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 Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:59 am Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi
I think SMS is just an instrument, not a teaching technique, and not a plan. Not yet a PLAN. 
It seems to me that a 'system' is more important than the way. If you actually consider 'teaching' seriously.
By the way, what words are you going to send (how you select the words), who are your supposed 'students' and how do you know the words are 'new' for them, how in your mind they could apply the words you sent them, how they themselves understand the process of learning, etc.
Otherwise, I’m afraid, they might consider your as a spammer. 
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Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK
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| Fri Feb 09, 2007 17:52 pm Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Tamara,
OK, SMS as an instrument not a technique. You know I don’t usually select the proper title for my topics. Before talking about “”””””what words am I going to send (how I select the words), who are my supposed 'students' and how do I know the words are 'new' for them, how in my mind they could apply the words you sent them, how they themselves understand the process of learning, etc.””””” let me present a short preface .
I have been looking for a way, by which people ((who lack time to spend in English classes)) can keep in touch with English more. So, sending English words and idioms via SMS struck me. After talking with some of my friends who adore English, we decide that I send them idioms each day and I did it. What we did made them very eager to learn English. It would be worth mentioning that I send the idioms in a question format.
Now I like to know about your opinion. Do you think that I can use this way to teach others?
Tamara, let’s get back to your questions.
1- What words to send? Well, word which are very common and much used in English-better to say essential words. I have no problem with selecting the words.
2- The supposed students and words being new for them? It’s a big challenge. I have some assumptions in my mind and also am visiting some teachers to find a solution for it.
3- How could they apply the words? Well, it’s up to them. It’s their responsibility. They themselves should try to memorize and use the words in situations. The same goes for every word, how do we learn the new words on www.english-test.net?
4- How they themselves understand the process of learning? Would you please explain this question more? What do you mean by understanding the process of learning?
I’m ready to discuss on every subject somehow related to “ SENDING NEW WORD VIA SMS”.
Nasr |
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M1mohammad
You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 88
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| Fri Feb 09, 2007 22:11 pm Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Nasr,
| m1mohammad wrote: | | Would you please explain this question more? What do you mean by understanding the process of learning? |
Actually, I just wanted to know why did you call them 'students' and in what sense they are 'your' students and you are their 'teacher'. | m1mohammad wrote: | | I want to teach English words to students via SMS. |
So, what I meant was how they themselves consider the process of your teaching them, in what terms they are going to estimate their own progress and... all of those usual tedious questions.
You’ve already answered; in particular, about their motivation and understanding what they have from you and what they do with that.
| Quote: | | I have no problem with selecting the words. |
| Quote: | | It would be worth mentioning that I send the idioms in a question format. |
| m1mohammad wrote: | | Now I like to know about your opinion. Do you think that I can use this way to teach others? |
I think no one here can answer your question, at least before you let us see a bit more 'alive' picture of the process.
Let’s just consider me as your student. Highly motivated one.
My current level is Intermediate/Upper Intermediate.
Could you 'send' me my daily piece, just posting it here, in this thread?
I think in a week or two we could catch your process of selecting words and idioms and, as on this forum there are some highly professional tutors, you might expect their opinions about your method.
| m1mohammad wrote: | | I’m ready to discuss… |
In my (pragmatic) view, such an online 'play' might be more useful for your purpose than an 'abstract' discussion.
What do you think of this?
Tamara
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Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK
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| Sat Feb 10, 2007 14:49 pm Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Tamara,
OK, you are at Intermediate level and I should present words which are above your current level. But before we start, would you please answer my two questions?
1- What do you think of “SENDING NEW WORDS TO LEARNERS VIA SMS” in GENERAL? What’s in your mind? Please answer without fear or favor.
2- What conclusion are you going to draw from our future online play?
Let me know what you think.
