Online Usage in the Modern Language Classroom

Wordle courtesy of LindaH from Flickr

I am very excited about some online resources that I have discovered for use in my Spanish classroom.  YouTube videos and Skype make it possible for students to listen to native speakers when there are none available in the classroom.  There are millions of articles, newspapers, and blogs written in Spanish that students can use to strengthen their reading skills.  There are online games and activities that can be used to expand on their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.  Online technology has opened many doors to learning in the Modern Language classroom.

I recently read the article Constructing a Roadmap to More Systematic and Successful Online Reading and Vocabulary Acquisition by John Paul Loucky.  He stresses the importance of vocabulary learning in Modern Language study and the use of online resources to reinforce this learning.  He also gives countless examples of websites that are instrumental in strengthening vocabulary retention.  He gives examples for all levels of learners, from Beginning through Advanced.  A few examples that I found to be helpful from the article are:
Word Champ, leTutor, ESL Gold, and CALL 4 ALL

This YouTube video shows how to use GoogleEarth video games in the classroom.  I think this would be a very fun activity for students to do!

All you need to do is search Spanish (or German, French, Arabic, etc.) in Google and you will find countless lesson plans, activities, games, authentic material, etc.  that can be used to reinforce the units that you are teaching.  Online technology has allowed for millions of resources and ideas for the Modern Language Teacher, things that weren't available to us before.