Saturday, December 6, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
My Experience of Using Cell phones for Language Teaching and Learning
Endelibu Goa
Email- endelibugoa@gmail.com
TEFL, MA candidate in Arbaminch University,
School of Graduate studies
Introduction
In a modern
society, cell phone use is becoming a part of their day-to-day activities. It
is being applied in every life sectors as a means of communication, way of data
exchanging, and source of gathering information. Cell phone is used to access
any type of data saving time, money, and resource in a simple way.
In this
regard, in the academic context in general and in the language teaching and
learning in particular, cell phone are contributing a wider role in providing
language teaching and learning resource, teachers development trainings, online
learning and teaching, and teaching methodology and techniques.
Cell phone
are also language teachers and professionals with well standardize and updated
contents, tests, and assessment method that may assure educational quality and
generate learners motivation and interest.
1. My contact to directors and language teachers in the school
Having the
above importance of cell phone use in mind, I want to Chamo Secondary and
preparatory school to see how teachers and students react and what challenges
are there of using cell phones for language teaching and learning.
To keep the
step, I approach the school director to get permission and to deal with the
students about cell phone uses in the class room. However they introduce about
the cell phone use, they refused to give permission.
Surprisingly
none of them have awareness about cell phone uses for academic purpose. They
told me that the schools rule doesn’t allow learners to use phones in the
school and that I cannot contact the students for this purposes.
Hoping this negative attitude may be changed soon and very soon, I went to “Genius Language Center” where students of Chamo preparatory school learning language in their free time.
In the
language center, learners were introduced about cell phones use for language
teaching and learning purpose. They accepted with a big interest and very well-coming
environment.
A pre-
prepared reading and listening tests were shared through phones and the
activities were done wall. Learners were shared a pre-prepared reading activity
about “life in city and in country side”. It was about completing an outline so
as to make meaningful paragraphs. Majority of the students completed an outline
effectively and developed comparing and contrasting paragraphs. Except some
students who failed to operate their cell phones, most of the students found
the activity quite interesting and motivating.
Two days
later, they shared an audio text titled “The day I got lost”. Students were required
to retell the story in a chronological order and to identify major and minor characters,
setting, the main idea, and plot in the story. They effectively responded to
the audio text.
However,
more than half of the students reflected that they are challenged with the pronunciation,
complex grammar, and unfamiliar vocabulary they found in the story, they
managed it listening the audio again and again. This shows that how call phone
use is important and has advantageous to get any activity where ever students
want.
2. Learners reactions
As technology-based materials easily catch youngsters’ interest, learners were quiet motivated to do the reading and
audio texts with their cell phones. They felt great comfort of doing activities.
Learners reflected that it could be so interesting and time saving if all
subjects given in the same way. According to them if call phones use is applied
to every subject matter, the problem text book shortage and absence of other
educational materials will be solved. It also will raise the quality of
education up to standardized level. However, schools which do not allow learners
to use phones, learners’ economic problem to get cell phones, and lack of data/
information exchanging skills are some of the challenges in the area.
3. Experienced learners
I founded very experienced students
in data exchanging through cell phones. They effectively transfer any sort of
information through phones. I used such students as a good assistance and
facilitators during delivering activities. It was good opportunity for me to
share experience and to use experienced students as a good resource in the
language teaching classes.
4. Parents need of online text books
The majority of parents who get
introduced about cell phone use for academic purpose showed big interest to get
soft copies of text books. Particularly, parents who have personal computer and
good skills of basic computer skills, have great interest to get online
materials for their children. This shows that parent can play a big role of
cell phone use for academic purpose. Anyway, this was unexpected part of my
experience.
5. Challenges of cell phones use in the school
- -
schools
rules and regulations that does not allow cell phones use in the school,
-
-school
leaders’ and teachers’ negative altitude of cell phone use.
- - learners
economic problem, and
- - lacks
of skills are challenging conditions of cell phone use in the school.
6. Suggestions
Cell phone use possibly can be
applied for language teaching and learning. Even in the large classes. If local
schools have a positive attitude and awareness, cell phones can serve as an
input for academic excellence.
MY
Experience of Visiting Websites for Language
Teaching & Learning English
Introduction
Websites
are very useful
center of resources
for teaching & learning Language
skills. Teachers & learners can
get a better resource about both micro
& macro language skills from
different websites.
In addition to language skills development , websites provide about teaching methodologies ,techniques, techniques, method of
assessment , online learning , panning ,& ways of generating learners
motivation .
Moreover, website can help teachers to get any
kind of content or lesson
with standardized manner, Teaching skills
through literature with a simple
& insetting way can be also
accessed on the websites. To sum
up, websites are good resources centers for language teaching & learning to
get quite recent information.
Below, some websites are described with their unique
features.
In addition to
presenting both micro & language skills with mare exercises, it provides
online learning methods, teaching
methodologies & techniques.
Apart from the common language
skills ,this website also
gives mare important details
about lesson planning &motivating learners
to practice in the ESL /EFL
classes.
similarly ,this page
presents learning & teaching in beginners,
interdicted , & advanced levels
in addition way of language skills
teaching . Specially, it consists of English for children, English for
ESL/ EFL instructors, and popular ESL sites Like ESL fast, American song, &
special English
This website provides very import ant resources for
learning & teaching English. It contains free teaching resources to be used
in the class. There also activities for skills, lesson plans & teaching methodology, teaching aids (
image bank), how to teach kids (kids English ), teacher development
& training, publications like
action plans & researchers, teaching English radio, online
English programs, and blogs & networks are available.
This page consists:-
Ø Micro & Micro language skills,
Ø Teaching
English idiomatic,
Ø Proverbs & sayings,
Ø ESL videos, and
Ø TO EFL/IELTS test
resources.
6. Www. English use.com
In addition to common language skills , this
page provinces language study ,related news , academic reports ,& professional development conferences.
7.www.Amaricanenglish.state.gov/ This
website designed for teachers &
learners of English as a ferine Language .It contains academic
community which is
made up of teaching professional & students of
all apes who
are interested to learn
English
In addition the page contains
·
Rescores for teachers
-pedagogical skills, contents and
culture
·
English
Teaching forum and Journal
8. Htt.llwww. learnamernicanenglishonline.com.
This page contains your teacher, membership, Contacts, & blog
9. www.english.hilfen.de this page
presents you about explanation of
English grammar, vocabulary. It also contains literature
& books & tests.
10. Www.
English for any one.org. This page mainly works on aptitude Test of English
Language
Conclusions
Below, some
conclusions are drown about visiting
Websites for
Teachers & Learning Language skills
v teachers can update
their knowledge & methodology
of language and teaching
v learners can be more motivated & in retested to learn
Language
v self learning can
be practiced
v it can serve
as a
source of information for both teachers & Learners .
v teacher s can
get appropriately fitting lessons for
every level of learners
Lit of websites for
Teaching & Learnning Language skills & Teachers Development Trainings
1. www.1.language
.com
5. www.englilanguage
.info.com
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