1. Kimberly S. Rodriguez English Language Training Institute (ELTI), University of North Carolina at Charlotte December 2008

2. Benefits Easy to learn/use Freeware Powerful capabilities for recording Students can hear themselves Students are empowered to actively improve their speaking Students can build a tangible audio portfolio

3. Sample projects This I Believe narratives Students make their own narrative and present the audio file to the class Anecdote Students must record an anecdote Public service Announcement Students prepare an audio PSA (including background music) and present it iBT independent/integrated speaking exercises Jazz chants Pronunciation drills I have the students do the drills and self evaluate them. Answering machine messages

4. Where to get it http://audacity.sourceforge.net Audacity automatically includes capability to export to WAV. Also get the LAME MP3 encoder plug-in which will allow you to export to MP3 format. MP3 files generally use less memory than WAV

5. audacity.sourceforge.net

6. LAME encoder

7. Students can listen and record Listen to target or source with Windows Media Player or other player software Using minimized Windows Media Player, students can control player without losing Audacity screen. Record only student voice on Audacity

8. How it works

9. Looks & acts like a standard recorder Button controls Visual sound Time meter Allows multiple tracks

10. Editing capability

11. Ability for input from various sources Record from microphone Record from computer Import sound

12. Import audio files

13. Various output formats Export Audacity files as WAV MP3 (LAME encoder required) Audacity format (.aup) can only be used with audacity program *.aup format maintains separate tracks. Convert to WAV or MP3 to move files between computers.

14. Export Export will merge all files into a single track for MP3 or WAV format. You cannot separate the tracks again.

15. Much more powerful

16. File sharing Audio files are too large for email. If you have Blackboard or Moodle or other classroom management programs, teachers and students should be able to upload directly into those sites. Many free file-sharing sites. Watch out for advertising Watch out for file size limitations, maximum files/mb per day or time limits. Google search to see what is available.

17. Sendspace.com Free Limited advertising and relatively inoffensive content Unlimited time as long as files are actively being downloaded. 30 day limit on inactive files. Easy to use 300 mb file size limit

19. Upload desired file

20. You can cut/paste the link and send it in an email

21. Sendspace allows for Folders

22. Easy Download Sendspace is only a storage site. You have to download a file in order to open or play it.

23. Both programs are easy to learn One class period at the beginning of the semester to work in the language lab with my students Take about 15-20 minutes to show them Students do their first assignment in that lab session and transfer the file I provide a handout with instructions. You can also demo the program in a regular classroom if you do not have language lab resources, you just need a computer and projector.