01 May 2015 / by Vincent Chieppa

How to... design paperless ESL activities





Be economical with word use and avoid excessive scrolling.  Make sure that the text is easy to read by using a clear typeface with a legible font size (on average between 14 – 16pt) and 1.5 line spacing. Also chunk longer texts in paragraphs.  Also remember to accompany your texts with visuals (e.g. images or video clips).  Remember that if you have text for reading to highlight the new target language in bold and/or capitals.



Tables should be numbered so that when teaching, both you and the students know exactly which cell you are referring to.  Also make sure that you randomise the table for activities where students have to match new target language with definitions/images.  This is also to ensure that students engage with the new target language rather than just no-effort reading from their part.

table



Remember to always use large images & rescale to keep quality rather than the opposite & be stuck with pixelated images.  Also try to save multiple images as a single picture when creating paperless ESL activities in order to ensure that you don´t lose picture integrity.



Keep in mind when using video clips in paperless ESL activities how appropriate the video is in terms of level, topic & the objective of the activity.  Aim for short & sweet – that is roughly 2 minutes.





When designing paperless ESL activities remember to apply the KISS principle & don´t forget that – as with most things – there are limitations and drawbacks to any tool:

https://youtu.be/HHEYtw4IMpY

26

March 2012
The use of one and one's - Easter
by Radmila Gurkova
Do you know how to use one or ones? As a determiner, the word one is sometimes used before a proper noun to designate, particularly, this person: ''He delivered the package to one Ronald Pepin of Colchester.'' The article ''a'' will also function in that position for the same purpose. Sometimes we use the word one as an adjective, as in ''I'...

22

March 2012
adverbs of degree - very, extremely
by Radmila Gurkova
Do you know how to use adverbs of degree? We use Adverbs of degree express the intensity or degree of an action. Common adverbs of degree: ALMOST NEARLY QUITE JUST TOO ENOUGH HARDLY SCARCELY COMPLETELY VERY EXTREMELY Adverbs of degree are usually placed: Before the adjective or adverb they are modifying: The cup of tea w...

22

March 2012
Present Perfect Tense - He has been to Paris
by Radmila Gurkova
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE Subject + has/have + Past Participle  ...

22

March 2012
ed-ing endings
by Radmila Gurkova
ED-ING endings There are many adjectives that we have in English that end in -ED or -ING. Usage: We use -ING to describe the characteristic of a person or a thing. We use -ED to describe a feeling. Compare...

22

March 2012
The Easter Story
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxQgXgS5G3c Do you know the Easter story? There have been many film interpretations of it including controversial ones such as Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' and funnier versions including Monty Python's '...

22

March 2012
Kawasaki
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEP...

15

March 2012
Who, which or that?
by Radmila Gurkova
Do you know how to use who, that and which? Who is a relative pronoun and it is used with people The relative pronouns That and Which refe...

15

March 2012
Numbers in English......is it five thousand or five thousands?
by Radmila Gurkova
In British English AND is used between hundred (and)......whereas in American English it is omitted Hundreds American English 450 f...

15

March 2012
What time is it?
by Radmila Gurkova
Do you know how to tell the time in English? am before noon (ante meridiem) pm after noon (post meridiem) W...

15

March 2012
How to log on to......? verbs with fixed prepositions
by Radmila Gurkova
Do you know how to use verbs with fixed prepositions? Prepositional verbs are transitive and require an object. This object is normally stated but sometimes implied. Log on to P...