10. Mobile Applications

First of all, let me introduce a definition of MALL ↠ an approach to language learning that is based upon the use of mobile devices (MP3/4 players, PDAs, smartphones  and tablets like the iPad ). MALL combines mobile learning with computer assisted language learning. It has gained popularity in the last few years due to our hectic mobile lifestyle and the widespread adoption of mobile telecommunications and computing devices with Internet connections.

Main principles of MALL (according to the video, included in the seminar):

1. The mobility of the learner
2. The notion of CONTEX

2. 

Using QR codes for Language Learning

QR-code- (quick response code) is a type of code that is used to provide easy access to information through a smartphone.

One method which teachers of foreign languages might use to facilitate the creation and distribution of audio resources is a quick response (QR) cod. One possible use of QR codes in an educational setting is to have students scan a QR code on a paper worksheet in order to gain immediate access to accompanying digital resources. Increased access to mobile technologies now makes this instructional method of  linking students to multi-media resources more practical. Researchers point out that hardware technologies already in use by students in their everyday lives can be easily  utilized for foreign language listening comprehension activities. As the majority of teens now own smartphones and can install free applications to scan QR codes, there is untapped potential for students to use these devices as learning tools during foreign language acquisition. 

Quizlet

https://quizlet.com/339741488/war-and-peace-diagram/?new

Finally some words about Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real-world are "augmented" by computer-generated perceptual information.The primary value of augmented reality is that it brings components of the digital world into a person's perception of the real world, and does so not as a simple display of data, but through the integration of immersive sensations that are perceived as natural parts of an environment. 

I would also like to introduce you the following video, describing the future of Augmented Reality ↴↴↴

To sum up, let's agree that mobile applications do really help us learn the language and make this processs amazing, easy and enjoyable! 

Thank you for your attention ⟳⟳

9.  MOOCs

MOOC ( massive open online course) is an online course aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the web.

And this time I am going to describe the most well-known of them↴↴↴↴

Canvas Network  https://www.canvas.net/

This website provides numerous courses, not only connected with language learning, but also with biology, pharmacology, maths, art and other issues which are topical nowadays. What is important, they are absolutely free. 

I personally would like to take up the course↡

NEW APPROACHES TO LANGUAGE CLASSES FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

The Course is addressed to language teachers, volunteers, social workers - anyone involved in the support of second language learning, providing learning paths for migrants. It aims to provide facilitators with ideas, methodological approaches, practices and pedagogical-educational tools that are useful to integrate the dimension of non-formal and informal learning in language teaching, with the ultimate aim of supporting the integration of migrants into the hosting society. The main topics that will be covered are: "Diversity in the group of learners", "Non-formal education in the context of language learning", "Facilitating a safe learning environment", "Tackling Interculturality", “Facilitating Language learning in the immersive context”, “Becoming active in the local community”.

Also I find it interesting to join the course  

MAKING SENSE OF TEACHING IN UK HIGHER EDUCATION

This course is intended for those who are new to teaching on undergraduate and master's degree courses from United Kingdom Universities. However most of the topics and principles covered apply to higher education studies generally. It is intended to support lecturers from the UK and from across the world.

Coursera  https://www.coursera.org/

Each of Coursera courses includes an interactive workbook, offering videos, tests and projects. 

This is the course which caught my eyes . I think this course is very useful, especially for university graduates.  By the end you will improve your communication, English language, career development and writing skills.

Unit 1: Entering the Job Market

In this unit you will learn about the steps in the job search process.

Unit 2: Resumes

In this unit, you will learn how to describe yourself and your experiences in a résumé. The unit will also help you build your job-related
vocabulary.

Unit 3: Writing a Cover Letter

This unit focuses on another important document for job-seekers: the cover letter. You will learn how to write a clear cover letter that tells
employers why you are the right person for the job.

Unit 4: Networking

This unit will teach job-seekers language for meeting new people, making small talk, and describing

              edX https://www.edx.org/

Popular subjects: 

Computer Science

Business and Managment

Language

Engineering

Data Science

Humanities

I would like to try the course

TOEFL® Test Preparation: The Insider’s Guide

This test preparation course, developed by the experts who create, administer and score the TOEFL test, will help English language learners improve their skills.

The TOEFL test is the world’s most trusted and widely accepted English-language assessment. It has helped millions of people achieve their dreams to study, work or live abroad. More than 10,000 institutions of higher education, government agencies and organizations worldwide accept TOEFL scores for making important decisions.

This course will help you understand what you can do to achieve your best TOEFL test score. Instructors will guide you through each section (Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing) and, using archived past test questions, will explain the kinds of questions you can expect. You will receive valuable advice, including how to register for the test, how it is scored and how to prepare for test day.

Upper-Intermediate English: Modern Life course also seems interesting to take it up.

This course is the second in a series of four English language MOOCs designed for students with an intermediate level of English looking to reach a higher intermediate level. The course is comprised of video lessons, reading comprehension activities, grammar explanations and exercises, listening comprehension activities and speaking practice. 

The course covers interesting topics such as the Olympic Games, natural resources, extreme sports, health issues, films, pollution or pets. 

This course also includes preparatory materials and recommendations to take the Cambridge University First Certificate in English Examination (FCE).

