Technology in the ESL Classroom

By: Ivelisse Barreto Vargas

Dear teachers, students and school administrators:

Education can be FUN too!

NINTENDO WII

The Wii is today's hottest gaming console, vastly

outselling the PlayStation and garnering gobs of

media attention with its inventive and easily

understood games. More than 24 million Wii units

have sold globally, according to its maker,

Nintendo.

Nintendo’s

Wii video

• The Nintendo-Wii, is the 7th generation video game systems.

• It was launched by Nintendo in September 2006.

• It can be oriented horizontally or vertically, thanks to its angled plastic stand.

• The most extraordinary feature of this gaming console is its wireless controller. The Wii Remote and the WiiConnect

24. Measuring 1.7 x 6.2 x 8.5 inches (44 x 157 x 215.4 mm), and weighing only 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg).

Wii Features

• The accelerometers located inside the controller and infrared detector to sense the position in 3D space can measure movements at all speeds and all directions.

• Nintendo Wii comes as the smallest and lightest home gaming console.

• The Wii has a powerful 512 MB internal flash memory, two number USB 2.0 ports and a slot provided for SD memory expansion.

Wii Features

• The SD card can be used for a variety of purpose, for example, as a back up for saved game data and downloaded virtual console games.

• The WiiConnect 24 allows download to players via the Internet.

• While playing offline, a maximum of four controllers can be used in Wii.

• Wii`s operating system interface is divided into a number of smaller channels, designed similar to the television channels.

Wii Features

• A list of the available channels is as follows:

Forecast channelPhoto channelNews channelMii channel

Virtual console channel(s)Wii Shop Channel Internet channel

Wii message board Everybody votes channel

Wii Features

• This is a channel that lets students answer a question that is open to the world. 

• This is great for generating conversation and incorporating predication reading strategies.

Everybody Votes Channel

Nintendo Wii equipment

Nintendo Wii

Is it cost efficient?

• The Nintendo’s Wii is available on the market with the price range of $200-250 dollars.

• Grants are available through many outlets to get a Wii in your classroom or school.

• Funds provided by the government might make this product easier to purchase and acquire.

Is the Wii cost effective?

• Speak with other teachers about cross-content lessons and make sure you have clear objectives for when the Wii is being used.

• Make sure every students get a chance to play and use the game.

• Purchase a wireless detection bar.The wireless version of this bar lets

you place the Wii anywhere in the classroom and lets the students play from their seats or from a designated area in the classroom.

Tips for teachers

• Teachers can use the Everybody votes channel to make the students keep a journal where they must answer the posted question with several sentences of explanation.

• Wii systems, when connected to the Internet, can grant teachers access to up-to-the-minute local, national, and international news.

Tips for teachers

In my opinion the Nintendo Wii is a great affordable new tool that

could be indeed integrated into the curriculum as it is student centered, produces motivation

and entertainment for everyone in a classroom.

Wii in the ESL Classroom

• The Wii offers a combination of fun video games and real physical activity.

• It can benefit Elementary and Secondary students.

• It can motivate students by making the class more fun and exciting.

• It can be integrated in all courses: (English, Math, Physics, Gym class, and others)

• Gives the teacher a chance to engage the students in a completely different way other than the usual.

Pros of Wii in the ESL Classroom

• Some games keeps trail of the child’s progress so you can look back over the year and see where they started until their most recent session.

• Most games are highly motivating and entertaining.

• The Wii will work the children’s muscles all over their body. 

• It helps with bilateral and unilateral coordination, and it improves hand-eye coordination. 

Pros of Wii in the ESL Classroom

• There are MANY Wii games that have educational value and help learning and improving cognitive skills.

• Another plus is that this game automatically changes levels of difficulty for each cognitive task presented.

• The Wii will also assist in the development of social skills and it will help them to support others through cheering on and supporting their friends during the games.

Pros of Wii in the ESL Classroom

• A Wii in the classroom can be fun, but it is also a lot of work.

• Sharing problems with the Wii controllers.

• At the end of each game, there comes the “Winner or Loser” image.

This can create changes in the attitudes and feelings of the students.

• A sense of competitiveness can be generated.

• It can be difficult to find games that are interesting and worthwhile to adolescent learners who have sophisticated tastes when it comes to games.

Cons of Wii in the ESL Classroom

• Loud sound quality in these games can be disruptive to children pursuing other activities in the classroom.

• Not all schools have internet or wireless connection.

• If the Wii remote controllers don’t have their gel coverings, they can crash into anything or anybody and hurt them.

• If while playing, students don’t strap the Wii remote controllers to their wrists, again they can go flying off and hurt someone or break something.

Cons of Wii in the ESL Classroom

View video as an example of having a Nintendo

Wii game integrated in a school