The Theory
Mobile Assisted Language Learning just makes sense to me. As a society, we do everything on our phones these days, but what were phones really created for? Talking. So why wouldn’t we utilize phones to help us learn to speak? It really seems like a full circle concept to me. Learning a language using a mobile device is an excellent use of time and resources. It is so easy to pick up a cell phone to do one simple task, get distracted by something on social media, and then realize that 20 minutes have passed. Instead of mindless scrolling or procrastination, mobile devices can be used productively to learn a new language. According to Naz, Rasheed, and Rasheed (2019), students were motivated to learn English using their smartphones because it was quick and simple. Students were able to easily access resources like translators and learn the meaning of words by using their mobile devices (p. 87).
Link to Resource
https://lingodeer.com/
LingoDeer is a platform that can be used on mobile devices or desktop to teach language vocabulary and grammar in small but meaningful parts. When first clicking on the link, there is a bit of information about the program, and then the user can click the language they’d like to learn. Since my computer settings are in English, I was given languages other than English to choose from. I selected German and began working through an activity where I learned vocabulary by looking at pictures and listening to the German words that describe the photos. In order to see how the platform would work for learning English, I changed my language settings to German and selected English as the language I’d like to learn. I practiced a few activities where I translated German words to English.
Benefits and Roadblocks
From what I have seen, Lingodeer looks to be a really positive program that promotes student learning right from a mobile device. A major benefit is the simplicity of the lessons. Students can open up the app or website whenever they have a few minutes and practice right away. The content is presented in a way that is easy for anyone to understand regardless of their language experience. Use of images will help students make connections to vocabulary based on their prior experience and background knowledge. The website also pronounces words and phrases slowly and clearly so users can understand. There is a replay button that allows users to hear a word or phrase as many times as needed.
Another benefit is the variety of activities. In my time exploring Lingodeer, I completed multiple activities such as picture matching, scrambled sentences, unscrambling words, finding words that do not belong in a set, word matching, and many more. The variety of activities keeps things fresh and interesting for users while also targeting different parts of language learning. For example, word scrambles help with spelling, picture matching helps with comprehension of word meaning, scrambled sentences help with the understanding of the grammatical components of a sentence, and word matching helps bridge the gap between both languages. As I completed activities, there were encouraging sound effects and I watched as my progress bar grew larger. This was motivating for me to continue on with my practice and would be very motivating for students as well.
Adaptation for a Third Grade Classroom
While most of my students do not have cell phones yet, many of them have tablets and iPads that they play with frequently at home. Lingodeer is an app that students could download on their smartphone, iPad, or tablet and use at home to develop and grow their language skills. In my classroom, I would likely use Lingodeer in desktop form since students do not bring cell phones to school but each have their own school-issued laptop. Lingodeer could be used to differentiate challenging activities for L2 students. Instead of struggling through an activity that is not developmentally appropriate for their current language progress, L2 students can use Lingodeer to practice and learn English vocabulary and grammar. Lingodeer could also be used as an independent activity during small group work. Students who are fluent in English may consider using Lingodeer to learn a new language. Lingodeer has another app called iDeerKids which helps kids learn foundational skills like letters, sounds, spelling, and simple sentences. This is a great app for primary aged students who are English speakers but are still learning to read.
If I taught an older grade level where students all have cell phones, I may incorporate Lingodeer as a warmup, morning work, or entry activity. Using Lingodeer on a phone would provide the same feelings as scrolling through a favorite social media app but would replace mindless scrolling with meaningful language learning. Students could spend the first five or ten minutes of class using Lingodeer as a soft start to the lesson. It could also be used as a closing activity when students have finished their assigned work.
References:
Lingodeer. (2024). Lingodeer PTE. LTD. Vilke HK Co. https://www.lingodeer.com/
Naz, Rasheed, and Rasheed (2019). The Role of Smartphones in Learning English: A study of Learners’ Perspectives. CrhConf. https://www.dpublication.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ICRH-1-232.pdf
I agree with your statement that it's so easy to intend to do one thing on a cell phone and then get distracted by multiple other things on your phone. I know it is something that I work on and I see students encounter that opportunity of distraction at school with their iPads. Using Lingodeer until all students are at school or for students who have finished work early is a great way to incorporate it into an already packed schedule of curriculum. It could be used for extra practice for language learners to learn English or as acceleration for high achieving students to learn another language if they frequently finish assignments early.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of Lingodeer before. I explored the website a bit and it looks like it would be a very useful app for language learners to utilize. The variety of activities that they provide and the number of languages that are on the app are impressive. My daughter is taking Spanish at school and is working on Duolingo, I'm going to pass this website/app on to her to explore too. Thanks for sharing!
As a third-grade teacher, I think LingoDeer would be a fun and engaging tool for young learners! It's really cool how the platform uses pictures and sounds to help students connect words with their meanings. In third grade, I know students often learn best when they can visually see things, so this type of approach would be great for them. Plus, it's nice that they can listen to how the words are pronounced—this could really help with their speaking and listening skills in a new language. If I were to introduce this in the classroom, I could see using it for short, interactive lessons that keep the kids excited and engaged as they learn new vocabulary in English or another language.
ReplyDeleteHi Brielle! I love how you connect language learning to the original purpose of phones —communication. Your review of Lingodeer is clear and insightful, showing its effectiveness in engaging students. The classroom adaptation ideas are practical, especially using it as a warm-up or closing activity to replace passive scrolling with meaningful learning. I know my district talks to us about the importance of warm-ups and closing activities quite frequently.
ReplyDelete