Record your voice using Vocaroo!

What is it all about?

Vocaroo is a tool where you can record your voice and then save it in your computers or upload it online. Users do not need to create or log in or install any software in order to use it. Therefore, it is a very convenient tool to be used for students who hate the hassle of creating a new account.



How to use it?

First of all, you need to have a microphone. You can use the microphone built into the laptop to record. Then, click the record button and start talking! After completing your recording, Vocaroo gives you the choice to publish it or to scrap it and try again.

How can teacher benefit this tool in the classroom?

Teacher can start a topic about 'Myself'. Here, teacher would first tell the students about herself and then asked them to be in pairs and start telling their partners about themselves. This phase is important as it helps students to brainstorm the details about themselves. Then teacher would show students a podcast she made about herself to the class using Vocaroo. Teacher would then make it as a homework where students have to record their voice using Vocaroo and upload it into their class blog.


Very interesting idea from Kathy Cassidy has for students to practice reading smoothly (reading fluency) and record and learn from listening to themselves read using Vocaroo. Students can hear if they are reading fluently or not and compare it to what fluent reading should sound like. I think this allows students to take a bit of responsibility of their own learning and be able to identify their own growth. The program that she used to help her grade one’s improve their communication skills is Vocaroo, so it shows that using Vocaroo as a tool to improve communication skill is not a fiction! High five!



Here's an example my own recording describing myself. 

Audio recording software >>



Why is it good?

1. Users can use this recording tool without installing software.

2. Vocaroo provides the embed code for users, this provide an option for users to embed the recording anywhere.

3. Simple way of practice pronunciation skill. I think that since it is free, simple and easy to use, teachers could use it as a center for students to practice their reading independently and  to listen to it later on to assess their communication skills.




The weakness of it..

1. More suitable as a homework. It is quite difficult to use this tool in the class as everyone need to have a microphone. Without a mic, no recording can be made.

2. Only 5 minutes of recording!

3. Require internet connection.

4. Cannot edit the recording, you have to record everything from the start.