Reflections on TELL (Week 3)

My third week of TELL was very practical and hands-on. This week, I learned how to use various educational tools, such as Tricider, Lingro, Cloze Test Creator, IPA Typewriter, PhoTransEdit, and Phonotizer, for language learning. Tricider is a free online brainstorming tool. On tricider, we first enter a question on which we need to gather ideas. We can invite friends and colleagues to share their thoughts and contribute ideas. Additionally, users can provide supporting or opposing arguments, leading to a diverse range of perspectives. The discussion remains open for 14 days, allowing participants to engage in thoughtful debates. Since discussions are not in real-time, users have the opportunity to reflect and craft well-thought-out responses, which enhances critical thinking and meaningful engagement. Here is how it looks like

Subsequently, I was introduced to other educational tools such as IPA Typewriter, PhoTransEdit, Phonotizer, Cloze Test Creator, Lingro, and BreakingNews English. I explored IPA Typewriter, PhoTransEdit, and Phonotizer, which are particularly useful for linguistics students as they aid in phonetic transcription and pronunciation learning. IPA Typewriter allows users to type phonetic symbols. PhoTransEdit helps verify transcriptions by translating them into readable text and provides options to convert symbols into Received Pronunciation or General English. Phonotizer offers phonemic transcription with British and American versions, along with audio playback features. Another highly useful tool I came across is BreakingNews English. It is an American website that provides authentic material and is synced with English e-newspapers. The platform can adjust syntax and vocabulary to match the reader’s proficiency level. It offers seven levels, making it an excellent resource for learners at different stages. Additionally, I was introduced to Lingro, a valuable tool that functions as a dictionary. To read an article using Lingro, we simply copy the URL of a website, paste it into Lingro, and the article opens within the platform. It allows users to click on any unfamiliar word to instantly view its meaning, eliminating the need to switch to a dictionary app. Furthermore, Lingro enables users to save words to a wordlist for future review. Since Lingro removes distractions like hyperlinks, it serves as an excellent tool for focused reading and vocabulary building. Here is how it looks like

Lastly, I learned about Cloze Test Creator, which generates fill-in-the-blank tests. Users can select a paragraph and specify which nth word will be omitted, along with the type of word—such as a preposition, noun, or verb. This feature makes it an effective resource for practicing grammar and vocabulary. It is particularly useful for creating online assessments and quizzes.