Author: Xuelei

Busuu is considered a language learning community social network for learning languages. The mobile application offers language learners with learning units that add up to twelve languages that include a translation from English to English, as well as Spanish and other languages such as French to English or German language. The tool also translates user’s native language to other languages such as Chinese and English. Those who use the tool usually choose a number of the languages and work throughout the self-paced component.

BUSUU application can be used to learn a number of different languages. It has been observed that over 15 million people use the tool to learn languages such as English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese and polish, and I found it is useful for English beginners. Besides learning different languages, the tool can be used to show how well a learner has learned a foreign language, such as English. The tool has audio and video features besides the written commands that help a learner to learn English in a particular period.  Once an individual is done with one part the BUSUU tool allows them to move to the next level. It is also equipped with dialogue boxes that when a learner clicks on them they can see the translation of the statements and listen to the prompted audio that reads the words, this function can improve oral communication for English beginners.

Learners who make use of the tool are usually categorized into two groups that include the ordinary user and a premium member. The tool is also made up of video units, podcasts and voice recorder functions. The BUSUU site gives room for a mutual learning by giving the users a good chance to access information that assists them to learn English while at the same time, listen, write, read and talking with the help of advancing a community of traditional speakers.

I would like to introduce a free application for English learners. According to Bottino, Jeuring and Veltkamp (2016) Duolingo is an online platform that is used to teach languages that uses the design of video games. Duolingo was created by Prof. Luis Van Ahn and one of his students at graduate level named Severing Hacker. Users of the platform can learn a language and at the same time benefit the platform by helping in the translation of documents. Duolingo became available to the public in 2012, and as of April 2016, the program offers 59 language courses across 23 different languages.

Duolingo can be used in teaching English to second language learners in various ways. Firstly, Duolingo can help students because it offers personalized learning. The official website of Duolingo states that their lessons are designed and tailored to help learners keep track of their learning on a regular basis for effective learning. Secondly, Duolingo can help learners of English as a second language because it offers users immediate feedback on grading which helps them to improve their language without delay. Thirdly, Duolingo helps learners acquire English as a second language because it offers them rewards that include earning virtual coins and unlocking new levels which motivate students to increase their efforts.

A fourth way in which Duolingo can help learners acquire English as a second language is that it has been customized to cater for the needs of learners in schools. For this reason, interactive activities and homework assignments that promote both fun and learning are designed to ensure that students enjoy themselves even as they acquire linguistic knowledge (Bite-sized English lessons. Fun, effective, and 100% free, n.d.).

In conclusion, it is manifest that Duolingo is a platform that can have various uses in the teaching of English. The explanations and discussions explored in this blog demonstrate that it is possible for massive language education to be successfully carried out through online platforms.

References

Bottino, R., Jeuring, J., & Veltkamp, R. C. (2016). Games and Learning Alliance: 5th

      International Conference, GALA 2016, Utrecht, The Netherlands, December 5–7, 2016, Proceedings. New York: Springer

A Lingro dictionary is a first search engine with a number of lingual online AJAX dictionaries and language website. In Kristin’s video about the Lingro, it has been observed that the application can translate words from all the Webpages on the internet.   However, at the moment the application can only translate information from English to other languages such as Spanish, French, Italian, English, German, Polish, and Swedish.

The feature, contrary to using the English language as the primary language that can be translated into other languages, it can also translate other languages such as Swedish into polish and vice versa. The networking interface of Lingro helps the user to change over a variety of languages by selecting them in the drop-down box. Furthermore, there is also an option to archive besides adding more words to the dictionaries word list.

As a tool that helps learners to look up word meaning while holding onto the same webpage that an individual is using, Lingro dictionary is fast to access and quite useful. This helps learners who using English as their second language to access the meaning of words with much ease by translating them into their native language.

In teaching English to the second language learners, Lingro is quite useful because it has features that make it easier for the learners to use. For instance, the tool has the dictionary that translates words hence making it easier to find the meaning of words in their native language, the Lingro website viewer is used for translating words that are not known. The Lingro file viewer allows the user to upload files and it is also very easy to keep track of words that have already been translated. All the features make the work of a learner easier and assist them in improving their vocabulary.

 By the way, Thank you for sharing Lingro Kristin.

Reference

Retrieved from:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUBuVVqCaOs

https://youtu.be/ntxYQzSV8vU

Link to the Multimodal Tutorial: https://youtu.be/ntxYQzSV8vU

Engaging second language learners can be challenging, however social media is often seen as a potential solution that could immerse students. The problem is that most learners, particularly those with few language skills in the new language, need many supports. A further concern is safety and privacy when speaking with strangers. Hellolingo, produced by Magikhub, provides an application that assists in this endeavor.

Source: MagikHub, 2016

In order to use the system a free registration process is required. The learner also identifies their maternal language and the second language that they are seeking to learn. There is a version that can be downloaded to Android phones, or the system can be used on the web using a computer. The Hellolingo application helps to match individuals who wish to practice the second language, and uses algorithms such as common interests. Vocabulary, translation and phrase support is built into the application.

Chatting using social media is so widespread it has become a problem in schools and workplaces. Unlike forced homework, a social media application that provides supported ways of practicing a new language has real potential to get students to put in the practice time that might otherwise seem difficult and frustrating. The learner can also set up the application and use base features in their own language, which is particularly promising for those students with little experience in the second language.

For teachers of English as a second language, this application may be a way to engage an entire classroom. By assigning homework that has students chatting with one another, real life social interaction can occur while harnessing the addictive power of online chatting to further second language goals. Students can also practice with native English speakers or other English language learners from around the world. This technology that may change the level of engagement of students, and this can rapidly provide the immersion and confidence that students need to gain expertise in English.

References

MagikHub. (2016). Hellolingo. Retrieved from: https://www.hellolingo.com/

I recently read an article entitled Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and ESL Writing Process: The 21st Century Must (Arab, 2015). The article was written by Lara Al Arab and it focuses on the concept of ‘digital natives’ within the contemporary world of education. A digital native refers to those individuals which have developed in an environment defined by digital technology (Arab, 2015). The author argues that these digital natives must be provided with a learning environment which properly integrates those aspects of technology which augment the language learning process.
CALL is a highly effective means of presenting core concepts relating to primary and secondary language instruction. This is especially true in the completion of tasks relating to collaborative writing. The author recommends programs like Google Docs (http://docs.google.com/) as a means of fostering effective collaboration between technology minded students (Arab, 2015). Wikis are also offered as an example of CALL which benefits collaborative learning environments (Arab, 2015).
Though digital technology offers an excellent means of enhancing linguistics education, it is important to remember that the instructor cannot rely too heavily upon digital technology. A balance must be struck as illustrated by the image below:

The CALL technology employed in the classroom acts as the intermediary between the instructor, student, and materials. CALL is the glue which binds the language course together in the context of contemporary technology based education. It is both a tool and a framework for advancing the way that students interact not only with each other but with the core concepts of linguistics.

References
Arab, L. A. (2015). Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and ESL Writing Process: The 21st Century Must. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/computer-assisted-language-learning-call-esl-writing-process-al-arab
Google. (2016). Google Docs. Retrieved from http://docs.google.com/