Enhance your learners’ motivation using WordWall

 

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

This week I am introducing to you ‘WordWall’, an interesting and easy to use tool for English language teaching and learning.

Features

WordWall offers ready-made activity templates that can be used by teachers to create interactive or printable activities for their classes. The templates are are accessed on this website. Interestingly, you can edit the templates to adapt them to your learners’ needs and context. Indeed, you can switch them to different styles to make the activities more exciting. The activities can easily be shared via a link generated on the platform, and this helps students access them on their laptops, tablets or smartphones. This means that they can be used anywhere, anytime (in the classroom, on the move or at home). Thus, in some contexts where there is not internet at school, students can access the activities at home using their parents' laptops or smartphones.The teacher will be able to see the activities results immediately after they are completed.

 Enhance your learners' motivation in ESL/EFL classes. 

Wordwall comprises various interactive game-like activities that can be used in the classroom to develop different language skills. This online learning tool is of paramount importance because it promotes learners’ autonomy. The fact that most activities are in form of games, and can be completed within limited time, students work on them competitively. This promotes self-directed learning and active participation in the lesson. Some of the activities can also promote collaborative learning as students can work on them in pairs or groups. 

Fostering English language learning with WordWall

After being introduced to WordWall in the course of ICT in TESOL last week, I have explored the tool further and found out that it can be used mainly to help learners practice speaking, have fun with grammar and enhance their vocabulary. The following are sample activities you can use in your English classes. Note that the activities can be adapted to meet your leaners' needs.

Use ‘random wheel’ for learners to answer a question asked randomly

Random wheel allows you to create activities for learners to practice speaking by answering questions on various topics (e.g. talking about themselves, their families etc.). These questions are chosen randomly by spinning the wheel. Here is an example speaking activity that I have created for you. Enjoy the game!

With this activity, I believe students can have fun to answer questions that are randomly chosen. 

Help your learners have fun with grammar

Wordwall provides you with a range of resources to practise grammar in a fun and engaging environment.The following is a multiple choice activity that can help learners practice the use of prepositions of place.

Enhance learners' vocabulary

Wordwall offers a wide range of fun activities to help your learners improve their vocabulary. The following is a drag and drop activity that aims at grouping adjectives with similar meanings.

Limitations

One of the limitations of Wordwall is that it allows a limited number (five only) of activities a teacher can create with a free account. This means that if you want to explore this technology unlimitedly, you will have to purchase the standard or pro versions. If you are not ready to do this, you can always come back and change the activities you created before and add new content. However, you lose your previous activity as it is replaced by the new one. Again, you can access, edit, and use activities that were created by other teachers.

Another limitation is that slow learners may struggle with activities on this platform as most of them are to be done within a limited amount of time. However, teachers can adapt the activities to meet their students learning pace. Sudents can also enjoy to do these activities on their own pace at home.

For more information on how to use Wordwall, you can watch the following videos.

I hope you enjoy reading my post and will appreciate your feedback.