Over the past year I have noticed an increase in the number (and effectiveness) of translation apps. I tend to let my students choose their own (suitability for their device and technological skill level, recommendations from friends, and so on) app to use. However the following is a very simple explanation of several apps that are effective.
Scale down your phone bill with these five apps that are quick, simple and get to the point, so you're spending less time on your phone and more time exploring the foreign terrain and getting work done. These apps offer translation by voice, text or photo, while also filling you in on the dos and don’ts of local culture so you can mingle without being the town fool.Source: http://mashable.com/2012/07/16/translation-apps/
As the teacher I have found a wonderfully simple tool to advance understanding and conversation flow ... Google images. The student or teacher types in the word causing confusion, in their own language, Google finds an image, the confusion is cleared, and the conversation continues. So simple.
References
http://images.google.com/
http://mashable.com/2012/07/16/translation-apps/
6 comments:
This was very informational. I have always been interested in the ESL environment. I was actually nominated in college to teach English in France after college, but I passed.
You said that you usually let the students use their own apps, has that ever caused a problem? Do you think that a universal app would be beneficial or not change much?
Hi Angela - I rely on my students technical knowledge to help me and each other. There may come a time or an activity that I will require the same app,but at the moment we all use different ones. This also boosts conversation in the classroom because different translation apps have different rates of success. Its always fun when one or more apps get the translation very wrong and we work as a group to come up with an appropriate solution. Janet
Hello Janet,
Google images can be a big time saver in the ESL classroom. I rarely make it through the day without having to put it up on the TV in the classroom. Digital language dictionaries also really help to speed up student writing, which helps them be more productive.; They are both two great tools we have at our disposal!
-Robert
I like your idea of using cellphone technology in the classroom. I enjoy when someone sparks an interest. I am actually going to start doing some research this week to see the types of language acquisition apps are out for Android now and mess around with them and will report back! Thanks for the awesome ideas!
Daielle
Hello Janet:
Your blog has given me sometings to look forwrd to and share with my adult learners. Your blog is professional and educational.
At my community college the ESL learners are taught in a fashion to Developmental Learners and that is not a true representation of ESL. What are your thoughts?
Hi that is a good question and for me the choice of teaching methodology really depends on the participants in the class. Assessment of their abilities with language can hide other talents so it is important to really get to know your students and all their talents. Janet
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