Realia Websites

Web-based Resources for English Language Teaching & Learning
Leslie Opp-Beckman, University of Oregon

Articles 

ERIC Digest, Thematic, Communicative Language Teaching in the K-8 Classroom
http://www.cal.org/ericcll/digest/0004thematic.html

• Foreign language instruction for children can be enriched when teachers use thematic units that focus on content-area information, engage students in activities in which they must think critically, and provide opportunities for students to use the target language in meaningful contexts and in new and complex ways. The use of manipulatives is incorporated into the sample lessons. 

Linking Second Language Instruction with Content Instruction
http://www.nwrel.org/msec/just_good/8/chapter2.html

• By organizing key concepts, or big ideas, into theme-based units, teachers can create extended learning experiences that give students more time to become proficient with the language used to discuss and explore those larger concepts. The use of manipulatives is incorporated into teaching with "inquiry activities" and a problem solving approach.  

Methodologies in Foreign Language Teaching A Brief Historical Overview 
http://www.linguatics.com/methods.htm

• Cites the appearance of manipulatives as part of The Silent Way  in the 1960s-1990s. 

Lesson Plans, Teaching Tips and Interactive Web Sites 

Examples of Realia Collections

Education Curriculum Library Manipulatives, Language Arts
http://www.byuh.edu/library/curriculum/language%20arts%20manipulatives.htm

Gunn Education Materials Center, University of Southern Mississippi
http://www.lib.usm.edu/~gunn/gunn_site/ed_materials/realia.shtml

Macquarie University Library
http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/collections/curric.html

Multicultural Instruments, Milner Library, University of Illinois
http://www.mlb.ilstu.edu/about/depts/tmc/tmcinstr.htm

Melbourne Center for Japanese Language Education
http://www.arts.monash.edu/affiliates/mcjle/

Pronunciation / l /  vs.  / r /
http://teflchina.com/teach/speak/pronunciationLvsR.htm

• A pronunciation lesson that incorporates realia (e.g. a rock and a lock). 

Realia in English
http://www.columbia.edu/~ljl17/engrealia.html

• Choose a country (USA, Nepal, India) and see if you can guess what the cultural objects are. 

Virtual Realia
http://iteslj.org/Articles/Smith-Realia.html

• Virtual realia: (in language teaching) digitized objects and items from the target culture which are brought into the classroom as examples or aids and used to stimulate spoken or written language production. 

Directories 

DMOZ
http://dmoz.org/Arts/Education/Language_Arts/English/
English_as_a_Second_Language/Teacher_Resources/ 

Google
http://directory.google.com/Top/Arts/Education/Language_Arts/
English/English_as_a_Second_Language/Teacher_Resources/