Instructify

June 9, 2009

Is English your first language? Did you know that if you constantly find yourself at a loss for words and keep making mistakes you might not exactly be considered fluent? Sure, I do hold an impossibly high standard and I am indeed applying a rather narrow definition for language fluency. My point is this: you probably need to give yourself a refresher. What better way to study than by helping someone else learn!

English Portal Community from Talk and Learn is an educational site for users around the world who want to improve their English. Users are able to study online, take quizzes, and after creating their own profile, chat with other members in English. Admittedly I haven’t yet had the chance to participate directly in the English Portal Community (I registered, but didn’t receive a follow-up email — the ball is in your court, Talk and Learn!).

This would mesh quite well with an ESL classroom, allowing your English language learners to cooperate with other English language learners. The profile and small-time social network information users provide can help you match up your students with other students in similar age groups and from similar backgrounds.

Could you use this in your foreign language class? Possibly. Your students can practice on a native speaker while they get English questions bounced off them. Come on, at the very least, maybe you can make a friend and promote cross-cultural understanding. So why not? Give it the thumbs up or thumbs down in the comments section!

English Portal Community from Talk and Learn

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