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Google Voice Helps Students Learn Spanish
on March 1, 2010
Classroom Technology & Infrastructure
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I think this a great way to learn Spanish. Other ways are podcast, you can learn as you go. SpanishPod sometimes uses Skype voice mail to record students...
I think this a great way to learn Spanish. Other ways are podcast, you can learn as you go. SpanishPod sometimes uses Skype voice mail to record students Spanish.
on Mar 2, 2010
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At Holmdel High School in New Jersey, students speak Spanish in front of their class, but they also practice their language skills on the phone.
This year, Spanish 2 teacher Katy Taylor wanted to find a different way to assess their progress in addition to listening to oral presentations in class. So, she asked them to call her Google Voice number and leave a message.
On their own time, the students read something in Spanish or create a dialogue, which could take up to 1 1/2 minute. Google Voice captures the audio and sends her an e-mail with the recording attached. Then she listens to their recordings and e-mails them feedback — and it's all free.
Google Voice, a telecommunications service by Google launched in March 2009, provides a U.S. phone number, chosen by the user from available numbers in selected area codes, free of charge to each user account.
“It was kind of just fun to experiment and see how it works in the classroom," Taylor said, "and the kids respond really well to it.”
Instead of taking up clas time, they dial in to her phone number, and then she can go online that evening to hear what they've done.
Many students are afraid to make mistakes in front of their peers, so when they do receive a recording assignment, they're more apt to take risks because they have some privacy.
“I’m hoping that the end result will be that students are speaking more and getting feedback," Taylor said. "Every time I think it gets a little better.”
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Comments
on Mar 2, 2010
I think this a great way to learn Spanish. Other ways are podcast, you can learn as you go. SpanishPod sometimes uses Skype voice mail to record students Spanish.
