Software

[MarieNo]

Was gibt es für Software, die man einsetzen kann?
What kind of software is available?

[XYZ]

Hi!!

Ich hatte hier bereits einige erwähnt:
http://www.grundschule.de/forum/viewtopic.php?t=396

[Christel]

A wide range of English learning software for German primary school students exists and we got to know some of them in a seminar. I must say that I am really surprised that, in my opinion, so many of them are really disappointing. I think Ginger 2 was the only software that was neither boring nor too hard or easy.

[Kathrinchen]

The most important thing you have to think about before using software in your lesson is HOW you want to use it and what your aim is. It is not good to use only software in a lesson, you always have to put it in a context and prepare the children before using it to achieve the goals you set.

[annadina]

Most of the software available for german English learners in primary school is actually not that good for the aims of primary school teaching.
In my opinion the learner software Ginger 2 for the 3rd grade is one of the best you can get these days. It's very appropriate for kids at primary school level, because its tasks include exercises to listenig comprehension, basic vocabulary, communication skills and an introduction to English writing...the illustrations are cute and the various tasks and games have different levels of difficulty...

[AlexIles]

A software programme on its own isn't enough for students to learn a second language. It must be accompanied by verbal interactions with other students or/and a teacher. In interactions the learner has opportunities to comprehend message meaning, produce modified output (e.g. a corrected sentence which before had a mistake in it) and to attend to the second language form.
Consequently the student needs comprehensible input, just above his/her level.
The student has to make sure he/she understood the meaning by requesting repetitions, clarifications or restatements.
However, these interactional modifications aren't possible working only on the computer. So interaction with students and teachers is a must for the learner to attain communicative goals including the exchange of information and pedagogical goals including fluency, accuracy and complexity.
This shows software programmes for learners should only be one part of a lesson.

[Lalumi]

I think the software „Tell me more kids“ (Cornelsen Verlag) is a good example for a kind of picture dictionary and vocabulary trainer for pupils, that can be used e.g. during free study timeto understand texts or find words that pupils want to use on their own. The program shows a town with its’ houses, a garage, a hairdresser, a market, a circus, a school, a leisure park etc.
It’s not hard to understand how this software works and most vocabulary out of childrens’ surroundings seems to be included. The structure of the sentences is quite easy.
There are several games in every section to practice new and old words in jumbled order. The user only needs to click on several charactersand the program leads to those games.
Julius and Calico are the two characters who give instructions and hints in German and lead the user through the whole software.

[janine]

The CD-ROM "Tell me more kids" is appropriate for children between 9 and 10 years of age. It covers different topics like school, garage, circus, home, leisure park etc. Each topic contains vocabulary (verbs, nouns, adjectives) which can be read an heared with a click on the different pictures. Moreover there are a lot of games where the vocabulary is used in different ways, for example memory games and matching exercises. The children also have the possibility to record their voice to repeat a sequence of a cartoon or to repeat a song.

[Eva83]

The CD-ROM „Bumblebee 4“ is recommended for the fourth grade. The instructions are given in German but English is the dominating language in the games and exercises. The software emphasises listening comprehension as large sequences are told in English, but in my opinion it´s hard for the children to understand so much talking. The main character is the bee “Bumblebee”. He accompanies the children to a “Wonder World” which contains six topics, among them “Peter Pan” and “Native Americans”. The topics aren´t separate from one another so that the pupils don´t have to do them in any special order. Within each content area the new vocabulary is introduced by a click-and-point exercise. The games which follow this section increase in difficulty. Nevertheless the children can skip exercises. This is an advantage if the pupils aren't working with this software for the first time.

[JennyHoffmann]

In our course "Language Software for Young Learners of English" we get to know several softwares. I had a closer look at "Bumblebee 3".
On the opening page are different topics one can choose (animals, sports, at school,...). The Graphics are quite cute as the main characters are two little bees and the background is decorated with flowers.
If you choose a topic, you can work out different exercises or even listen to several dialogues. Some exercises consist of finding the right picture and joining it to the written word.
Few instructions are spoken in English and others are spoken in German. This seems to be very irritating. Most parts of the dialogues are spoken too fast and some sentences are too complex for 3rd grade children to understand.
While some characters are speaking, their head is marked with a red circle. At the same time, there are several arrows pointing at other objects or sentences. All this could be too irritating for children.