Best,
Nasr |
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M1mohammad
You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 88
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| Sat Feb 10, 2007 19:47 pm Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Nasr,
| Quote: | | would you please answer my two questions? |
1. Just to make it precise. If you mean sending once a day by SMS a selected (new) English word or idiom and nothing more – I think (GENERALLY, not taking your case about which we here still know nothing specific)
well, I think that it could be better-than-nothing for those people who have no other way to get their daily portion of English they like.
For others it could be a good addition to their usual 'day ration' – but, of course, it depends on your abilities, whether it'll actually advance them or just support them aswim.
(Anyway, regularity is an advantage.)
2. Well, my purpose:
2.1. To get my own opinion about your method after appying the process to myself. And 'extrapolate' how it can act in reality. In particular, how 'questions' you mentioned can work and help here.
2.2 To help you to demonstrate your idea and, maybe, to make it more clear for yourself what you mean by 'teaching' in this case. About what you ask our opinion.
I can promise giving you a feedback (my reactions) during our play (if you’re still going to take part in that. )
And, of course, we can just stop it any time. And/or not start.
Tamara
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Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK
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| Sun Feb 11, 2007 8:42 am Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Tamara,
I told you that I’ve sent my friends some new words in a question form. But, because, I think there is not a well-formed theory behind the way I present the content to them, I decided to change the form of the content. Sending new words in a type of “filling in the blanks with given words” seems more appropriate to me and more practical.
Before we start to play online, I should mention a point here which makes it different with acting on the cell phone. That’s the speed. You know, when my friend had a question in their mind, the tapped it in and then send it off to me. Immediately I got notified of it by my cell phone’s beep. I typed the response and finally sent it to them. Keep in mind that we should ignore such speed on this forum. It’s impossible for any of us to check the forum every 5 minutes.
Anyway, I’ll try to send the content on a specified time. Is 07:30 to 08:00 p.m. Okay?
PS: Don’t forget to give me feedback on the process. You’ll have the content for 7 days. Here’s the first one:
Instruction: Fill in the blank with the proper given option.
1- Our algebra class is a ………… one in which bright students are juxtaposed with slower ones.
a) perspicuous b) heterogeneous c) analogous d) maladjusted
Bye |
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M1mohammad
You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 88
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| Sun Feb 11, 2007 11:55 am Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Nasr,
It’s a good idea indeed to start our classes on Sunday.
| Quote: | | on a specified time. Is 07:30 to 08:00 p.m. Okay? |
I live in GMT.
| Quote: | 1- Our algebra class is a ………… one in which bright students are juxtaposed with slower ones.
a) perspicuous b) heterogeneous c) analogous d) maladjusted |
Not that easy…
(b) is from my passive vocabulary, (as well as juxtapose)
(c) – from my active one
(a) and (d) – both are new for me
The general meaning of the phrase is understood (for me), even in its “blanked” version.
From that, I first supposed b), but had to exclude other cases.
It took me about 15-18 minutes - to validate their dictionary meanings, to check possible contexts (with Google), to write them down in my personal (computer-based) vocabulary. And re-write them three times each, to remember spelling 'by hand'.
I'd still go for (b)
Our algebra class is a heterogeneous one in which bright students are juxtaposed with slower ones.
Thanks for the words, teacher!
Have a nice Sunday!
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
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Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK
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| Sun Feb 11, 2007 18:02 pm Teaching English via SMS? |
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| Very good and instructive cloze sentence, Nasr (although I doubt many algebra students would use such grandiloquent language!). |
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Conchita
Language Coach
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
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| Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:33 am Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Conchita,
Tamara and I are going to see how we can teach English via SMS. You are more than welcome to participate in our discussion – if you think there is something wrong with the process, please bring it up.
Best,
Nasr |
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M1mohammad
You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 88
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M1mohammad
You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 88
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| Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:45 am Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Nasr,
| Quote: | 2- Following a lengthy diatribe against mendacity, the priest imposed ………… upon the sinner.
a) paucity b) encomium c) penance d) entreaty |
Monday morning exercise…
Atonement for small Sunday sins.
| Quote: | | You will sit a short quiz on the next Monday based on the new words. |
Day of Last Judgement
Well...