CONCLUSION

There are so many free online courses and therefore so many opportunities for language teaching and learning I could hardly imagine. I picked up some of this MOOC courses and would use them in my future language learning. 

With love ;)

8.

WIKI experience

1.  Teflpedia

2. Richard Doyle, English Fifteen in 15 Weeks! 

This course will teach instructors new to Penn State's Composition program how to teach English 15, the introductory rhetoric course required of all Penn Stategraduates.

3. Wikiversity, a Wikipedia-Like Learning Community

Wikiversity is a Wikimedia Foundation project devoted to learning resources, learning projects, and research for use in all levels, types, and styles of education from pre-school to university, including professional training and informal learning.

To sum up, I want to  point out that these wiki services are  completely new for me. I need some time to study them , but I am sure they are quite simple and still effective.

7.

Survey services

1. MyTestXPro (система программ для создания и проведения компьютерного тестирования, сбора и анализа их результатов).

Плюсы:

• С помощью программы MyTestX возможна организация и проведение тестирования, экзаменов в любых образовательных учреждениях (вузы, колледжи, школы).

• 10 типов заданий: одиночный выбор, множественный выбор, установление порядка следования, установление соответствия, указание истинности или ложности утверждений, ручной ввод числа, ручной ввод текста, выбор места на изображении, перестановка букв, заполнение пропусков.

•  Удобный редактор тестов с дружественным интерфейсом.

• Любая система оценивания ( от 2 до 100-балльной)

• Возможность как локального, так и сетевого тестирования

Минусы :

Для себя не нашла, так как программа  имеет все мыслимые функции, очень компактная, ее возможности и простота использования находятся в золотом балансе.

2. Twitter Polls (в социальной сети появилась возможность создавать опросы с двумя вариантами ответа и прикреплять их в свой твит)

Плюсы:

1. Доступно как через компьютер, так и через телефон
2. Спустя 24 часа все желающие смогут увидеть результат
3. Участники голосования остаются анонимными

Минусы:

1. Можно прикрепить только два варианта ответа
2. Не у всех учащихся  изучающих язык) есть аккаунты в Твиттере

3. Google Forms (cервис для создания и проведения опросов в интернете.)

Плюсы:

• Бесплатно
• Русский и анлийский языки интерфейса 
• Наглядный и доступный интерфейс
• Самый популярный среди студентов( быстро, понятно, легко )

Из минусов выделю только то, что не хватает выбора дизайна создаваемой формы, возможности загрузить свой собственный, соответствующий тематике опроса. 

4. Socrative (онлайн-платформа для создания и выполнения тестов, опросов, очень популярная среди студентов и педагогов ВУЗов)  https://b.socrative.com/login/student/

Плюсы :

1. Бесплатная версия
2. Ускоренный вариант представления заданий для учеников
3. После каждого задания учитель может показать ученикам правильный вариант ответа
4. Учитель получает результаты не только в таблице Excel, но и в формате PDF. Он может послать результаты каждому ученику.

Минусы:

1. Платная PRO версия содержит больше возможностей для работы в приложении.

В заключении  хочу сказать, что лично я выделяю Socrative и Goggle Forms как наиболее удобные и наглядные приложения для создания тестов, опросов и заданий при изучении ИЯ.


Моя личная форма - приглашение на мероприятие
https://goo.gl/forms/eMIz6VEmh69dj3ds1

6.

Google services for English language learning or teaching 

Today I want to share some information about the most widely-spread Google services , which can be useful in English language learning and teaching.

First of all, it is GOOGLE DRAWING 
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1s3JCwTKvkiJR7foxjL8V7Bw4Wm2A5qndXfHYgEfENPA/edit

Google Drawings is a free, web-based diagramming software developed by Google. It allows users to collaborate and work together in real time to create , organisational charts, website wireframes, mind maps, concept maps, and other types of diagrams.

It is a common knowledge that visual schemes with new words or information are caught and remembered by students easier . That is why this service is irreplaceble in schemes, cards and diagrams creating.

Secondly, it is GOOGLE CLASSROOM https://classroom.google.com/

Google Classroom is a free web service developed by Google for schools that aim to simplify creating, distributing and grading assignments in a paperless way. The primary purpose of Google Classroom is to streamline the process of sharing files between teachers and students.

Assignments are stored and graded on Google's suite of productivity applications that allow collaboration between the teacher and the student or student to student. Instead of sharing documents that reside on the student's Google Drive with the teacher, files are hosted on the student's Drive and then submitted for grading. Teachers may choose a file that can then be treated as a template so that every student can edit their own copy and then turn back in for a grade instead of allowing all students to view, copy, or edit the same document. Students can also choose to attach additional documents from their Drive to the assignment.

Thirdly, it is GOOGLE FORMS https://www.google.com/intl/ru/forms/about/

Google Forms is a tool that allows collecting information from users via a personalized survey or quiz. The information is then collected and automatically connected to a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is 

populated with the survey and quiz responses.

With the help of this service students and teachers can create quizzes, poles and online surveys. It significantly saves your time .  I personally use it  when I need to collect data for the  statistics .

I hope you found this topic informative :)