One site that really caught my eye this week is FindSounds. This site organizes the sounds by category, which makes it very user-friendly. Each label then links to another page that has different recordings to choose from. I can see this being a fun way to shake up the usual dictation (play the sound and the student has to write what they hear); or for students to use when they make powerpoint or other digital presentations; or as sound effects for a role-play or skit. The selection of bird sounds is pretty exhaustive, so although I may not need that many bird sounds for my teaching, maybe my classmates can help me brainstorm some other uses for them!
I was really interested in this 10x10 site but I was not able to access it, apparently because of a server error on their end. I plan to check back.
The next stop on this research tool tour is HistoryWorld! I found the coverage of some events and periods to be more thorough than others but, depending on the topic, it could be great for EFL learners because the event descriptions are brief and written using the present simple tense. After looking at and using some strategically-selected sample timelines, students could create their own timelines based on events in their lives or a historical period that interests them. Students who are less comfortable using search tools can be provided with a list of topics to choose from, or even some already-made timelines to rephrase in their own words.
I also love quotations (I may or may not have received a Quotationary as a gift from my parents as an elementary school student...), so Quoteland piqued my interest. Their library of quotes is organized by topic, author, or theme, and you can search for a topic or term, and the site brings up the quotes containing your search terms. Because quotes are often short and snappy, they are great for our students. I envision using them for discussing tone, even in simple terms, and increasing learners' appreciation for the literature and culture of English. When read aloud, quotes are a fantastic way to expose students to English prosody, collocations, and even humor. Longer quotes could also be used for a MadLibs-style activity in which the kids fill in key pieces of the text with silly words, then are presented with the original quote and compare the two.
Finally, I looked into Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) to search for peer-reviewed articles. It seems like a great resource for those who want to do research while not enrolled at an academic institution, since databases can be expensive to subscribe to. While it doesn't seem to be of immediate use in planning English lessons for Israeli elementary school students, it could be great for going more in-depth into a topic that arises as a result of our work with the kids.
There are a few more sites that I am interested in looking into a bit further, and I'm glad now to have the Noodle Tools list to return to.
