Mr Robot, I want to start learning a new language today

This news article notes that a few weeks ago there was a show case of seven humanoid robots together for first time in the U.S. This project was funded the the National Science Foundation. So can we imagine teaching language to a robot or having a robot teach us any language we want in a natural way? Maybe in the future once robots are more advanced and commercialized we could buy them a language chip and insert it to make them speak and understand a particular language. Then we will have robots or humanoids which/whom we could practice our language skills and recharge them if the battery is low, or they might recharge themselves I don’t know. This article suggests that more autonomous human interaction will help the development of fully interactive humanoids. Here is a interesting note from the article: “Since current humanoids are not ready for unconstrained interaction with humans, having a consistent platform will facilitate rapid progress in areas needed for autonomy and natural interaction, including mobility, manipulation, vision, speech communication and cognition, and learning”. So what if researches make rapid progress in these areas? How do you feel about teaching to or being taught by a robot with those features?

Future Classrooms?

I recently came across this article, which discussed the great success Dardanelle School District, a school in Texas, was having with their ELL program. Their success was contributed to a program called Imagine Learning English. This type of classroom set up is vastly different that the type of classroom I had in school. In my school experience, computer time was rare and limited. This article made me think of how much schools have evolved in the past few years. Hopefully soon, many more schools will experience the success that Dardanelle School District had by using technology in the classroom.

What do you think future classrooms will look like? Technology is rapidly changing the way our school system works, what do you think is in store next? The new white board is a new technology expected to be seen in classrooms soon and ipads are starting to pop up in classrooms more often. But what else have you see or heard about that may soon transform how the typical classroom looks and operates? What is your opinion of the wave of new technologies that are now a part of everyday classrooms? In your teaching experience have you had trouble adapting to the changes being made or do you embrace them?

The new white board!

Ipads in the classroom.

Podcast: The Application of Video in Class

The Podcast have two ways----Radio and Video. Today I want to say the video. The video increase understanding of content and good for revision. It's the best to help students understanding the teacher's talk.  And help the teacher using the tools to show more information or knowledge with students.

   However, using the video studying English may not be appropriate in all ELLs. Some students cannot control themselves attention when the video talk about grammar or some uninteresting knowledge, do not show the picture or cartoon. At that time, some students can't pay attention to learn English, because using the video to learn English didn't have interaction or feedback that is different with the learning in the classroom.

  Here is a show talking about that an American girl teaching Chinese ELLs how to speaking American English. And this show includes teaching ELLs idiom, culture and daily talk. This show's name is "OMG Meiyu". (Oh, my god. American English)
 



There is a example for "OMG Meiyu"

  Do you think "OMG Meiyu" can hlep the ELLs understanding American culture and improving their English? Compared with teaditional methed of teaching, is it possiable that "OMG Meiyu" will improve the ELL students' English language proficiency?

The Application of Podcasting in Education

  Podcasting and BLOG are synonyms. I think both of them belong to mobile assisted language learning, depending on internet-based spread. However, there are some differences between them. The concept of podcasting stemmed from the combination of “iPod” and “broadcast”, mainly delivering the radio and video through the internet.  Apple published iPodder in September, 2004, which was regarded as the sign of the beginning of podcasting.  However, BLOG refers to that people are able to spread their ideas associated with words and pictures through internet.

  With the development of technology, the knowledge is experiencing rapid evaluation every day. The time for classroom-based teaching is limited; teachers are not able to offer the whole knowledge within one class time. Therefore, using advanced podcasting technology to promote students` self-learning is essential. To illustrate my views, three advantages of podcasting are presented and discussed below.

  To begin with, podcasting can make review handy to some extent. Students are able to keep absorbing what they didn`t understand in class by logging in website, adding more informations which are radio-based or video-based to their notebooks. This process is able to refuel students overcoming the knowledge missed in class. Next, podcasting can make students motivated. Because of its promptness, students are able to log in their podcast website to strengthen their weakness submitting their questions to teacher. Then teacher can respond feedbacks immediately. This process can resolve students’ academic problems timely and make students feel that they have achieved something successfully. I also believe this kind of virtuous cycle corrects students` study attitude and make them motivated. Last but not least, podcasting can highlight the ability of telecollaboration. Through podcasting, learners are able to establish activity freely. Students can use the function button, “adding friends”, to collaborate with other people as well as updating own experience. Thus, students are able to share, collaborate and compete with each other.

