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See related article on using photos to read and write. Photos can be used to inspire writing, but also teach/practice syntax. For example, ask not just what details are seen in the picture (e.g., descriptive writing, universal present tense), but predict what will happen in the future (future aspect, conditionals).

This is the kind of real-life project that makes sense to students an could be used for extensive vocabulary and syntax development. The app used to create Chow Checker (which finds allergens in foods you enter into the app) is free from MIT App Inventor, which has extensive help and documentation. R. Byrne claims you can get students started with this without knowing anything about app programming yourself.

"The grammar blog is a weekly assignment I use in my high-advanced reading/writing classes for pre-matriculation international graduate students.... Each student chooses a grammar error or interesting/confusing sentence to focus on each week. Students read their classmates' posts and give feedback, and then I answer any remaining questions. The grammar blog is a motivating, student-driven, focus-on-form activity that engages students in important questions of syntax (grammar), semantics (meaning), lexis (vocabulary), and register."

"Twurdy is actually based on Google, but it analyses Google results for readability, so it can help you to find more lower level texts for learners without you having to read through every result from Google to see if it's simple enough. Just type in the topic of the text you need and click on your Twurdy type. You have a choice of three different Twurdy types. The differences are mainly speed (how fast you want your results) vs complexity (how thoroughly you want the results analysed) I would recommend choosing Twurdy with Pop as this will analyse the number of word on the page, length of sentences, number of syllables per word and also the popularity of the words in the text." After finding a good text, you could create lessons with Hot Potatoes for it. Nik's blog entry also includes related links for reading, such as "Prompting reading speeds" and "Comparing Texts to aid Noticing"