Trying to Get English Language Learners and

Fluent English Speakers to Interact through Student Created Book CDs and

Online Discussions

About my learning as much as my students’ learning

• Taking my understanding about how students learn a new language

• Applying to what I’m learning about computer technologies

Teaching English through Reading Has Changed• 40 years ago, most books for

English language learners had controlled vocabulary and grammatical structures.

• Today, English language learners are using books written for fluent English speakers.

The understanding of language learning has changed

Language Learningrequires using the language for communication

Skill Development alone (isolating and practicing skills needed to create language) is not language learning.

Language Learning Requires Input and Output

Output - the brain needs to use that information to communicate (normally through speaking or writing).

Input - Information needs to get into the brain (normally through reading and/or listening)

Language Learning is Messy

Our Reading ProjectBased on the belief that…

• Input for language learning can be more effective if input it is BOTH reading AND listening.

• Since output requires using language for communication, interacting with others is important.

Our Reading Project

1. Fluent English speaking students record books the English language learners are reading.

2. The audio files are put together to create book CDs for the English learners.

3. The fluent English speakers participate in an online discussion about the books with the English learners.

Our Reading Project

To Do This Project I Needed:

• Training

• Software

• Hardware

• Collaborators

• Time

• A belief that it’s worth the effort

Our Reading Project

Training

• From the NWP Tech Liaison sessions at the annual meetings

• Tech Liaison online discussions

• The Tech Matters summer institute

Our Reading Project - Software

Chose Audacity for recording audio files.

Used iTunes or Windows Media Player to create CD master

Chose Nicenet for book discussion

Our Reading Project - Hardware

For Recording

For duplicating

CDs

For listening to CDs

Our Reading Project - Collaborators

An English 12 Class

Our Reading Project - Collaborators

An Intermediate ESL Class

Our Reading Project - Recordings

Tucket 1

Tucket 2

Tucket 3

Tucket 4

Tucket 5

Tucket 6

6 Slower

Just like language learning, learning how to do this project messy.

Our Project - Listening and Reading

Why reading is hard

How the CD helps

Our Project - Discussion