GCFLearnFree.org is an amazing website that provides free online learning opportunities to anyone wanting to learn and improve literacy, math, and technology skills in order to be successful in life. The site is entirely free to use. It is run by a non-profit organization to teach people essential skills. The site offers more than 200 video courses. While the technology skills and the math skills are very helpful, for the purpose of this review I will be focusing on the literacy skills that the site provides. Here is a four minute Screencast that I created doing a quick walkthrough of part of the website:
There is so much great content that I couldn’t possibly capture it all in only 4 minutes.
There are a wide range of varying topics that the
website teaches its users. From how to
use different web browsers, how to set up a Facebook page, how to pick up a prescription,
how to use a vending machine, to how to write a job application, this website
covers all areas of literacy an English language learner might need to know.
In addition to having an online literacy program
that native English speakers can follow, there is also a specialized English
language learning program in which English language learners can practice
vocabulary and work on improving reading comprehension. The website is very upfront and claims that
the English as a second language program is not a complete start-to-finish
English course. Rather, it is best used
as a supplemental resource for English language learners who already have some
basic understandings of the English language.
The program has 1,000 common English words (which
can be found here: 1,000 Words). The words are grouped into themes and
categories. Each category has a
different set of resources students can use to practice and improve their
English skills. They use a lot of
different activities because, as the site says, not everyone learns the same way.
Here are the four main activities that help English learners
develop their English skills:
Word
Explorer – Word cloud containing all of the words in the
category. When a word is selected, the
learner can hear the word spoken, hear the word used in a sentence, and then
view a video that visually defines the word.
This activity helps learners work on vocabulary and pronunciation
skills.
Text
Explorer – Learners can choose from and read a variety of
texts including short stories, advertisements, articles, letters, and
more. Learners can read on their own or
they can listen and follow along to the text(s) being read. Vocabulary words are highlighted and the site
is currently working on adding reading comprehension questions to texts to
further improve the learning experience.
This activity helps learners develop reading, listening, vocabulary, and
pronunciation skills.
Video
Dictionary – Short video clips that define a
variety of words. Currently, the website
only has videos for about 75% of the words.
They plan to have videos for all 1,000 words by the end of the
year. This activity helps learners
develop their vocabulary skills.
Fill
in the Blank – Activity to help learners test their
vocabulary. Sentences are presented and
learners have to plug in missing vocabulary words to make the sentences
complete. This activity helps learners
develop reading comprehension and vocabulary.
Overall, the website is very easy to use and to
navigate. It is full of vibrant and
interesting colors. There are lots of
graphics and pictures to help users know what they are clicking on. This is a site that all teachers should have
bookmarked and it is a site that all teachers should try to embed into their
curriculum to help any English language learners that they have in the
classroom.
In addition to having
a Facebook page and a Twitter feed, the website also has a YouTube page. Here is a video introducing the website:
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