Using Voki when Teaching English

Using Voki when Teaching English

This is Voki:

Voki is an application which allows you to create talking animated characters. It is a software available online that has become popular for use in teaching children, and teachers using it have testified to how it has helped them to catch the children’s interest and make them more eager to participate. The amazing thing about Voki is the potential to personalize these animated characters, and turn them into whatever is needed in each particular teacher’s classroom.

     When first creating a character, one can choose its physical attributes; whether to make it a human being, an alien, a wizard, an insect, a cartoon, an animal or anything else provided as an option on the website. Attributes such as hair, clothes, age, skin color, accessories, facial dimensions etc. etc. can also be applied and changed to fit the creator’s needs and preferences. The creator may then choose a background for their Voki out of the many options provided, or they may draw and upload their own background, if wishing to personalize it even further.

     The last step is adding a voice to the Voki. It can be done by writing the text the creator wants his or her Voki to say, and then a voice is picked out from a database of voices and finally added to the Voki. The Voki will then say the words previously written for them. A more personal option is for the creator to record his or her own voice!

How it can be used by teachers:

Voki can be used in almost any subject and by any teacher, and it opens up several possibilities. For language teaching, it can be used to catch the interest of young learners. One of the most difficult aspects of working with children is keeping them interested and engaged when in class, which is why bringing in Voki’s could add a fun element to their education. They can be used to tell the children stories, for example. Since the Voki’s are so highly adjustable in their physical aspects, they can be made to look like characters in a story told (or read) by the teachers. It could also be a great way to help students expand their vocabulary. After reading a story where a character is carefully described, the teacher can ask his or her students questions regarding the characters physical aspects, and together they can create an image of that character in Voki. If telling the young learners about this upcoming challenge, they might try harder to pay attention when listening to the story or the facts presented by the teacher. Voki can also be used to help explain simple grammatical issues or rules, as a way of making learning more fun.

How it can be used by students:

One of the many things Voki can teach a student is names of physical features. The software is simple enough for young learners to use, and it could be used as a way for them to learn features such as “blue eyes”, “brown hair”, “big nose” etc. etc. One activity could be for the students to all create their own Voki. They could then be asked to record an audio clip for their Voki, where they describe his or her features. “My name is Lola, I have long brown hair, blue eyes and I live in a small house.” These could then be displayed in front of the whole class, to give the students a chance to show off their work as well as learn from their classmates.

     Once every student has a Voki they can be used continuously as well, perhaps by having an assignment each week which involves recording a new message for the Voki’s, based on what have been taught in class that week.

Potential learning outcomes:
In today's society kids learn to use technology at a young age, which clearly speaks for the importance such knowledge will come to have in the future. Using Voki will give young students an opportunity to work with a computer, and help build up their basic navigation skills and understanding for working digitally. Many children are already overly familiar with computers and other similar devices, but it is an excelent opportunity for children who might not have computer access at home to get to give it a try. As mentioned, the world is becoming more computer dependent every day, and it is important for children to be introduced to this during an early stage since sooner or later they will need to use it.
     When it comes to learning languages it is an excelent opportunity to practice both speaking and writing, since Voki offers the choice of either writing the text for the Voki's to say or to record it with one's own voice. This can be made as basic or as advanced as the student and the teacher find suitable (as well as possible). Working with Voki will teach the young students that there are several fields where they can make use of the English they learn, and it could also be a motivation for them when they begin to understand words and senteces written on the website, while creating their Voki's.
     Over all, Voki can be used to practice both grammar, reading, writing, speaking, pronounciation, listening and so on, and all this while doing what for the students will feel like playing a fun online game.

Further comments:

Voki is a free feature, but the website also offers other paid services such as Voki Classroom, where teachers are able to both add and manage classes on the website, register students, and they can also access lesson plans and tips and organize how their students interact with the Voki’s. This premium feature also includes other features such as the possibility to record longer audio clips and choose between more Voki characters. The Voki Classroom feature costs approximately 30 dollars for 1 year, and 45 dollars for 2 years of use, and there is the possibility of trying out the feature for free for 15 days. They also offer a 30-day-money-back guarantee.

     On the Voki website more information can be found, such as teacher reviews and detailed product descriptions. No download is required, and the user only needs a computer and access to the internet in order to use Voki. Access website here: 


http://voki.com/
Jannike Nilsson