Search
Voki: Speaking Avatar
Details
Activity Description
Have students introduce themselves to the class by making a personalized avatar with text to speech or with their own voices.
Preparation
- Make sure the Web site is not blocked at your school.
- Practice using the site, making your own voki as an example to show students.
How-To
- Have your students write a brief paragraph about themselves.
- Provide feedback for corrections.
- Have students use the Voki Web site to create their vokis and e-mail to the instructor or post online for sharing.
- See the Voki directions file (above) for instructions on how to use the site. Note: There are only a few avatars in the free version with limited clothes, bling and backgrounds. Pro accounts start at 39.99 a year. See pricing here.
Teacher Tips
- If using text-to-speech, there is a character limit; use one space after a period. Also, words may need to be typed phonetically to be pronounced correctly.
- Built-in or USB microphones are needed for making a one-minute recording. If recording with microphone, students need to begin speaking immediately or they will receive a message that the microphone is not detected. Recording time is limited to one minute.
- Students can also use telephones to make their recordings.
More Ways
- Use for asynchronous "conversations" and discussions.
- Can also be used for any language skill / practice -- listening, speaking, pronunciation, writing, vocabulary, grammar.
- Students can answer question prompts, use target vocabulary or grammar structures, describe themselves or their clothing, create alter egos, imagine themselves in the future.
- See the Voki Lesson Ideas for more ideas.
- How to: See Voki Support for classroom resources, including how to create and manage student and classroom accounts.
Program Areas
- ESL: English as a Second Language
Levels
- All Levels
Lesson Plan
Warm-up (10 minutes)
Activity: Discussion on AvatarsAsk students if they know what an avatar is.
Show an example of a popular avatar from a movie or game or social media. Briefly explain how avatars can represent people online. Those students who have avatars should share their avatars with their classmates.
Explain that Voki is a website where you can create speaking avatars.
Tell students that today, they will learn how to make their own avatar and use it to practice speaking English.
Open Voki on the projector.
Show students how to create an account or sign in if they already have one.
Demonstrate the steps to create an avatar: choosing a character, customizing it, adding voice, and saving.
Play a sample Voki to show how it works.
Tell students that they will write a short paragraph introducing themselves which they will record on Voki.
Walk around the room and help students write a simple introductory paragraph. If you are in a zoom room. Have students use a Google doc so you can observe their writing to make sure they are on the right track.
Activity: Creating their Own VokiDistribute the handout with step-by-step instructions
Guide students through the process of creating their own Voki on their computers/tablets.
Circulate around the room to assist as needed.
Activity: Sharing and FeedbackHave students share their Voki avatars with a partner or small group.
Ask each group to give feedback on pronunciation, fluency, and creativity.
Encourage students to practice speaking their Voki script aloud.
Activity: Homework AssignmentAssign students to create a new Voki avatar at home, using it to introduce themselves in 3-4 sentences.
Ask them to email the link to their Voki to you or upload it to the class platform.
Documents
- Step-by-Step Handout_ How to Use Voki.docx - Step by Step Handout for using Voki