This annotated list of free online resources for language faculty includes tools to help students record video and audio, create multi-media presentations, annotate texts, collaborate on classroom projects, and connect with classrooms across the globe.
This page contains a list of resources for language teachers to use in their classrooms:
- Teaching Tools - a list of tools that can be used for creating and editing technology-enhanced tasks, activities, and materials for language learning.
- Media Sources - a list of media sources such as audio, video, and images that can be used for language teaching and learning.
- Additional Tools, Sources, and Resources - this section provides a list of additional tools, sources, and resources that language teachers can explore and experiment with.
| Tool Type | Tool Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Audio recording and editing | Vocaroo | an online tool for recording and sharing audio messages |
| Audio recording and editing | Audacity | software for recording and editing audio (requires installation) |
| Photo editing | Pixlr | an online tool for editing photos |
| Photo editing | SumoPaint | an online tool for editing photos |
| Multimedia projects | CLEAR’s Rich Internet Applications | a set of online tools for creating multimedia-enhanced language learning materials, activities, and assessment (requires initial registration):
|
| Multimedia projects | Lingt | a tool for creating online spoken assignments (using images and videos) and providing feedback to students |
| Collaborative working and writing | GoogleDocs | a set of applications for creating, sharing, and collaborating on online documents, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. |
| Collaborative working and writing | Wikispaces | an online wiki platform for collaborative writing and discussions |
| Presentation | VoiceThread | an online presentation and collaboration tool that allows for creating multimedia slideshows and commenting using voice, text, audio file, or video. Free version limited to five VoiceThreads, which can’t be deleted once they are created. |
| Presentation | Prezi | an online tool for creating zooming and multimedia-rich presentations |
| Video Conferencing | Skype | software for text chatting, instant messaging, and video calling (requires installation) |
| Video Conferencing | ooVoo | software for 12-way group video chatting and instant messaging |
| Dictionaries and vocabulary learning | Wordreference | online dictionaries for various languages |
| Dictionaries and vocabulary learning | Lingro | an online tool for converting any website into an interactive audio-enhanced dictionary; also allows for creating flash cards |
| Video production and editing | Amara | an online tool for captioning and translating videos |
| Video production and editing | Animoto | an easy-to-use online tool for creating videos |
| Websites and e-portfolios | Weebly | a platform for creating websites, blogs, and e-portfolios using the “drag-and-drop” method |
| Websites and e-portfolios | Yale Academic Commons | a WordPress set-up for personal websites, blogs, or e-portfolios |
| Tool Name | Description |
|---|---|
| BLC Library of Foreign Language Film Clips | a tagged and structured collection of clips from foreign language films (requires application for an account) |
| SCOLA | a website for watching or recording television programming from around the world in 65 different languages |
| Open Culture | “the best free cultural and educational media on the web,” including free language lessons, movies, audio books, etc. |
| Newseum | front pages from over 800 newspapers worldwide |
| Tool Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Directory of Learning and Performance Tools (link is external) | a list of over 2,000 tools for educational purposes |
| Educational Technology and Mobile Learning (link is external) | a blog containing various educational technology resources |
| Bamboo DiRT (link is external) | a registry of various digital research tools |
| Online Tools for Language Teaching (link is external) | an article in TESL-EJ containing a list of tools for language teaching and learning |
