New Subject Area: Hotlists for Students

With the coming winter break from classes, students have asked me for lists of good academic Websites they can use when the college is closed (the AELC will be closed from Dec 17th through Jan 28th).). In the right hand column of this Blog is a listing titled "Hotlists for Students". For the first hotlist, instructors Robin Bosworth and Kristy Laurx have developed a list of good sites for all levels of ESL students. (For GED students, see the AELC Constitution Blog : http://constitutionaelc.blogspot.com/)

Hotlists are easy to use:
Click once on the title you wish to use (such as 'General ESL Skills'). This will open the hotlist. There are several categories listed: Reading, Grammar and Speaking and Listening.
Under each category are several Websites your teachers have chosen for you.
Click on the underlined words of the title you want to try, and it will take you directly to that Website.
Once on the site, you can follow the instructions for using anything on the page.
It's easy! Happy studies!

California Distance Learning Project (CDLP)

http://www.cdlponline.org California Distance Learning Project

This free site offers great listening to stories coming from the news, for Adult Basic Education and Intermediate to Advanced ESL learners. Some stories also have a video component. Possible life skills topics include: working, law and government, family, school, health and safety, housing, money, science and technology, services, going places and nature. Some are generic while others have some relevance to California, namely Sacramento County.

In addition to just listening to the story, read at a moderate speed by a native speaker, learners can go over hearing key vocabulary words, mastering their spelling and then utilizing hasic comprehension in a multiple choice format. Some lessons also have a matching game, a what did you learn activity, a writing activity and additional links to other Web sites.

(originally reviewed on the AELC Instructor Blog (http://wccniuesl.blogspot.com) in 2005, this current review is by AELC instructor Robin Bosworth)

Using this Blog

I've posted links to various Blogs and Wikis in the right hand column of this Blog. A simple click on the title will take you directly to that page. I also added some of the Hotlists that I create for various workshops that I do. Simply click on the title to open the hotlist, and then click once on the title you want to review. There is also a link to the Filamentality homepage which will allow you to create a hotlist of sites YOU prefer. Quick and easy. Finally, I added links to search engines other than Google. You might find them interesting.

The AELC will be closed...

For Thanksgiving Break from Tuesday, November 20 to Monday, November 26

For Winter Break from Monday, December 17 to Monday, January 28

I will be in my office during the Winter Break, with the exception of the week between Christmas and New Year's. Please feel free to stop in, come in with your students to work one on one using our computers, or just to say hello. I can assist you with new Websites or materials. Happy Holidays!

Welcome New Tutors!

Kathy Turnowchyk, the new Tutor Coordinator, stopped into the Center yesterday with the newest group of tutors. All have been invited to join this Blog, and to use this Blog as a tool to post questions, ideas and find Web sites that can be useful. Remember that you can also click on the 'comments' button at the end of each post to add your thoughts regarding the post. Welcome, I hope that we see you in the AELC with your students very soon!