TEACHING ENGLISH TO THE IPHONE GENERATION: reflecting upon the use of whatsapp messenger as an educational tool within language lessons

Ensino de Línguas Estrangeiras/Adicionais na Escola: novos caminhos para uma educação linguística

CEFET/RJ – UNIDADE MARACANÃ

Carlos Fabiano de Souza IFF |UFF|[email protected]

Teaching English to the iPhone Generation:

reflecting upon the use of WhatsApp Messenger as an educational tool

within language lessons

FIRST LINES... [1|3]

In the past time...

Back to the present...

FIRST LINES... [2|3]

FIRST LINES... [3|3]

Back to the present...

Welcome to Mobile Learning [1|4]

Apps to improve English

anytime, anywhere

Welcome to Mobile Learning [2|4]

That’s what mobile learning has to do with...

Significance of Mobile Learning

Interaction

Collaborative Learning

Just-In-Time Learning

Engaging Learners

Portability

Accessibility

Welcome to Mobile Learning [3|4]

Mobile learning is no longer an innovation within

institutional learning but a reflection of the world in which institutional learning takes place.

(Traxler & Vosloo, 2014)

What is mobile learning?

Apps to improve English anytime, anywhere

Welcome to Mobile Learning [4|4]

THEORETICAL BASES

Teaching English through Mobile Technology

Mediation (BEDRAN, 2008; SILVA, 2008 & SALOMÃO, 2008);

Interactivity (KHALIFA & SHEN, 2004);

Interaction (PICA, 1996);

Collaboration (DILLENBOURG, 1999);

Autonomy (JONES, 2007; LITTLEWOOD, 1996; PAIVA, 2006).

STUDENT-CENTERED CLASSROOM

A student-centered approach is supposed to help students develop a “can-do” attitude. It is effective, motivating and enjoyable.

The teacher’s role is more that of a facilitator than instructor; the students are active participants in the learning process. The teacher [...] helps to guide the students, manage their activities, and direct their learning. _____ Autonomous Learning

(JONES, 2007)

DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIVE SKILLS [1|4]

Listening & Speaking:

Podcasting to enhance students’ oral production.

What’s a podcast?

A podcast is an audio file (or more accurately, a series of audio

files) that is commonly distributed over the internet by

syndication;

It is usually in the MP3 format;

It can be downloaded from a website;

It can also be a recording created by a teacher to enhance the

teaching and learning process within and beyond the classroom;

DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIVE SKILLS [2|4]

It can be created by students to promote personalized and

independent learning;

It promotes creativity;

It supplements existing text resources and audio methodologies

such as CDs to support the development of oral and aural literacy

skills across the curriculum;

It can be used to create audio material for learning “on demand”

(anytime/anywhere).

What’s a podcast?

DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIVE SKILLS [3|4]

Reading & Writing:

Text-messaging to enhance students’ written

production. (netspeak applied to in-box chatting

interactions).

DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIVE SKILLS [4|4]

Blended Learning, basically, consists of mixing online with offline learning practices. It means that students get to learn at least in part through online delivery of content and instruction with some elements of student control over time, place, path or pace.

BLENDED LEARNING [1|7]

Online Offline Blended Learning

Classroom learning

Online learning

Mobile learning

METHODOLOGY

BLENDED LEARNING [2|7]

TIME IN THE CLASSROOM

Face-to-face learning

Collaboration: peer work and teacher’s guidance

BLENDED LEARNING [3|7]

OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Online learning (autonomous/collaboration)

Online instructor-led learning

Self-paced learning

BLENDED LEARNING [4|7]

Traditional Model Flipped Classroom Model

BLENDED LEARNING [5|7]

Source: Traditional Model (adapted from STEED, 2012)

BLENDED LEARNING [6|7]

Source: Flipped Classroom Model (adapted from STEED, 2012)

BLENDED LEARNING [7|7]

MOBILE TELEPHONY [1|2]

Mobile Information Technology Apps

WhatsApp Messenger

WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows people to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. It is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia. One of the advantages is that those phones can all message each other.

Mobile Information Technology Apps

WhatsApp Messenger

Because the app uses the same internet

data plan that users utilize for e-mail and web browsing, there is no cost to message and stay in touch with people. In addition to basic messaging, WhatsApp users can create groups, send each other unlimited images, video and audio media messages.

MOBILE TELEPHONY [2|2]

CORPUS ANALYSIS [1|2]

Technology in the classroom

The success of new technologies in the classroom depends

in large part on the the teacher’s ability to apply them meaningfully, especially in the language classroom where the technology supports not only the delivery of content but also the building of skills.

(Hayo Reinders, 2009)

IN CONCLUSION...

Since learning is something that the pupil

has to do himself and for himself, the initiative lies with the learner. The teacher is a guide and director; he steers the boat but the energy that propels it must come from those who are learning.

(John Dewey)

REFERENCES

PEARLS OF WISDOM