Do you know how teachers can use Voki in ELT class?

week 3  I've learned an effective tool for stimulating young learners'language learning: "Voki"😊

In my first blog, I've introduced one outstanding blogger who is helpful for preschool and primary school English educators. In this post, I will recommend the same audience one excellent online product: "Voki". As the designer points out, "Voki is a free collection of customisable speaking avatars for teachers and students that enhances classroom instruction, class engagement, and lesson comprehension".

🙇The Voki website

  https://www.voki.com/

Also, the users have the access to Voki by downloading its app. 

😏How Voki works for ELT?

The most obvious effect of Voki in ELT is that it can enhance learners' motivation and creativity. So it is necessary for teachers to know how to use it.  When entering Voki platform, a search bar can be seen at the top where four sections are divided: CREATE, PRESENT, CLASSROOM and HANDOUT. 

😇Create

Teachers can use Voki to create a new image for teaching English. In this way, students will be motivated to learn more. Especially when students feel tired of facing the same teacher all the time.

In the CREATE interface, besides creating new teachers' images, the content which teachers want to provide for students can be added by typing or recording voice as the picture shows.

           Search:  https://www.voki.com/site/create

😊Present

This section is for the design of presentation. In this interface, students as well as teachers can embed their favourite Voki images in the presentation which makes the display of  PPT more stimulating in English class. 

Search: https://www.voki.com/presenter/create

😎Classroom

The classroom in Voki is an excellent place for teachers managing and reviewing students' Voki assignment. Teachers can give students some creative assignment such as using Voki to manage a presentation related to the textbook content. Then the teacher can review their work by the Classroom.

(An example of students' interface for assignment)

Search:https://www.voki.com/classroom/index

😋Handout

Here is the introduction of Handout. 

Search: https://www.voki.com/hangout/index

😆Additional use of Voki I want to say: LEARN

It is a useful interface for students to learn though Voki class. On the right of the menu bar, if they log in and press the button: LEARN, a large number lessons implemented by Voki will be presented. But it is worth noticing that if the students have not logged in, the LEARN is not available. 

  

Search: https://www.voki.com/student/lessons

(👉REMEMBER LOGGING IN)

👉A useful video for teachers to learn more about how to use Voki 

😁My own designed Voki avatar for ELT as an example for you

Here I will give you a simple example to introduce how to use Voki for English education. 

My design is a part of primary English class where the teacher aims to teach children the sentence pattern: "What's your favourite animal?  My favourite animal is...."

In this part, the avatar is a white cat, as a cute animal, it is presented to begin this topic.

Search: http://tinyurl.com/ycu47oc8

In this activity, I aim to use a cat image which is closely related to my topic: the favourite animals. The reason why I think it is useful is that young learners are full of curiosity. If I use the creative tool, it is more likely to arouse their interest and catch their attention at the beginning of my class. 

❤What I like about Voki in ELT

• Voki can create a speaking avatar to impart knowledge. Such new image invokes students' interest and motivates them to join.
• Voki allows students to make presentations without speaking in public. It is helpful for those shy children and mitigates their speaking anxiety. 
• Voki help teachers manage and review assignment effectively.
• Voki avatar provides different accents which assist teachers, especially those novice ones to improve students' pronunciation.

💔What I dislike about Voki in ELT

• Avatar can only speak for 900 words. 

 

• If user wants to record their own voice, only 90s is avaliable.

• Even though it is creative, students may lose their interest in the long term because Voki seems to have no some necessary features for gamification. When students are familiar with it, it is no more than an ordinary tool. Thus, if the platform can provide some games for children to challenge, it may become more attractive.