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Using Computers for English Classes
You can download a guide to the computer rooms. It is a Word document, and may take a couple of minutes to download.
Here are some ideas for using computers in class:
1. Internet Search
Make a handout with a series of questions. Students search the internet for the answers.
> Example handout - made by Brian Asbjornson for International Studies ESP2.
2. Online English Quizzes
There are a whole range of online quizzes for English learners. Most of them are grammar checks, where students either click on the correct choice, or type in the answer. Here are some useful resources:
> Self-Study Quizzes: A big choice of grammar quizzes
> Interesting Things for ESL Student: Zillions of quizzes, etc.
3. English Learning Websites
There are numerous websites for English learners. It is probably best to choose a few activities for one lesson, otherwise students are likely to get lost.
> BBC Learning English. This is one of the very best sites for students. It has news, music, grammar and much more.
> British Council 'Learn English'. Very comprehensive site with a level test, games, and a magazine for students, with a 'double-click' dictionary.
> English Language Listening Lab Online. Students can listen to English speakers from all over the world, talking about interests, etc. There are self-study quizzes and transcripts of each episode. Excellent site.
> Aardvark English Forum. A big collection of resources for students and teachers.
> Jack's Websites. A collection of English learning and teaching links put together by John Perkins, a teacher at Tokai University.
4. Content-based Quizzes
Some online quizzes are suitable for our students.
> National Geographic Quiz. This is a great geography quiz for students. They can compare their results with students around the world. Note that students must keep their own score, as the software doesn't keep the score.
> Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? A fun, easy quiz on Japan.
> Japan History Quiz. Another quiz which should help reading skills.
> Fun Trivia. This huge trivia portal has a section for kids.
5. Email
Every student has a keyaki email. They just type in their student number, followed by @keyaki.cc.u-tokai.ac.jp (for example: 4ABD1234@keyaki.cc.u-tokai.ac.jp). There are lots of possibilities with email, such as getting students to email each other.
> Students can access their account through Active!mail.
6. Homepages
A homepage can be very useful for storing all the information students need. Here are some examples:
> International Studies Course Homepage
7. Discussion Forums
Discussion forums are a great way to encourage writing fluency and exchange or ideas. Students really enjoy a computer lesson using a class forum.
> Example class discussion forum.
8. English Skills Guides
There are a number of website to help students develop English Skills. Most common are the writing skills websites designed for foreign students at North American Universities:
> Ohio University: Ohio ESL
> Purdue University: ESL Guide
> University of Ottawa: HyperGrammar Guide
There are also private homepages with good guides:
> Kathy Livingstone's "Guide to Writing a Basic Essay"
9. Computer Skills
There are various online tutorials to help develop computer skills. Here are some especially for students.
> Using Microsoft Word. Brian Asbjornson has made an excellent lesson handout to show students the correct format for an English essay. It should take one 90-minute lesson. [Download may take a couple of minutes].
> PowerPoint Tutorials. I have made a series of Microsoft PowerPoint tutorials for students doing presentations.
10. News and Current Affairs
There are some news websites which are relatively easy for students to use. Apart from the BBC World Service site, there are some website designed for children:
> BBC Newsround. This has simplified news and a fantastic series of 'Guides' on a huge range of issues.
> BBC World Service English Learning
> Voice of
America Special English
> CNN Student News
11. Reading
There are some web sites with readings especially for students.
> New Internationalist does a series called Global Issues for Learners of English. This is a great resource if you want to encourage students to read and/or research current issues.
12. Dictionaries
There are lots of useful dictionaries on the web.
> Dictionaries suitable for students. My list of dictionaries for students.
> Dictionary.com has a great online dictionary and thesaurus for native speakers.
13. Cool Sites
For a break from the rigours of study, you can just send students to some cool sites.
> Advertisements - A great site with hundreds of TV ads. Students can watch them, vote on the best, write about their favourite, and so on.
> Cool Site of the Day - click on the logo to go to each day's site.
> Satellite images - Here is a lovely image of Mt. Fuji.
> Leonardo di Caprio - A fascinating and very surprising site by the Hollywood star. Try the Global Warming movie.
14. Resources for Teachers
Here are some useful resource centres for teachers. These sites can be great for lesson materials, clip art, etc.
> Discovery School. This is the education site of the Discovery Channel.
> English Club. A well-organised website for EFL teachers.
15. Other
> Overcoming Fear! This is a useful skill for presentations.