Language Learning and iPad

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Clarissa

August 10, 2017

Language teachers at local schools are entering into a competition to win iPads for their classrooms and publishing desperate pleas to support their entries on Facebook.

I don’t get this at all. I’ve been teaching languages literally for decades and I can’t even begin to imagine how an iPad can help in this process.

I’d rather kids weren’t introduced to anything that is run on apps. Apps make people dumb. If you are desperate for technology in the classroom, go with a computer. Although, I fail to see how even a computer could be useful in language learning.

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17 responses to “Language Learning and iPad”

David Gendron

August 10, 2017

For the TOEIC test, my iPad was very useful, though.

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Anonymous

August 10, 2017

Can some computer software detect when your vowel sounds in a new language are not quite correct? This might free up time of the teacher to work on other aspects of language learning.

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1. Clarissa
  
  August 10, 2017
  
  Pronunciation is best addressed by singing all together in the target language. And it’s so much more fun than staring at a screen, isolated from the world.
  
  Language is a tool of communication. You can’t skip communication when learning language.
  
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  1. David Gendron
    
    August 10, 2017
    
    Computers can be useful for language teachers if they want the hear/view oral presentation again or for pronunciation diagnosis.
    
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2. David Gendron
  
  August 10, 2017
  
  Pronunciation is better addressed with singing songs, but teachers can use computers to hear again those same songs and address pronunciation problems more efficiently.
  
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David Gendron

August 10, 2017

“Apps make people dumb”

Nope…dumb people overuse stupid apps.

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1. Clarissa
  
  August 10, 2017
  
  These are kids who are in the process of formation.
  
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  1. David Gendron
    
    August 10, 2017
    
    Of course, but you don’t have to use stupid apps in class.
    
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    1. Clarissa
      
      August 10, 2017
      
      I’ve seen about a million language learning software programs and not a single one was of any use whatsoever. Universities waste tons of money on these systems when it would be of a far, far greater use to spend the money on hiring teachers and cut the number of students in each group.
      
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      1. David Gendron
        
        August 10, 2017
        
        Of course, but computer can be useful for language teachers if they use it appropriately, though.
        
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      2. David Gendron
        
        August 10, 2017
        
        And of course, language learning software sucks ass, but this is not what I’m talking about.
        
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        Clarissa
        
        August 10, 2017
        
        Why do kids need iPads, though? Even I don’t need it. It’s just a silly overpriced toy.
        
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        David Gendron
        
        August 10, 2017
        
        You’re right on this: this is not a need for those kids in class. But a good teacher can use this appropriately.
        
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David Bellamy

August 10, 2017

Sorry…the comment a out computers and accents was from me. I am on a new device and forgot to enter my email.

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Tal Hartsfeld

August 10, 2017

A computer can be useful in language learning if one goes on sites written by those who are literate and have good vocabularies.

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cliff arroyo

August 11, 2017

Language learning apps are, like google translate – most useful to those who could get by fine without them.

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tivamoo

August 17, 2017

Haha I agree! Modern technology like mobile phone and apps make people dumb….

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