Online news platforms are the modern-day versions of traditional print newspapers. These platforms offer a broad spectrum of up-to-the-minute stories, blending multimedia content like video, audio, and visuals across entertainment, politics, sports, business, and technology.
What Defines an Online News Platform?
Digital news platforms are not just about delivering news; they are about engaging the reader. Articles are now enriched with multimedia elements like videos, photos, and podcasts, providing a more dynamic and immersive experience. Readers are encouraged to interact by leaving comments, sharing stories on social media, or participating in online polls and discussions.
One of the key advantages of digital news platforms over printed newspapers is their time-saving feature. Readers can easily search for specific articles or topics of interest, and save time and get quick access to relevant content. Digital news platforms also offer a range of content options, giving users the flexibility to choose their level of access.
Newspaper English
Newspapers are the world's mirrors. - James Ellis
Using Newspapers in the Classroom
Why we should consider using English newspapers for English language teaching purposes Newspapers can be used in ESL classroom with learners at all levels. At a beginners’ level - basic structure, headlines, symbols, pictures and cartoons can be the focus of attention. At an intermediate level - vocabulary, sentence structure and punctuation can be the focus of attention. At an advanced level - skimming, scanning, top-down processing, critical thinking, cultural and “native speakers’ perspective” skills can be developed.
Reasons for Using Newspapers
It is in fact nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail. - Albert Einstein
There are at least 10 reasons why ESL teachers should use newspapers in the classroom Newspapers: 1. Provide readily available, regularly changing original texts at an appropriate language level. 2.Deal with topics of current interest. Newspapers contain the most modern vocabulary. 3. Provide the language of today: contain modern words, phrases and expressions which are used today - some newly coined words may still not be included into dictionaries but they can already be discovered in the newspapers. 4. Contain a variety of text types or genres: feature articles, editorials, leading articles, ads, sports news, short news items, letters to the editor, reviews, stock market reports, comics, weather reports, etc. 5. Encourage top-down processing, i.e. information processing that proceeds from information already stored in memory (general assumptions or presuppositions about the material being processed) and prior experience about what an object might be; sensory evidence is used to confirm or disconfirm the assumption. 6.Promote an understanding of the concept of conventions which is important in text processing, grammar and style. 7.Develop critical thinking skills: offer insights into ‘diachronic’ (related to changeability) and ‘synchronic’ (related to comparison of various newspapers and texts printed on the same day) ‘intertextuality’ in the processing of texts. 8. Can help to overcome the ‘integrative’ bias of some ESL textbooks. 9. Are intended for native English readers therefore they offer a means of assessing the reader-writer relationship and entering into a “foreigner’s” perspective – an essential skill in ESL reading. 10. Include cartoons and pictures which can be adapted for learners of various levels. Everything About Newspapers:
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