Slides from a presentation by Heidi Larson and the Framingham Adult ESL Plus school at the Massachusetts Association of Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages (MATSOL) Conference in May, 2014

1. Expanding ESL Learning
via Mobile Technologies
MATSOL 2014
May 9, 2014

2. Introductions
 Kevin O'Connor
Framingham Adult ESL Plus (FAESL)
 Heidi Larson
Education Development Center
 Bob Paysnick
Teacher, FAESL
 Julie Gordon
VolunteerTeacher, FAESL

3. Agenda
 Challenge
 Opportunity
 Proposal
 Our experiences
 Hands-on activity
 Debrief

4. 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?

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

6. The Opportunity

7. The Proposal
Connect the challenge
with the opportunity

8. The Proposal
Some organizations offering free wireless
in the Framingham area.

9. 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

10. Our experiences
 Julie & Heidi:
◦ Level 2 students fall semester
◦ Level 1 students spring semester
◦ Evaluated to some degree
 Bob:
◦ Level 5 students

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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)

14. Student Real-time Polling

15. Defining via Image Libraries

16. Defining via Image Libraries

17. Defining via Image Libraries

18. Listening to AudioTracks
Splitters for Shared Listening

19. 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 onYouTube with lyrics
 Shazam
◦ As part of a class activity
 Photos
 Social Networking Conversations (Wiggio)
 Share text/video messages (WhatsApp)

20. eBooks from your Library
OVERDRIVE

21. Music

22. Music

23. Class Inter-Messaging
• Free app for all common
devices
• Paired and group text
messaging
• Free cross-platform
• Audio and video messages

24. Our experiences – Levels 1 & 2
GoogleTranslate
◦ 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.

25. Google Translate

26. 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.

27. Quizlet

28. Quizlet

29. Quizlet

30. Quizlet

31. 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.

32. Duolingo

33. Duolingo

34. 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)

35. 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

36. 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?

37. 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?

38. 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