Tools 4: Overstream

Do you need technology in learning English?

Stated above is my question and obviously the main problem with my respondents has definitely got to do with technology. Four out of five respondents said that technology is needed in learning English, while the other one said technology does not really help in learning English.

OVERSTREAM

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I believe everyone watched televisions since the inventions have created such a big impact on people, either positively or negatively. People learn English with many ways and by watching television is one of them. This tool is definitely great to those who hated to read long passages or paragraphs filled with words. Overstream is an online video which users could use to add read any subtitles of all languages. Since technology is the main factor of learning English, our respondents are comfortable to learn English while reading the subtitles. Watching television is definitely fun but it could be such a time consuming, if you don't make full use of it. Overstream; http://www.overstream.net/index.php is a free tool that allow users to add subtitles to online videos. Through my experience of a first- timer, I think that the tutorial that this online tool gives has perfect descriptions with details that first time users need to know. The tutorial teaches me the basics of how to use the tool and create subtitles. After you have done with editing, users are able to send the saved link of yours to other online users. This will ensure that users themselves can get the latest projects of one another, and they can definitely make comments after seeing the videos.

Clearly most of our respondents are visual learners since they rely their English studies upon technologies. With Overstream, people could easily browse other educational videos since in this online tool; it offers a search tool box with the language that users prefer to watch. In this context, our respondents must search for English subtitles and they can learn through it. I believe this online tool is quite cool since everyone can technically use and apply it in their daily lives. Watching videos online could not be that hard and most definitely, the features in Overstream are beyond stable and understandable. Thus, this online tool can be used in schools and also in universities.

Citation: (1) SCOPUS/SciTopics: Retrieved from: http://www.scitopics.com/Significance_exploring_the_nature_of_information_systems_and_technology.html

Stated that technology has indeed helped users from all over the world, not just from the aspect of communication, but also for learning purposes.

(2) The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) Retrieved from: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=415433&c=2 Stated that doubtless reading long passages is boring, but for the sake of knowledge and to learn things, we should be thankful that gadgets have been created to make non-readers to be able to learn too.

by, Fatin Atiqah bt Rahim