Expanding ESL Learning via Mobile Technologies

MATSOL 2014 May 9, 2014

Introductions

Kevin O'Connor Framingham Adult ESL Plus (FAESL)

Heidi Larson Education Development Center

Bob Paysnick Teacher, FAESL

Julie Gordon Volunteer Teacher, FAESL

Agenda

Challenge Opportunity Proposal Our experiences Hands-on activity Debrief

The Challenge

Adult students with limited contact hours ◦ Class: 2 – 6 hours/week, with some

homework ◦ No class during the summer

How to expand learning beyond class, beyond homework? Especially for those who speak English only in class.

How to help students drive their own instruction?

The Opportunity

http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/06/05/smartphone-ownership-2013/

The Opportunity

The Proposal

Connect the challenge with the opportunity

The Proposal

Some organizations offering free wireless in the Framingham area.

Some Distinctions Devices – smartphones/tablets from… ◦ Apple (iOS) iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

Apps from Apple App Store

◦ Google (Android) Devices from Samsung(Galaxy), Google (Nexus), many others

Apps from Google Play

◦ Others including Microsoft (Windows) and Blackberry smartphones/tablets

School hardware versus student devices Technology for in-class versus extended learning

Our experiences

Julie & Heidi: ◦ Level 2 students fall semester ◦ Level 1 students spring semester ◦ Evaluated to some degree

Bob: ◦ Level 5 students

Our experiences

Benefits: ◦ Students liked using the technology and

reported that it was helpful ◦ Even those who didn’t own their devices had

access to them at home ◦ We were able to secure loaner devices for

everyone in class

Our experiences

Considerations ◦ Finding appropriate, adult level, free apps

◦ Some of the best apps weren’t cross-platform

◦ Explaining how to download, set up, and use in simple terms

◦ Getting students’ feedback and finding out what they learned in simple terms

◦ Wireless capacity

Our experiences – Level 5 In-class Activity Examples ◦ Phone conversations

◦ Student real-time polling (Poll Everywhere)

◦ Defining words/idioms/phrasal verbs using image libraries (Google, Bing)

◦ Listening to a short audio track (Storycorps.org)

Student Real-time Polling

Defining via Image Libraries

Defining via Image Libraries

Defining via Image Libraries

Listening to Audio Tracks

Splitters for Shared Listening

Our experiences – Level 5 Out-of-class Activity Examples ◦ Various language learning apps Dictionary, thesaurus, translator, grammar lessons, etc.

◦ eBooks (with/without audio) eBook readers on phone/tablet OverDrive

◦ Music Songs on YouTube with lyrics Shazam

◦ As part of a class activity Photos Social Networking Conversations (Wiggio) Share text/video messages (WhatsApp)

eBooks from your Library OVERDRIVE

Music

Music

Class Inter-Messaging

• Free app for all common devices

• Paired and group text messaging

• Free cross-platform

• Audio and video messages

Our experiences – Levels 1 & 2

Google Translate ◦ Use: Vocabulary building: Level 1: In class – expand vocabulary (e.g. What

other colors do you see in this room?) to show that can use Translate at home.

Level 2: Asked students to look up and learn 5 words they encountered during the week that they didn’t know. Reviewed the next week for all to learn.

Google Translate

Our experiences – Level 1

Quizlet: Best app we found Use: Lesson review ◦ Lots of pre-made sets for basic vocabulary that

aligned with the curricula, so only had to download one app. ◦ Multiple learning activities: Pictures, text, audio, writing, flashcards, games

◦ Reviewed in class to use at home

Consideration: Several steps to access the first time.

Quizlet

Quizlet

Quizlet

Quizlet

Our experiences – Level 2 Duolingo ◦ Extensive sets of lessons covering multiple

scenarios Employs audio, text, listening, writing, speaking.

Can share progress on social media if desired for motivation

Discussion attached to each exercise. ◦ Asked students to come back with 5 words

they learned during the week Considerations: ◦ Not necessarily aligned with the curricula ◦ Fixed exercises – not much flexibility.

Duolingo

Duolingo

Our experiences – Other apps

Comparative Adjectives (iOS) Learn Colors (Android) USA Learns (iOS) YouTube ESL Conversation videos

(Some more enthusiastic than helpful, although could be good for listening and understanding)

Hands-On Activity

Download one (or more) of these apps from PlayStore (Android) or App Store (iOS) or search on your laptop’s browser ◦ Google Translate

◦Quizlet

◦ Duolingo

Hands-On Activity – Pick One Google Translate – ◦ Are all the languages of your students included? ◦ Look around the room and translate 5 words from a

language you don’t know. ◦ What are 2 scenarios where this could be useful to your

students? (e.g. Bank, Hair dressers…)

Quizlet – ◦ Sign in and search for one set appropriate for your

students’ level and your curricula

Duolingo – ◦ Are all the languages of your students included? ◦ Are there vocabulary sets aligned with your curricula?

Activity Debrief

What apps did you try? What did you think? Have you used apps before with your

class? Which ones? Can you see yourself trying any of the

activities you heard today with your class?

Thanks for coming!

Please sign the sign-in sheet if you’d like to continue the discussion and exploration. Kevin O’Connor Heidi Larson, hlarson@edc.org Bob Paysnick Julie Gordon