Using mobile phone in ESL clas

My response to a discussion on Moodle site on topic " Using Mobile Phone in ESL class"

                                                         Hi everyone...

It seems that the discussion has been rooted quiet deep. Nevertheles, it is worth, first of all, rethinking some key issues dicussed in this context, using mobile phone (MP) for promoting language skills. The first issue is that whether it is useful or not?. The second is how to encourage ESL to otimally use the MP for language learning purposes?.

Let me share my opinion about these questions.

It is obvious that mobile phones (MP) can be a helpful portable technology for ESL because of the following reasons: It is portable, appordable, entertaining, and provides a broad access to the internet, "the second real world".  As it is portable, it would break the learning boundary. By that I mean, MP enables us to gain input, i.e. vocabulay, pronunciation, or information, irrespective the place and time. Its affordability aspect, in addition, would certainly enable learners from all level of wealthy to learn English by using such a shopisticated tool. This would also mean breaking the learning limitation.

Entertaining factor is another crucial aspect that should exists in language learning and an MP has this strenght. For instance, by listening to a broad range of songs of learners' interest or watching youtobe online by using the MP, would be quite joyful language learning activities. In brief, the fun side of language learning can be promoted through such a technology. This would be a kind of extrinsic factor.

With regard to the learners' motivation, I would say that motivation is something that can be built. How would we do that?. It is worth trying to introduce some benefits of using MP for language learning to the learners at the first place. This is intended to raise their awareness of the potential benefits an MP has. Afterwards, encouraging the learners to practice using the MP for learning in the classroom for a couple of minutes could be done. If we give them such opportunities, they might find the joyful side of ESL learning.  What is more, it is good to keep encouraging them practice that regularly until we think they have already tasted the benefits them selves.This, however, can be done through a good design of lesson plan.  

What do you think mates?


Source : https://moodle.uowplatform.edu.au/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=20467