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OERs for Language Instruction: Finding OERs

While this guide was originally created for a graduate student class, it can be used as a reference for finding quality Open Education materials for teaching foreign language.

Google

Google Advanced search as a great way to start out a search for OERs. Just remember to choose the license type near the bottom of the screen.

Drawbacks:

  • Dependent on the creator properly licensing their work so it is picked up by a search engine
  • If you are logged into Google, could limit your results
  • still have to verify quality of material, and possible research license
  • lots of content may still be "hidden"

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Merlot II

merlot logoMerlot is one of the oldest repositories of OERs. It has an entire community devoted to collecting OERs for learning world languages. The platform also offers peer reviews of many learning objects, and a rating system for general users. Materials are easily sorted into target languages for easy browsing.

Challenges:

  • The site can be frustratingly slow. 
  • Not all materials have been reviewed.
  • Links aren't all updated.
  • Licensing isn't always correct

 

OER Commons

OER Commons lets you search, find, save, remix and contribute OER.

Lots of ways to search! Check out these collections:

Curriki

​Curriki is a repository that mostly focuses on STEM materials for K-12 educators, but do have some materials for language learning and adult learners, including community college resources. It lacks a decent browse search, so here are some canned searches to get started.

Teaching English Search

World Languages Search

With an account, you can collect resources you are interested in, create a personal library, join groups of like-minded teachers, and create and upload new material. Curriki has a review team that is available to vet resources.

Link Spam!

Link Spam. By Qwertyxp2000 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37340578Here are some other sites that might help you with an OER Language course.

  • UCLA Language Materials - This site is no longer being maintained, but still has thousands of resources in its database. Devoted to less commonly taught languages, and is a mix of free and paid content.
  • Omniglot News - A giant list of news sources in other languages. Lots of links are broken, so experience will vary. Note that many of these sites are free, but not always open-licensed.
  • LibriVox - Free public domain audiobooks. Listen before assigning to your students. These are read by volunteers, so quality may vary. Most books are in English, but other languages are represented. 
  • Humboldt State University Guide to OERs for Spanish - Another librarian created this page devoted to OERs for Spanish.
  • http://wwitv.com/ - A giant list of international TV sites are are free to stream over the web. Again, links tend to go bad quickly for some of these, so test beforehand.
  • Center for Open Educational Resources and Language Learning - University of Texas at Austin has a wonderful resource that collects and promotes OERs for language learning. If you want focused material, start here first!
  • The Mixxer - this site joins native speakers with language learners and facilitates video skype sessions to practice speaking. Does require an account.
  • Foreign Languages on EDSITEment - Run by the National Endowment for the Humanities, curates learning materials primarily for K-12 learners.
  • Project Gutenberg - Free public domain ebooks. Also in other languages.