Are you tired of trying to keep your students attention? Then.. try these useful links!

Technology has become a key element in acquiring a second language and it is a must to catch up with it. Nowadays students are more familiarized with technology than teachers  and, especially the youngest ones guide us towards understanding top-of-the-line programs  and devices to be used in our classes.

The following links are some examples of basic things  we can do in order to foster learning more efficiently, create presentations, encourage our students to do something creative and of course, work on cooperative learning.

• Free web page designers

• http://www.wix.com/tutorscca/conversation-strategiescca
• http://www.wix.com/tutorscca/conversation-strategiescolombo
• http://estrategiasdeescuchacca.pbworks.com/w/page/27337255/FrontPage
• http://writingstrategiescca.pbworks.com/w/page/26873416/FrontPage
• http://listeningstrategiescca.pbworks.com/w/page/27330501/FrontPage
• http://opensessiononpronunciationonline.pbworks.com/w/page/25796826/FrontPage

• Keep track of your favorite websites updating right to your email by using Google Reader for RSS (Really Simple Syndication)

PODCASTS ? Use them to download listening exercises and videos every week/month. Check these out!

• Digital Podcast: http://www.digitalpodcast.com/
• Itunes: http://www.itunes.com/
• Podcastalley: http://www.podcastalley.com/

BLOGS ? Your students can create a journal in which they will post everything they want to share with their friends, photos, videos, messages.

• WordPress: http://wordpress.com/
• blogger: https://www.blogger.com/start

SOCIAL WEBS ? This is a wonderful way to keep in touch with your students, they can meet/interact with English speaking partners, play games while acquiring new vocabulary, describe pictures and share opinions!
·    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/

·          Second Life: http://www.secondlife.com/

·          Ning: http://www.ning.com/

·          Twitter: http://twitter.com/

WIKIS ? Here you can assign group homework for your students to work collaboratively.

·    Wikipedia: http://www.wikipedia.org/

• Library Success Wiki: http://www.libsuccess.org/
• Library & Information Sciences Wiki: http://liswiki.org
• BloggingLibraries Wiki:http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/
• English Instruction Wiki: http://www.wikigogy.org/
• Wiki Index: http://wikiindex.org/Welcome
• Wetpaint: www.wetpaint.com

The social way to learn a language, listening exercises, grabbing words to complete sentences, matching pictures, etc.

• Quizlet: http://quizlet.com/
• Voxopop: http://www.voxopop.com/ fun and easy way to check your students pronunciation, it allows you and your students  discuss their interests and passions using their real voice.
• Voicethread: http://voicethread.com talk about and share your images, documents and videos.
• Slideshare: www.slideshare.net learners can upload and share their PowerPoint & Keynote presentations, Word & PDF documents and videos. Add audio to make a webinar.
• Rubystar4teachers:  http://rubistar.4teachers.org Make exemplary rubrics in a short amount of time.
• Web Poster Wizard: http://poster.4teachers.orgcreate a lesson, worksheet, or class page and immediately publish it online!

OTHER ? Don’t miss this:

• Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/ Students will be able to share pictures and leave comments.
• Skype: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/homeMake real voice conversations with your students!

• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/