Tools For Language Students to Use


Technology today allows you, the student, to work on growing your foreign language ability in so many ways. Below are some tools that I recommend students use in their language learning.

1.  Skype: With Skype, you have the option to text other language learners, native speakers, or your teacher, talk out loud, have a video conference with several people, or webcam with someone. I use "webcam" as a verb. Many words in high technology are typically used as verbs. So many teachers, such as myself, use Skype as a primary teaching tool for online classes, lessons, and conversation practice. Students like using Skype, too. It is easy and very useful. If I am not on Skype on my laptop, I am on Skype on my Android smartphone. I can Skype individuals or groups. Remember, don't ever click call phone or videocall without first texting that individual for permission. Always use the chat or text feature first. Texting on Skype is like texting on your cell phone. In fact, I use the Skype application on my cell phone all the time.

2.  Texting: Texting in another language is fun, and gives you more practice in a very convenient way. We can text almost anywhere, if there is cell phone reception. I will then read all my text messages and correct errors, if I see any.  Texting from your phone is very convenient. I check my text messages all day long. As your language partner, and teacher, I can help you a lot via texting. I will text you questions. I will text you definitions of words. I will text you ideas to help you improve your English. Keep your phone on. Hahaha!

3.  Google Maps:  I meet so many people from around the world. I get curious about where they live. I have GoogleMaps on my phone and computer, so I can easily locate their piece of the earth. It is fun. Use Google Maps to locate me and others. Let Google Maps application on your phone or computer be a good, loyal friend to you.

4.  Make a video showing off your English. YouTube is good for this. It can be your voice only, or a webcam showing you and your voice. It can be a video of a sporting event, a landscape, a point of interest, anything good, and healthy. You narrate it. You speak about it and then, email it to me. My email is soykenneth@gmail.com .

5.  A good Android application which allows you do to so much is Catch. With Catch, you can take a pic with your camera phone, and make a note about it and email it to me, or your friends. You can also create voice notes, text notes, notes using pics in your phone's Gallery, and you can make reminders. Go out in your community, and take a pic of something beautiful. Make a note about it.

6.  Use a social media site to practice your English with others. My favorite social media site is Twitter. Facebook is good too. Language students are all over social media, and you can be too.

7.  Make a blog. This is a very good ongoing assignment for language students. This can be a class blog with each student in the class creating a blog post twice a week or more, and making comments on other students' posts. This can be like a virtual community with all of us blogging together, and sharing our thoughts by commenting. I have a language blog at soykenneth.blogspot.com, but another blog vehicle which is very good, and free, is wordpress.com. After you make your blog, share it with others. Let me know about it. Make videos for your blog, and add pictures that show who you are and what your community is like.
Here are the tools I think foreign language students should use. Start with one you feel comfortable with. Add others if you can think of any. Let me know what they are.