Using Cell Phones in Language Classes

Presented by: Edo Forsythe English Lecturer Hirosaki Gakuin Univ.

Notes accompany each slide so please view the notes for explanations of the slide contents. Thank you and enjoy the show!

Let’s Run Some Numbers

8 – Japan’s worldwide ranking in a list of countries progressing towards becoming a 100% information society

78 – Percentage of Japan’s population which uses the Internet (third highest percentage worldwide)

99 – Percentage of Japanese college students who own a cell phone & use it for web-based activities

They’ve Got You Covered

3G Coverage Map for Japan: Not only can they ‘hear you now,’ but they can surf the web for information about you while they’re talking to you…

Source: www.japanprobe.com

Dennie Hoopingarner, CLEAR Assoc. Dir. for Tech Integration said,

“It is important that we understand how technology influences [students’] everyday lives.”

Cell Phones are the Present

“The cell phone is the technology of choice for today’s

students”

Cell Phones are the Future

Education Week’s Digital Education blog recently said:

There’s been a significant shift in the tone of discussion about cell phones in schools, due largely to expanding capabilities of smartphones which now commonly feature digital video cameras, Web-searching capabilities and more user-friendly keyboards.

Posted 17 May 2011

USE CAUTION!!

Not everyone is a progressive as me:

Asashi Shimbun, June 23, 2009:

“This January, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has issued instructions to ban the bringing [of cell phones] to elementary and middle school, and to restrict the use in the high school.”

http://en.gigazine.net/news/20090623_cellphone_issue/

Blended Learning on the Cheap

have no

so allow

Ways to Use Cell Phones

In Class for web-based activities

Outside of Class for Oral Assignments

Taking Advantage of the Extra Features

In-class Web-based Activities

Things to consider:

• Not all students have cell phones - small groups work best so students can share with one another

• Connectivity issues should be checked before you load up web searches

• Students will be uncomfortable at first - this is a foreign concept to them

In-class Web-based Activities

My first forays:

The Peanuts Gang! American Music Genres

Culture-based Web SearchActivity Steps:

1. Divide class into small groups (2 - 4 students)

2. Provide handouts to guide web searches

1. Give a website that you’ve verified has the info they need

2. Spell out what data you want them to find

3. Discuss search keywords to pinpoint the data you want

4. Decide whether or not you’ll allow them to search in Japanese

3. Walk around the class and double-check their progress and answers

4. After they finish their research you have 2 options for review:

1. Put into larger groups (1 from each original group) & share info

2. Teacher can tell the story; bringing in elements from each group

5. Follow up with overall review activity

Culture-based Web SearchGroup 1 researches jazz

Group 2 researches blues

Website where students can find the info they need.

Culture-based Web Search

Now let’s watch a video of my Eikaiwa III class

researching and discussing American

spring holidays.

Activities Outside of ClassCell phones can be used outside of class for various activities to support or supplement lesson topics:

Telephone calls in English:

• Calling and leaving a message

• Calling to schedule an appointment

Learning text-speak by sending texts in English (an alternative to Twitter)

Other language-based activities:

iPadio for Phlogs

Activities for Cell Phone Features

Many cell phones have a built in camera which can be used for activities:

• Scavenger hunts - students in groups use L2 clues to find an item and take a picture of it.

• Record videos of class-related activities - students make a video of them role-playing or acting out a lesson-based item (intros, meeting someone, etc.) and post it to a class

YouTube account.

Use games and applications for language practice

Favorite Smartphone Apps2011 TESOL Conference’s Electronic Village hosted a “Mobile Apps for Education” presentation. Here are some of the attendees’ favs:• Pronunciation Power• VOA Special English• Various dictionary apps (I love Japanese 2.3.3 by codefromtokyo)• NPR• YouTube• AudioNote• Word Warp (vocabulary builder and practice)• Scramble (vocabulary practice)

What are your favorites?

Questions and Discussion

Now let’s discuss how you might include cell phones in

your teaching.