The Internet has to be one of the most underused resources in TEFL: a huge and ever-increasing bank of authentic material just waiting to be tapped into. The reasons for this are many and varied - from teachers' apprehension to new technology, to the prohibitive cost of hardware.

Young learners are invariably keen to explore the Internet. Unlike adult learners, they are not 'computer weary' by the time they get to class and their naturally inquisitive minds and sense of fun (mischief?) make cyberspace an ideal learning environment.

There are a number of important considerations to take into account when planning a YL web-based lesson:

• Content - make sure the website you select is suitable for the age you're teaching. Also remember that anyone can produce a website - is yours reliable with regards to accuracy and factual content?
• Integration - try to integrate the lesson with the coursebook or syllabus wherever possible.
  
• Planning - treat the on-line session as you would any other resource by trying to ensure there is a pre and post computer component.

Lesson idea

a. Pre-online - Do some work in class on 'relationship' phrases and vocabulary e.g. to chat someone up, to ask someone out, etc. Many coursebooks (e.g. Network 3 by Bill Bowler and Sue Parminter, OUP) have comic strip sketches which focus on this very topic, giving the students the direct speech they need.

b. Online - go to www.dfilm.com and let the students create movies, with their own dialogues, in pairs. In effect, this is a role-play, the students using animated characters to produce language - even the more timid can use their imagination to create dialogues that might not appear in the classroom.

c. Post-online - students can act out their dialogues in front of the class (whose was the best?) or perhaps put the dialogue into reported speech. If possible, show the completed movies by data projector so the students can see each other's work.

Finally, remember when you've completed a successful lesson to share it with your colleagues - they can take a lot of time to prepare!

For more ideas on using the Internet in classes, see

Dudeney, G. The Internet and the Language Classroom (CUP)
Eastment, D., Hardisty, D. and Windeatt, S. The Internet (OUP)
Teeler, D. and Gray, P. How to use the Internet in ELT (Pearson Education/Longman)

Useful sites

The following is a list of 'top ten' websites, not in any particular order, which can be useful for exploitation:

1. http://www.dfilm.com A great site which allows you to create your own animated movie. Suitable for both young learners and adults to practice dialogues (see above for a suggested way to exploit the site).

2. http://www.puzzlemaker.com Create your own puzzles, like word searches and crosswords or let your students make their own and test their colleagues. Easy to follow with clear on-screen instructions.

3. http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/halfbaked Another puzzle generating site but you need to download software (free to non-profit making educational establishments). You then create professional-looking puzzles which can be published as web pages for the students.

4. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/index.html A fun site for kids- facts on featured animals and nature topics, lots of interactive games, puzzles and drawings to print off and colour in.

5. http://www.artkids.co.uk/ Great on-line colouring book, sketchpad and art games site, together with tips on how to improve your style.

6. http://www.swoon.com A site for teenagers with horoscopes, dream analyses and 'astro-matches'.

7. http://www.cybersurfari.org/index.cfm An on-line treasure hunt for all ages but geared towards kids. Search a number of 'sponsor' sites, collect clues, submit your answers and hopefully win a prize. Great for all scooby-do wannabees.

8. http://www.planetkids.co.uk/main3.html A fantastic all-inclusive site for kids. Loads of links to other similar webpages.

9. http://www.kidscom.com The emphasis here is definitely on fun - play games, chat and leave messages, check out quirky adventure stories etc. For younger learners, see the sister site at www.kidscomjr.com.

10. http://www.kids.mysterynet.com Kids love solving mysteries and so should enjoy this site. Language can be a little difficult so suitable for those at a higher level of English. For older learners see www.mysterynet.com.