What is ePals for us?

In today's globalized world, people are connected to each other in every aspects. Americans are eating Chinese food; Chinese are watching English movies. We imported Japanese cars and export our products to every corner of the world. However, it is not only the concrete products. All things around us convey their unique culture and thoughts to us. we are in a time that listening to different voices from all around the world. Here, I am going to talk about an education online media,  ePals, which is allowed students and teachers from long distance. Major purposes of this site are to provide quality digital content and facilitate collaboration for effective learning.

     ePals has amazing projects. Teachers can design their own projects and students who are interested in can participate. Almost all the projects are authentic, meaningful and can be finished in teamwork. For instance, a teacher can initiate a project and incorporate students from India, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China to explore ancient cultures of those countries. In the end, the project can be present in the form of Powerpoint.
                                                              

      "On My Plate" is listed on their website currently. I like this project because of its topic is interesting. It is encouraging students to discuss what is "on their plates", and read what is on the plates of kids around the world. I think most people will agree that we love food! In this way, people will like to share their opinion across the different culture.

     Moreover, you can join in whatever you like in ePals through the searching engine. You can type in you preferred language, region, project and so forth.

As a future ESL teacher, I suggest ePals a effective technology tool that help students to know a more comprehensive world outside of their small own community. This is no doubt will be a good way to convey authentic culture rather that receive the second hand resources that already biased in some way. Plus, teachers can explore rich experiences of other wonderful teachers. Especially for new teachers, this is a wonderful place to learn how to manage a good class.