BOOK-R

What is the link?
http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/

Bookr is an online scrapbook/photobook website that works very similar to Bubblr. Similar to Bookr, users can use either their own Flickr photos or use the sites archive by typing a keyword on the tag box (seen on the bottom left corner of the screen). A slideshow of photographs can be seen at the bottom of the page. Afterwards, users can combine images and text to make great photobooks.  The pages can also be turned to create a "realistic" aspect to one's photobook.  This website is quite easy to use. 

• Write a title and drag a photo for the cover page of book.
• Once the cover page has been created, users can then add more pictures and text as seen below.

When a photobook has been completed, it can be emailed to friends or embeded in a blog.

Below is a tutorial video on how to use Bookr.

How can Bookr be integrated into the classroom?

There are various ways Bookr can be integrated into as a classroom:

• It can be use as a vocabulary tool by correlating images and vocabulary (text) on the pages.
• Students can create a story using photographs and afterwards present it in class; it’s a way to focus on communication and written skills.
• Specific images can be assigned and students must write a descriptive sentence about the images.
• A teacher can assign a particular theme and have his/her students use a newly learned vocabulary word for a couple of their captions.
• A teacher can have his/her students edit or comment on each others photobooks
• Bookr can also be used for students to talk about their culture or travels

Below is my very own photobook.

Advantages:

Since there’s a wide range of activities that can be done using Bookr, this website is quite purposeful in an ESL classroom. It focuses on a whole range of skills such as vocabulary, descriptive writing, grammar usage, and communication. Bookr caters to various English levels. The website is fun and interactive, thus triggering the students’ motivation to learn. The photobooks can be recycled and the captions can be edited so students can continuously improve their writing skills. Finally, Bookr allows learners to be autonomous and the finish product can easily be shared with friends or presented in class.

Disadvantages:

I only found a few minor disadvantages to Bookr. First, it might be difficult for beginners or students who aren’t techno-savvy to use this website at first, however since there are tutorial videos for Bookr this problem is easily remedied. And second, only a limited amount of sentences can be written on the text box. Nevertheless, I still believe Bookr is a great tool for language learning.

BUBBL-R

What is the link?
http://www.pimpampum.net/bubblr/

Bubblr is an online tool that allows people to add captions or create comic strips using photographs. One can either make use of the available photos on the website’s archive - this can be done by typing in a keyword or a user - or by uploading photos from an existing flickr account (www.flickr.com). Ultimately, Bubblr allows the user to get creative with their photographs, share their finish project with friends, or embed it on their blogs.



Below is a step by step video from YouTube on how to use Bubblr.



How to integrate Bubblr into the classroom?

Bubblr can be integrated in a TESOL classroom in various ways.

• An instructor can assign the class a theme/keyword and create a comic strip using Bubblr. Once the students have saved their assignment and edited their writing, the instructor can then assign the students to present their finish comic strips in class. This method allows learners to work on their writing skills as well as communication skills.
• Teachers can also assign students to create a story line using photographs from their travels or hometown. Afterwards, the students can work in pairs and correct each other sentences or point out any grammatical errors found. Again, as a way to develop speech and communication skills, have the students present their photographs in class and allow them to make comments about the presentation.
• Bubblr can be use for character education by assigning the students to look photographs with people. The students will then have to come up with phrases, thoughts, or dialogues that describe the photograph. Below is an example: 

To sum up, Bubblr thoroughly utilizes the saying “a picture says a thousand words”.  Thus, for the reason that there are endless ways to create stories, captions, and dialogues using photographs, this website can be quite beneficial to language learners.

Advantages:

In my opinion, because there are countless of ways to describe a photograph, therefore, I believe Bubblr to be a very useful website for language learners. It allows students to create storylines through photographs, it helps them develop their speech and communication skills, it can be an interactive task, and it provides a lot of output from the students. With language learning comprehensible output, is just as essential as comprehensible input. In addition, since pictures and images are involved, this activity is a stimulating way to practice and learn a second or foreign language for beginner language learners.  Lastly, this website promotes independent work since the students are using their own description and observation from photographs. 

Disadvantages:

The only problem I found with Bubblr is that only a limited amount of words can be typed in the caption/dialogue box and it’s mainly catered to beginner language learners. If the caption box wasn't so limiting with words or if descriptions can be typed at the bottom of the photograph, then intermediate language learners can also use this site as a tool to improve their second or foreign language.

BOMBAY TV

What is the Link?
http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php?lang=uk

One of the more fun sites we discovered is Bombay TV. This website is a fun and creative way for students to learn English. Basically, users must create their own captions/subtitles for clips from a collection of Indian movies. With this website students can develop their communicative skills by simply observing the movie clips and applying their understanding of it.

Depending on the clip, the users will have 3-5 subtitles to work with. Here’s an example.

Once a Bollywood Movie is Complete, you can email it to friends, embed it in a blog, or post it as a URL on a website. Below is my own Bollywood Movie.



How to integrate Bombay TV into the classroom?

First, the instructor can have the students pretend they’re working for a film production company and they need to write English subtitles for an Indian film. The students will then have to guess what they think the characters are really saying and type it on the provided subtitles. However, to utilize this site in a more creative way, instead of having students guess what the characters are saying, teachers can give the students a scenario and come with dialogues for it.  Teachers can also use this website as an advertising assignment. Using the movie clips, students can be assigned to come up with catchy dialogues or captions to advertise a product or a company.  Furthermore, to make this activity more interactive, the students can present their dialogues by dubbing it into the movie clips. 

Advantages:

To me, Bombay TV is a website that students can easily gravitate to. First of all, it’s amusing, interactive, and entertaining. It gives students the chance to be carefree and comical in a classroom setting. Moreover, instead of turning in a written work, students actually get to show a movie clip for their assignment; thus creating a fun learning environment for language learners.

Disadvantages:

Because only a limited amount of words can be typed in the "subtitle" box, this Bombay TV is only catered to the beginners level.  In order for this website to cater to more advanced language learners, I believe it needs more subtitles or longer movie clips.  Furthermore, culturally, this website is only entertaining if the language learner doesn't understand the language spoken (Hindi) in the clips.