Page 49 - ELG2102 Feb Issue 474

REVIEWS . REVIEWS & RESOURCES

Digital review

READY TO RUN Time-poor teachers will appreciate the
downloadable, printable and editable resource packs
for students and teachers. They provide lesson plans
readytorun.digitallearningassociates.com and ideas, and are built around pre-, during and
post-viewing activities. Transcripts are provided, with
Pete Sharma delves into the rich highlighted target vocabulary. A recent, interesting
library of video content from Digital development is the release of interactive units, which
can be uploaded to a learning management system
Learning Associates (LMS) for students to watch and complete at home in
preparation for a lesson.

An exciting new genre
which avoids the well-known

downsides of using raw,
inappropriate material

Digital Learning Associates (DLA) has done a
good job of sourcing and re-working the original
content to create graded authentic learning videos.
This ‘levelling’ can involve the creation of new
commentary scripts and pedagogically informed
editing, ensuring a video is intelligible at a specific
level while retaining intrinsic interest. Ready to Run is
Ready to Run is an online library of short videos an exciting new genre which avoids the well-known
for use in language teaching and learning, downsides of using raw, inappropriate authentic
incorporating support materials. This resource material and the artificial nature of much language
bank, which comprised 225 videos as of November teaching material. Among the many positives are the
2020, is constantly expanding. Videos are option to access accurate subtitles, and the exposure
pre-cleared for world rights and aligned to the to natural speech and a range of accents.
CEFR scale of competencies. There are three levels
of access: Video Star offers 10 free units as a taster; Flexibility of use is the key to success here. Teachers
Video Pro provides 35 units; Video School offers full should feel free to select, use, supplement or adapt
access and is of interest to institutions. as appropriate. The material fits well into models
of flipped and blended learning, and regular blog
The videos fall into three main types. The authentic posts announce the uploading of new material. The
documentaries are a highlight, providing an occasional typo needs attention, but this hugely
impressive range of topics including Tutankhamon, impressive bank of videos is a rich source of material
the White House, volcanoes, graffiti, life in for language learning. Recommended.
Bangladesh and much more. Next, the work of
authentic vloggers provides areas with teen appeal, Pete Sharma is a teacher and teacher
such as fashion and dance. These should prove trainer with a Masters in Educational
popular with Generation Z. Finally, in the short Technology and ELT from Manchester
‘functional language videos’, actors discuss their University, with a background in business
reactions to a specific video in carefully graded English teaching. He is a lecturer in
dialogues. These aim to help students build their EAP at Warwick University and an active
confidence in speaking and critical thinking. consultant with many organisations.

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