s thesis stated that the academic success of a group is based on the ideals of the minority. Ogbu’s theory explains the differences in achievements in three groups. These three groups were assessed on their achievements by their ideals as a culture and minority. Although most people are monolingual when it comes to social context, bilingual speakers also learn the rules of their second language in which they code switch in different situations

Adapting to Diversity: Organizational Influences on Student Achievement
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1981973
By: Richard C. Richardson, Jr. and Elizabeth Fisk Skinner

The journal by Richardson and Skinner focused on the topic of achievement and participation rates in minorities such as African Americans, Hispanic, and Native Americans (American Indians). The researchers also focused on the problem within the educational system to help the students adapt to change of ways and environment. This was difficult because minorities such as the one said earlier, these groups of people were thought to be inferior to the majority. These changes were rather difficult because of the hesitation to change ways and to accommodate diversity.

Title: The Challenge of the 21st Century: Developing a Highly Qualified Cadre of Teachers to Teach Our Nation's Diverse Student Population
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2668104
Author(s): Mary Hatwood Futrell

Furtell’s journal article expressed the need to have certified teachers in the public school system. During former President Clinton’s time in office he found the need to nationally certify teachers. With the certified teachers in the public school system it gave an opportunity to the low income and minority children to have the chance to be educated by them. Also with the need to certify teachers there are also the standards to certify future educators.

Title: New Connections for Sociology and Education: Contributing to School Reform
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3108453
Author(s): Joyce L. Epstein

Epstein’s journal discussed the downside to the school system and practice. In The “traditional” school environment, educators and administrators focus on the cognitive development of the students whether it be elementary, middle or high school however they stray away from the sociological aspect of education. Although psychology has a lot to offer to the reforms from the sociologist’s point of view they believe they have much to offer to school reforms as far as its practices, approaches and theories. this research was done over a ten year span with the observation of family involvement with student’s education and the overall community involvement and the success of the student’s.

Title: Contemporary Bilingual Life at a Canadian High School: Choices, Risks, Tensions, and Dilemmas
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3108468
Author(s): Tara Goldstein

This journal is an ethnographic study that was done over a four year span on students who used two different languages and the achievements they have made in a Canadian School where English was the language of instruction. Since the immigrant students were speakers of two languages and English a second language teachers had to find new and creative ways to get information across and make it meaningful. The study focused on the students of two languages, cultures, and communities. It also focused that teachers should learn about their students especially one’s of different ethnic backgrounds.

Title: Language and Schooling
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2112601
Author(s): Hugh Mehan

Hugh Mehan described in this journal the important role language plays in education. Language in school has been more stratifying on a more social level, student’s interaction. Mehan also observed the difference of language in two settings, the home and in school. Both of these settings have different effects on language and learning. Not only does language play a distinctive role but also the environment and cultural settings. These points were taken into consideration when achievements of students were observed. These factors are very influential and should not be overlooked.

Title: Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Classroom: Does It Promote Student Learning?
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2672879
Author(s): Patrick T. Terenzini; Alberto F. Cabrera; Carol L. Colbeck; Stefani A. Bjorklund; John M. Parent

These authors highlighted the issue on racial and ethnic diversity in the classroom with examples of the inequality of minorities in getting an education. In 1965 Act was passed which allowed people of different ethnicities to be admitted into the classroom and treated equally. Schools have adopted this in which they implement equality upon the students of all ethnicities. This journal explores the issue of diversity in the classroom and its effects on the learning and achievement of students who are in these divers classroom environment.

Title: The Study of Diversity: The "Knowledge of Difference" and the Limits of Science
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3838817
Author(s): Benjamin Baez
This journal talks about the impact of diversity on education and the school setting. Diversity has been a “hot” issue especially in the classroom. It has been observed of its effects in the classroom and will diverse classrooms work in school settings.

Title:Technology and Teaching Culture:Results of a State Survey of Foreign Language Teachers
https://calico.org/html/article_442.pdf
Author(s): Zena Moore, Betsy Morale and Sheila Carel

The article, Technology and Teaching culture, is an article that researched the implementation of technology in the classroom, specifically in teaching culture. The core topic of the article described the little use of technology when teaching. The lack of using such media tools when teaching culture. This written piece discussed the infrequent use of technological tools such as e-mail or the World Wide Web. The tools were ranked by language that is taught, level of learners (i.e. Elementary, Middle and High school) and school setting (i.e. Urban, Rural and Suburban).

Title: Bilingualism and Education
http://www.hku.hk/linguist/cou/sec/ling2037/hakuta1989.pdf
Authors: Kenji Hakuta and Eugene E. Garcia

Hakuta and Garcia talked about the controversy of bilingual education in the United States. The article stated that population of speakers of other languages (English not primary language) rose in recent years. The linguistic minority raised more in some states such as: Florida, Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico, New York and Colorado. The ongoing debate of bilingualism both linguistically and socially has stirred up some misconceptions about the topic. The article entails some problems of bilingual education and the bilingual child.

A/A Technology

* Why must lesson plans be revised to include disabled students? Discuss whether or not you agree.
Lesson plans should be revised to accommodate and include students with disabilities because first and foremost, they are students and they should be included into the lesson, not excluded. These students may not progress and learn as quickly as the majority but it does not mean they should not be included into the lesson. Although it will take a little longer to plan and to try and accommodate their needs, it is worth the hard work.
I agree fully with revising a lesson to include disabled students. It is going to be hard for the teacher to adjust according to the needs however it should not be an issue whether or not they should be included, it should be known that they are in fact students and the lesson should be focused in accommodating such needs.