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The ESL Commando

Top Secret Tips for English Success

Best iPad Apps for ESL Teachers #1 – Evernote

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evernote logoFor the next few posts, I am going to talk about iPad apps that I use that I think can be maximized for all ESL teachers or practically any teacher. If you are interested in an overview of many apps, Please check out my full presentation on The Best iPad apps for ESL teachers given at the CELEA conference in Philadelphia this year.

The first one I will promote is Evernote. Evernote is a note-taking productivity app that basically allows you to take photos, add audio, video, text, etc. and file and organize your notes.  The great thing about it is that it is searchable, so you don’t have to look through all your notes each time to find the one you need. Also, it allows you to combine all of the above media types: audio, text, video, photo into one note.

Here are a few things that I use Evernote for:

1. I snap a picture of my test keys and never lose them.  Because I have a bad habit of putting all of my papers in a messy binder after class, Evernote helps me to be quick and efficient in grading even if I don’t have that key since Evernote is available on all platforms.  It also gives me freedom from worrying about where I put the key when I have to give that test again in the future.

2. Give students a paragraph to read, give an oral feedback sheet by recording them in Evernote while you listen and mark a copy of the paragraph that they are reading. Take a photo and send it with the audio in the same note.  They can then go back over the mistakes that they made and see exactly where they made them while they hear themselves.

3. Record your spoken tests. It is very frustrating when you give a listening test that you dictate and because some students don’t show up, you have to re-dictate the entire test in your after class time.   Instead, simply record yourself on Evernote and give an appropriate title. When that student has to make up the test, give them your iPad and a set of earphones and you’ll save yourself time.

I have also heard of some teachers using Evernote for portfolios.  I have never done that, but I will look into it soon enough.

Please comment and let me know if you have any other interesting uses for Evernote that I haven’t mentioned here.

Other apps for ESL/Language teachers.

  1. Evernote
  2. Skitch
  3. Flashcardlet
  4. CloudOn
  5. ShowMe
  6. DropMind Lite
  7. MailVu
  8. AppsGoneFree
  9. VoiceThread

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