#63, Article: ICT in ELT: Using BBC Learning English Content in ELT, Part 1

I teach communication skills to the students of Engineering, Applied Sciences and Pharmacy at Charotar University of Science & Technology where it is possible to have ICT tools in every session for helping students be better learners.

While teaching a course called Communication Skills – 1 to the students of Pharmacy in the academic year 2009-10, I made students sit in the computer laboratory of the institute for their practical session in Communication Skills.

For teaching them Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation, I utilized BBC Learning English web contents. I preferred to use those contents because of three reasons:

1. The contents on BBC Learning English website are crafted and posted by ELT and ESL experts

2. They are highly relevant and explanatory

3. The contents are based on ongoing events in the world. For example, the current title of the BBC Learning English (Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation) page is “Lindsay Lohan sentenced to jail”.

Now let us have a look at what the BBC Learning English (Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation) page contains in it:

• Words in the News
• Ask about English
• News English Extra
• Pronunciation tips
• Keep your English up to date: Series 6.

The subtitles of the contents are:

• Nadal Wimbledon triumph
• Deal on Australian mining tax
• Russian response to spy allegations
• Indefinite articles – ‘an’ or ‘a’?
• Learn about Pronunciation
• Pronounce the sounds of English
• Quizzes about pronunciation; and much more.

How it helped?

Using BBC Learning English website contents helped me in three ways:

1. Improving the language of my learners.

2. Helping them remain updated with what is happening around the world.

3. Involving them actively into  the process of learning Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation, where Grammar is considered to be a dry thing to teach.

This week I have just given a brief idea about what I used. In next week’s article I will be focusing on the way I made them do things in the laboratory and the results I achieved, and most importantly the students feedback on this learning process.

Tarun Patel