BrainPOP ESL

BrainPOP ESL is designed to support English language learners gain English proficiency. BrainPOP ESL is divided into different video-based lessons that are separated into six units, and each lesson teaches users a different language topic. From its main screen, users select the level and lesson they wish to complete by tapping its icon. Next, they progress through the lesson by viewing a movie; completing the “Hear It Say It!” activity, reviewing key vocabulary, flash words, and grammar exercises before completing the culminating quiz. The movie contains vivid pictures and narrations with subtitles. The “Hear It Say It!” activity uses the iPad’s microphone so users can first hear keywords and phrases and then record themselves saying those words and phrases. The key vocabulary, flash words, and grammar exercise all reinforce users’ learning of language, and the quiz at the end of the lesson assesses users’ learning of the language topics covered in the lesson. The quizzes are multiple choice and users are shown a report of their achievement following the quiz.

Please Note: Only a limited amount of content is available for free in this app. Users will have to make an in-app purchase to access additional content.

Instructional Ideas

1. Teachers can designate a certain amount of class time per day or week for students to complete a unit and/or lesson in this app. Following the lesson, teachers can have students share what they learned by asking: (1) What new words did you learn? (2) What happened in the video? (3) What grammar topic was taught in the video? Students can share verbally or in writing.
2. After students learn new vocabulary words with this app, teachers can have students add the words to an ever-growing word wall in their classroom. The words being added can be written on index cards, and the card can include the word, its definition, a sentence that uses the word contextually, and a picture of the word.
3. After students become familiar with this app, teachers can assign vocabulary words or a grammar topic to a group of students, and the students will have to write a script that uses the words and/or teaches the grammatical concept modeled after the videos in this app. Groups can perform the script for their classmates and then lead a review pertaining to the vocabulary words and grammatical topic. Finally, the group can prepare a quiz and administer it after the review.

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