I’d go for (c), impose penance upon
New (for me) words: diatribe, paucity, encomium, entreaty
From my passive vocabulary: mendacity and penance (I met both only in writing and never heard in spoken)
But I’m not a religious person at all.
So, for me there is rather a small chance to be in need of practical use of these words in my everyday life, other than ironically.
But that’s good for reading, especially of books by some old authors.
Thanks!
All the best,
Tamara
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
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Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK
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| Mon Feb 12, 2007 23:03 pm Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Nasr,
I've been following the conversation you've had with Tamara and Conchita and I think you are running an excellent project. How did you come up with this idea? How do you handle the technical side of this? I mean, are you using an SMS gateway and special software or do you use the 'list' function of your mobile phone? In other words: Do you type each message into the keypad of your mobile phone or do you send the message through the Internet? Also, how many subscribers do you currently have on your list?
Talk to you soon,
Torsten
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Torsten
Learning Coach
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 8256
Location: EU
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| Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:49 am Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Tamara,
| Quote: | | on a specified time. Is 07:30 to 08:00 p.m. Okay? I live in GMT. |
| Quote: | | Monday morning exercise… |
Both the teacher and student can change the time of sending and receiving the content whenever they want despite fixed time classes – an advantage.
| Quote: | (b) is from my passive vocabulary, (as well as juxtapose)
(c) – from my active one
(a) and (d) – both are new for me |
| Quote: | New (for me) words: diatribe, paucity, encomium, entreaty
From my passive vocabulary: mendacity and penance |
And, how many new words should be included in each SMS, Tamara? Two? Four? Or more? In my opinion five new words for each day is OK! Let me know what you think.
| Quote: | | I think in a week or two we could catch your process of selecting words and idioms and, as on this forum there are some highly professional tutors |
| Quote: | | mendacity and penance (I met both only in writing and never heard in spoken) |
Selecting the new words which are spoken and general, not written, can be easy by the help of professionals on this forum. Personally I think it’s better to choose spoken words.
Here’s the third one:
Instruction: Fill in the blank with the proper given option.
3- The cave of the ………… lacked the opulence and lush decoration of his former mansion.
a) ascetic b) pique c) quandary d) vertigo
Take care,
Nasr |
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M1mohammad
You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 88
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| Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:49 am Teaching English via SMS? |
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Hi Nasr,
| Quote: | | fixed time classes – an advantage. |
I agree.
To me, morning is OK for classes.
And despite we don’t actually have ‘true’ online communication with you and I set the timetable by myself, it still becomes regular for me. Today is the third day and, as well as yesterday, I start my PC-day () with: (1) reading e-mails, (2) opening this thread.
| Quote: | | In my opinion five new words for each day is OK! |
Not more.
I think it depends on other student's life and on his/her personal ability.
From my own experience with learning new words, I can (am able to) absorb 7x5 new words (our case, conditionally), but to the end of the next month I will forget a third of them (at least) if don’t use them. 
| Quote: | 3- The cave of the ………… lacked the opulence and lush decoration of his former mansion.
a) ascetic b) pique c) quandary d) vertigo |
Similar to the previous case: the answer (a) was almost obvious, as I know the meaning of ascetic + understand the meaning of the sentence.
b) pique c) quandary are completely new words
(By the way, have a look at this meaning: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pique)
d) vertigo and mansion are from my passive vocabulary. Very passive, I’d say Each time I need some time to recall what they mean.
Also, needed to validate my memory about the meanings of lush and opulence. Still fine.
See you tomorrow,
Tamara
PS I have a question: what do you think about teaching English through English, in comparison with teaching English through a native language?
(I ask because as I suppose, many your friends, you mentioned as your students, speak the same first language as you. And that can play the great difference.
By the way, as I currently live in the UK, I learn English through English and that’s OK for me. I’m used to it.)
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Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK
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