  The podcasting, mainly delivering the radio and video through the internet, has visual, auditory benefits for students to learn knowledge including learning language. Students are able to remember what they saw through watching. They also can know what they heard through listening. Anyway, according to Kukulska Hulme, the author believes that “MALL (e.g. Podcasting) differs from CALL in its use of personal, portable devices that enable new ways of learning, emphasizing continuity or spontaneity of access and interaction across different contexts of use”.(Kukulska Hulme, 2008, p162.).  In another word, I think people can podcast anything in anytime at anyplace personally as well as to have multi-tasking or active engagement. The technology content is easy to learn and inexpensive.

  However, I was wondering whether there are any disadvantages of podcasting. For example, we can`t make sure that everyone has good quality podcasting device or content. So, is the audio poor quality? Is the content poor quality? Does the podcasting have a difficult accessibility?

Which one help us be "more human:" Technology, nature or both?

I have observed that technology is really important in our classroom.  Most of our classmates, for the TESL CALL spot statement, are trying to apply a modern technology to the development of the language.  In my opinion, in the area of language education, technology should not only be used in the development of the language, but also development of the person.  I was working in the UTSA library with my assignment for the TESL CALL spot, and after I finished it, I was trying to send it in, since I could not do it, I asked a fellow, who was working in his computer next to me.  He tried for a while to help me but eventually he gave up.  The man to my left could not help me either.  I asked two more people who worked in the library help me.  I thought "they should know it", but they did not.  After this experience, I realized that this modern technology is difficult for me, but also for others, who are expected to have some knowledge about it.  After my discovery, I modified my assignment for the TESL CALL post.  I would like to invite you to discuss not only how we apply a modern technology for development of language, but also how to apply it to the general issue of human development, and compare it with development of nature in human life.  As we realize, modern technology is so important these days for many human needs.  Some people go too far with technology development, and can become addicted to it.  The fast progress of technology can have a negative effect on human life.  Modern technology is changing the way our brain works.  Somehow, modern technology is changing human feelings, including the principles of human beings.  I think people should try to keep a balance between technology progress and the use of nature's resources.  Some human actions, such as modern technology, violate the laws of nature.  If we lose nature's image, we lose our purpose of life, because we are completely dependent on nature.  Personally, I'm trying to be really close to nature.  This connection with nature has been enriching my life in many different ways.  Nature keeps people "more human."  That could not happen to us with modern technology.  The words of the ancient oriental wisdom say: "live closer to nature my friends, and its eternal laws will protect you."

http://www.albang.edu/etap/faculty/Cara Meskill/publication/mark.pdf


http://www.abdn.ac.uk/philosophy/endsandmeans/vol2no2/roleton.shtml

After-class thinking: Can teachers expect smooth sailing when they use CALL?

Today we always find that teachers are excited about the rising opportunities for students’ learning by the advent of CALL, however, there are also some problems, worries, and challenges that teachers have to encounter in class. Compared with the impact of traditional class, students who have experienced CALL activities seem more easily to learn autonomously by using the technology resources. Some students may read the screen with an online dictionary window open aligned with text window; some students prefer to check the writing grammar through the available corpus; and some students even build their own corpus of texts that conclude what words can be used in introduction of academic writing, what tense can be more suitable for the critical analysis and, classic collocation of conclusion sentences. Students can do better when they get more access to material across the web site. But teachers also begin to worry about if this open approach ends up teaching students to plagiarize through quoting, paraphrasing, and claiming creative combination of what others used. I find this article written by Dr. Christine Sabieh:

             http://www.stc.arts.chula.ac.th/ITUA/Papers_for_ITUA_Proceedings/Sabieh.pdf

After reading, guys, do you think that if the plagiarism is a common problem facing ELT? Is there any good way to ensure plagiarism awareness? How can teacher keep balance of teaching learning strategies by technology and keeping the “close imitation” out of students’ mind and work?