Learning Chocolate-- A Wonderful Vocabulary Learning Platform

What is Learning Chocolate? 

http://www.learningchocolate.com/

Learning Chocolate is a wonderful vocabulary learning platform, by connecting nouns of objects with cartoon pictures. In this way, the website not only makes words much easier to remember with concrete pictures, but also stimulate learners interests to memorize by funny and vivid cartoon. One can also know pronunciation of each word. Furthermore, several interesting related games are designed to each group of words, which enhance learners memory of words efficiently. It also has Chinese, Japanese and Spainish versions.
For instance, when you enter in the homepage of Learning Chocolate website, you can choose a group of words within the same topic from about 180 categories. Each word corresponds with a certain picture and sound button. After you remember all the words, you can choose little word games to evaluate achievement.

Relevance to Language Learning

Learning Chocolate can be used to enhance English learners' vocabulary, especially  those of objects close to daily life. Words associated with colorful cartoons and sound, which are totally different from boring word lists of textbooks, can stimulate students' motivation. Moreover, it corrects learners' listening and speaking of those single words with slow and standard pronunciation. It also practices learner autonomy in the process of vocabulary learning.

According to the colorful pictures and vocabulary level, it is better for young English learners (especially L1 learners) to use.

Possible Usages in Class/ outside Class

1. In Chinese schools, there are usually not enough computers accessible to each English learner. I would like to suggest to use this website as homework for students to memorize new vocabulary after class. However, teachers should show the features and guide students to be familiar with this website before they can do it themselves and give certain topic of word groups each time.Teachers can make a little test next class to evaluate if students have done their homework seriously and sufficiently.

2. If teachers want to arrange activities by this website in class, I suggest teacher chooses a topic in advance and shows each word in order. After students know the meaning and usage of every word, the teacher can  let students form several learning groups either to play the following games together and help each other to answer questions, or make a competition for winner filling in/ matching all the words correctly within the least time.

Limitations

1. The pictures are mostly simple colorful cartoon, it is better for young learners to use than adults. And the word level are mostly for beginners rather than advanced or intermediate students.

2. According to the vocabulary chosen, they are all words for objects of almost every category in daily life. It is better for L1 learners rather than L2 learners, because if L2 learners don't need to live in English speaking countries, they probably don't need to know the name of every objects, although there is never too much for learners.

3. The colors and games can stimulate students motivation to learn vocabulary in a different way, however, they may get bored for just looking the pictures and listening to the robotic voice. I suggest that some videos introducing the topic or moving cartoon or stories made up of words from certain topic may arouse more interest from students and help them to memorize as well.

4. The word groups are only categorized as topics, expect the first group "basic". I think it would be better to categorize topics or words with difficulty levels. In this way, it can help those learners who want challenge more sophisticated tasks.

Lyrics Training Website-- Learn English in Music!

What is Lyricstraining?

http://www.lyricstraining.com/

Some language teachers believe that students can improve foreign language greatly from listening to foreign language songs. Lyricstraining is a wonderful and easy website for English learners to learn from popular English songs. Just fill in the gaps in the lyrics of each song when you are listening to it! There are other language versions as well, such as German, Spanish, etc.

When you enter in the homepage, you may notice that there are search button on the top, random chosen song in big screen, and sign in request on the right. Signing in can record your score at the end of each practice and give permission to leave messages under the song.

Choose or search a song you like, and be aware of the difficulty level. Each song also has 3 levels to users. When songs begin, you can see dots, which you need to fill in. If you can’t type in time, the song would stop and wait until you get it right. There are also useful tips for all functions, such as reply line, skip word, etc. Finally, you would get a score according to the numbers of words you correct and time length. Top scores of this song shows in the right.

Relevance to Language Teaching and Learning

Lyricstraining is a very practical website to improve language learners’ listening in foreign songs. It can improve learner autonomy as well, for the website is usually operated by learners themselves. By popular music and videos, students are greatly motivated. Most of the time, English songs can only be extensive listening materials, except memorizing the whole lyrics; however, filling in gaps makes lyrics the intensive listening. Moreover, it increases learners’ vocabulary (especially oral English, abbreviation, and slang) and spelling correction.

Possible Usages in/outside Class

1. According to its form, I think, it would be better for teachers to give homework to students, and ask them to finish certain songs related to the content of lesson themselves. Alternatively, teachers can demonstrate the function of this website and practice learner autonomy of students.

2. If in class, I think a possible way is that, the teacher gives the topic of popular songs (or similar topics) for a speaking task. After the discussion, the teacher can guide students deliberately to select some famous songs or singers that almost everyone knows. Open the website, and ask volunteered students to fill in gaps. It would motivate students more if they are formed into groups to answer and compare to other groups. In this way, they may also love listening to English songs and Lyricstraining website.

3. The teacher may also ask students to sing the songs they have learnt at home and perform it as warm-up activity of class.

Limitations

1. The website can only improve listening, vocabulary and a little speaking skills. Teachers need more aids to add integrated skill elements into class. Music is always an enthusiastic speaking topic for students.

2. According to its content, it is more suitable to teenage learners or young adult learners in my context. Children and middle-aged adult learner may be not interested in lyrics of popular songs. To attract young learners like children, more children’s songs from cartoon series, and so on can be added in the website. Parents can help to type and children would only shout out, spell and learn the song.

3. Although it has different levels for various users, I still think beginners to learn English as foreign language may find it is difficult for them to listen clearly when English appears in songs even the easiest level.

Overall, it is really an excellent website for English learners, especially those who love popular music as well!