What does Youtube video (or any online video) have to do with writing in an ESL class?

Nothing if you don't want it to.  However, if you are willing to try, it can add a lot of fun and value to your classes.

Now, other than turning her on to youtube, I can take no other credit for the neat idea one of my colleagues came up with for using youtube in her writing class.

At the level she teaches, one of the elements the students study is the concept of a 'how to' process paragraph/essay.  You know, first do this, then do that, after that this is what happens etc.

Well she wanted to make sure the students really understood the concept and learned a variety of transition words other than the normally putrid first, second, third (BLAH BLAH BLAH) that so many students are stuck with.  So, she went to youtube (after my suggestion) and searched for 'how to' videos.

Since youtube is a very democratic place where anyone and everyone can make and upload videos, she came across a fair bit of useless videos (at least for her needs).  But without too much time she found just the right video.

Then, armed with this video, she brought her class to our lab, and had the students watch the short video twice (a total of about 15 minutes or so) and take notes with a specific focus on the steps and relevant vocabulary used to introduce/explain the steps.  Then they went back to their regular class and reviewed the notes they had written and any new vocabulary. 

The added visualization from the short video really helped the students grasp the importance of sequencing and how different words/phrases can be used to describe a sequence of related events.

In case you're wondering, the students submitted their paragraphs in handwritten form, not typed up on a computer.  Most of them need as much help as they can get with their penmanship!

If you want to see the video, search youtube.com for "how to wash a cat" and look for the one involving a wetsuit and welders gloves!

Ok.  Now get out there and think about what you can do with youtube.

Cheers,

Eric

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