VoiceThread+with+ELL

English language learners (ELL) can use VoiceThread as a tool to help them practice and build confidence in learning the English language. Ed tech teacher describes VoiceThread as a “great Web-based digital storytelling program that enables users to upload pictures or documents, record accompanying audio (or video) commentary, and invite others to record commentary as well.” There are many ways ELL students can benefit from using VoiceThread. First students could use it to build their vocabulary. By using pictures on VoiceThread, students could listen to the English word and see the image that goes with the word. At the same time students could also practice saying the word while hearing it too. Second, students would be able to practice pronunciation and speaking. Using VoiceThread to record yourself speaking allows you to hear what you’re saying and others as well. For instance teachers could listen to their ELL student’s recordings and give feedback to students about mispronounced words. Students could always replay recordings that they may have struggled with; this could help build confidence in the student. Finally teachers can use Voicethread to help ELL students to better understand the content that is being covered in a class. They can record parts of assignments/discussions so students can listen to the information more than once.

According to "The Way They Want to Learn," Technology-based activities and tools can help ESL learners and all students “learn...content, increase academic vocabulary, build background knowledge, and foster 21st-century skills,” which increases engagement and fosters practice with communications skills. VoiceThread can be challenging for ESL/ELL students due to the nature of needing to be able to read and speak the language, but the teacher can help the student overcome this obstacle by designing the lesson for students to view, listen to, and/or read the media in VoiceThread at their various levels of English competency to participate at any level they are comfortable. Moreover, this Web 2.0 tool has many benefits, such as being engaging, since it is similar to other social networking sites, like Facebook, that many are already using and enjoying, and is very simple to use. They can add comments to others’ work or answer teacher-posed questions with VoiceThread, as well, which allows them to see, hear, and write in English using correct grammar and syntax.

"Digital News Stories: Building Language Learners' Content Knowledge and Speaking Skills" explains that students can use VoiceThread to practice their language skills in a multi-content way. This study shows students benefiting by using Voice Thread to practice language skills and fluency by reporting news, but teachers can incorporate VoiceThread with any content or subject lesson. Students reported feeling empowered, engaged, and motivated because they were able to use their own voices for “self-expression and self-reflection and that social interaction helped establish a sense of community in which students supported each other by offering new ideas and feedback on each other's writing” because of the peer-to-peer respectful interactions. If these interactions, lesson plans, and the instructor guidance are poorly executed, an obstacle is that the results can be challenging, but with adequate rules and enforcement for peer interactions, a well-designed plan, and effective instructor guidance to facilitate critical reflection, using VoiceThread can be a tremendous advantage and benefit to ESL learners.

Resources-

Digital News Stories: Building Language Learners' Content Knowledge and Speaking Skills- []

The Way They Want to Learn- []