8 voice recording tools for language learning

One of the greatest benefits of web 2.0 tools for English language learners and teachers is the possibility of recording audio and voice to share online. These tools lend themselves for a myriad of tasks you can set up for different levels and purposes.

This is my personal choice of the audio recording tools available. It is only a showcase of the available tools.  Links to ideas on how to use the tools are provided in some cases.

Audacity 

Audacity is a downloadable program for your PC. It is a simple yet powerful audio recording and editing studio. You can read about ideas for using Audacity in this blog post by Keri Lee Beasley here

Voki

Voki is a creative voice recording tool to create speaking avatars. It offers multiple customization options. Registration is needed and you get an embeddable widget in various sizes and colours. With Voki you also have a text to speech option. You can see a Voki in action at the top left column of this blog.

You can read about how Shelly Terrell and Ozge Karaoglu used Voki with their students here and here

Voicethread 

Voicethread is a tool to build conversations around images, videos or documents.

Registration is needed and you get an embeddable widget which you can add to any blog, wiki or website. For ideas on how to use it, check this Voicethread

Voxopop 

Voxopop is a neat tool to create asynchronous conversation threads. Registration is needed.

For more detailed information you can check Nik Peachey´s tutorial and ideas on pages 8 to 11 of his “Web 2.0 tools for Teachers Guide” 

Vocaroo

Vocaroo is a very simple voice recording tool. There is no registration needed and you get a small embeddable widget to put on your blog, wiki or website.

Audiopal

Audiopal is another very simple voice recording tool. Again no registration needed, You just need to provide an email to pick up your small embeddable widget to put on your blog, wiki or website.

Chirbit 

Chirbit works in the same way as Vocaroo and AudioPal, but you need to register first and the embeddable widget is slightly bigger.

Cinch

Cinch allow you to record a message to which people can reply. Registration is needed and the recording is available on their website but also embeddable or linkable.

Odiogo 

Odiogo is a bit different from the previous tools in that it is not really a voice recording tool but a text to speech one. But it works really well so it was worth mentioning.

I hope this list is useful and if you know of other tools, please leave a comment! 

Readers suggestions

Wimba Voice (Suggested by Teresa) 
Wimba Voice is a web-based service on subscription that allows you to create voice forums for e-learning courses. 


Fotobabble (suggested by Shaun Wilden)
Fotobabble allows you to upload a photo, record voice to it and share it with friends.

AudioBoo (suggested by Alex Wilson)
AudioBoo is a free web-based audio recorder. Registration is needed. It also has a free Iphone app worth checking.

Voice Activity (suggested by Paul)
This is an online (desktop version for Windows, Mac OS, Linux) short voice messages service. You can use it as a training/learning tool as well.

SoundCloud (suggested by Vernon)
It has a web app and an Iphone app. The great thing about it is that you can add comments at specific times of the message/audio track. Worth checking!

Voicethread and Voxopop

This week we have been experimenting with Voice thread and Voxopop (formerly Chinswing).

I am new to Voicethread, so I'll need some time to explore it and become familiar with it.

As regards Voxopop, I have used it before and I love it! I have used
it for basic listening, for example I created a coversation called
"Introductions from around the world" where you can listen to different people introducing themselves and talking about their cities and professions.

I also thought of creating one so that students tell me and each other
about their holidays. Since we have quite numerous classes in my
school (about 40), each student's speaking time is very short. This is
a good way to generate more speaking opportunities and, as Rita
pointed out, to maximise exposure to the language.

This is the lesson plan for it.

Summer holidays
Voxopop
Vicky Saumell

Background

This class is made up of 40 students, boys and girls of about 16 years old in their 4th year of secondary education (one year before graduation). They have English classes for 3 hours a week and they need as much exposure to English as possible. They school year is from March to December, so when we meet this March they will have just had their holidays.

Goal:

To have students talk about their summer holidays

Objectives:

By the end of this activity, students will be able to:

• Post a recording of their holidays on Voxopop
• Comment on their classmates holiday reports.

Rationale for the activity

This activity mainly focuses on developing speaking fluency by asking the students to talk about a familiar topic. It is also a learner centered task and allows for personal interaction among the students.

Activities:

1) Students get familiar with Voxopop in class (20 mins)
2) Students record their holiday report on Chinswing (10 mins)
3) Students listen to other students’ reports (30 mins)
4) Students comment or ask questions about someone else’s holiday (10 mins)
5) Students reply to comments or questions. (10 mins)

Anticipated Problems/Solutions:

Problem: The activity could take longer than expected the first time as many students will want to make multiple recordings.

Solution: Once they have become familiar with Voxopop operation, and if we run out of time, students can do the remaining work at home.

Extensions:

Students can then comment on their favourite holidays in class. They can also comment on the usefulness of the tool.