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Title: iPads in the Classroom
Speaker: Douglas Emmett
Summary: Gunma JALT was treated to a look into what future language classes might look like at its January meeting. Douglas Emmett, recipient of the Panasonic Educational Foundation’s 2014 ICT research grant, demonstrated to an enthusiastically responsive audience the merits of voice recognition software to facilitate language fluency teaching. Emmett outlined the preliminary results of his research on the introduction of digital media devices such as smartphones and tablet computers in the second language classroom and their affect on student awareness of their language acquisition. He specifically sought to find out if digital voice recognition tools increase students’ awareness of their pronunciation. He also addressed the question of how the publication to the World Wide Web of student work in the target language via multi-media applications increases student motivation to demonstrate language competence. The presentation shared results of student motivation toward language acquisition through the use of voice recognition tool Siri. Emmett’s work with his high school students was demonstrated in a series of hands on activities that had even the less technologically-adept of our members vowing to use these simple tools and free software in their classrooms. The workshop part of the presentation had Emmett use rhythm to get attendees to practice natural speech through rap songs. While this research is ongoing and the results are still preliminary, the presentation brought attention to a great source of motivation and fun for language learners. It also demonstrated the ease in which teachers can use these simple, free and effective voice recognition tools in our language classes.
Douglas Emmett is a tenured faculty member at Gunma Prefectural Chuo Secondary School and a recipient of the Panasonic Educational Foundation’s 2014 ICT research grant.
Location:
Maebashi Kyoai Gakuen College
Building 3, 3rd Floor, Room 3101
(a leisurely 15 minute walk from Komagata Station)
1154-4 Koyaharamachi
Maebashi, Gunma 379-2121
Time: Sunday, January 25th, 2PM to 4:30PM
Attendance:
This meeting is FREE! for all who attend.
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