Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Of all the ESL resources on the Web, Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab is one of the most informative, practical, and interactive that I've seen.

The listening lab is continually being updated. Among other benefits, the listening activities feature key vocabulary words and follow-up assessments.

Be sure to explore this site whether or not you are an ESL specialist. I firmly hold to the belief that ALL practitioners are ESL instructors.

Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab also has a presence on Facebook. From his Facebook page: "Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab (http://www.esl-lab.com) was first over a decade ago to provide language learners opportunities to improve their listening comprehension skills in English. Contact Randall at eslrandall [at] yahoo.com"

If you're so inclined, add his Facebook page to your "Fan" list. At his website, scroll down near to the bottom-left. Look for a button to add the site to your Facebook groups. Consider subscribing to his e-newsletter and keep up-to-date on latest developments to this extremely valuable resource!

Music and Art - Universal Languages!

With Christmas (not "The Holidays" - it's the Advent season) now upon us, I thought I'd share a few discoveries that you might want to explore during your down time.

The arts, particularly music, are dear to me. They are universally understood. When language fails us across geographic borders, the arts can communicate in a manner that the spoken word can't approximate.

That being said, the following are a few that you'll want to explore and integrate into your classroom instruction:

1. Paint.net
   
2. PhotoFiltre
   
3. Jam Studio
   
4. Playlist

Paint.net is for digital image editing. Likewise for PhotoFiltre. JamStudio allows one to create music with all manner of complexity (instrumentation, voices, etc.). Playlist.com is a music social networking site. There are numerous genres from which to choose, listen, and share with others.

Observations and food for thought: The first decade of the 21st century is about to conclude. Web 2.0 has matured. Web 3.0 is developing.

• What have you learned about 21st century skills since the turn of the century?
  
• How many Web 2.0 skills have you learned in the past few years?
  
• Most importantly: How have you used these powerful skills in your instruction and shared your knowledge with others (especially with students)?

A side note: Explore the amazing opportunities at SharedTalk - Your Language Exchange Network. You and your students might just establish some global connections and learn more about spoken and written languages in an interactive, real-time manner!

Merry Christmas! May God bless you abundantly in the year ahead!