What is Breaking News English? What can Breaking News English do?
Created by Sean Banville, Breaking News English is a free website which provides current news regularly. There are numerous online teaching resources related to each piece of news. Ts can get printable and downloadable lesson plans and online quizzes for teaching; even Ss can learning News English by themselves. This is really an ideal language teaching / learning website.
1. In my context, current events are important for entrance Why is Breaking News English relevant to language teaching?
exams, and some cram schools even provide News English
classes. As for Ts in public schools, what they always do is to
copy newspapers or to use magazines as teaching materials.
However, sometimes it costs a lot and it takes Ts a lot of time
to do the preparation work. With this website, Ts can not only
save time and money but also make teaching more interesting
and interactive.
2. It mainly includes reading, listening, and writing exercises. Ts
can add additional speaking practice based on time and Ss'
abilities. It is easy for Ts to take care of four abilities.
3. It gives Ss more opportunities to do self-learning. Ss can
choose topics which interest them to do extra practice. It will
help promote their motivation and make them become more
autonomous learners. Furthermore, the materials can be
downloaded as PDF or MP3 files, so Ss can store them in
digital devices or smartphones which allow them to learn
anytime.
How can Breaking News English be used in / outside class?
1. T can ask Ss to listen to the news on this website carefully and
give them some questions to check their comprehension, or
invite Ss to share what they have listened with other Ss.
2. T can make Ss to do "sentence jumble" and "no letter" after
listening to the text. By doing this, Ss can get good results due
to their fresh memory. If possible, T can make Ss pair up to
see which pair could finish the mission first. To me, these two
exercises are interesting and exciting. Thus, Ss' may have
higher motivation towards language learning and more
involvement during class.
3. Besides, there are still a lot to do based on this website.
However, it is important to note that T should choose suitable
materials and use them appropriately according to Ss' language
proficiency.
4. Actually, I tried to use this website when I was teaching. It
was two years ago, after my Ss finished the Basic Competence
Test (the standardized entrance exam for ninth graders), I used
this website to teach News English. However, there were only
two computer classrooms in my school. What I want to
mention here is that T can use the lovely materials on this
website to teach whether each S has a computer or not. The
following is my brief description about how I used it in a
normal classroom, presented by My Brainshark.
give them some questions to check their comprehension, or
invite Ss to share what they have listened with other Ss.
2. T can make Ss to do "sentence jumble" and "no letter" after
listening to the text. By doing this, Ss can get good results due
to their fresh memory. If possible, T can make Ss pair up to
see which pair could finish the mission first. To me, these two
exercises are interesting and exciting. Thus, Ss' may have
higher motivation towards language learning and more
involvement during class.
3. Besides, there are still a lot to do based on this website.
However, it is important to note that T should choose suitable
materials and use them appropriately according to Ss' language
proficiency.
4. Actually, I tried to use this website when I was teaching. It
was two years ago, after my Ss finished the Basic Competence
Test (the standardized entrance exam for ninth graders), I used
this website to teach News English. However, there were only
two computer classrooms in my school. What I want to
mention here is that T can use the lovely materials on this
website to teach whether each S has a computer or not. The
following is my brief description about how I used it in a
normal classroom, presented by My Brainshark.
What limitations are there?
1. There are too much information on this website; sometimes it
looks too complicated. On the one hand, it provides Ts a lot of
teaching resources. Nevertheless, on the other hand, Ts should
select materials wisely for each class. By doing this, Ts can
make their teaching more effective and efficient, or going
through too much unnecessary materials may become a waste
of time.
2. Basically speaking, it requires better English abilities to learn
the materials of this website. If T use it in a mix-ability class, it
is possible that the low achievers may lose their confidence
and interest in learning English.
3. This website is already good enough, but if some visual
elements related to the news can be added, this website will
definitely be more attractive.
Could you provide more websites similar to breakingnewsenglish (some you have tried before)? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Xiaojuan. Thanks for your comment. I know another one called 'Dave's ESL Cafe' (http://www.eslcafe.com/) which also provides many teaching materials. It has been very famous since I was in college. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jonathan, I like your description video. It is clear and helpful.
ReplyDeleteActually I was too lazy to type. Anyway, thanks for your comment, Queen of Technology! lol
ReplyDelete