Mobile Activity: Pair Dictation

Language focus: any grammar topic or vocabulary.

Device: Cell Phone (1 per person)

App: notetaking app which comes with any cell phone.

Interaction: student - student

Time frame: 15 mins.

Connection: offline

Instructions

1. Teacher asks students to individually write 3 sentences using a target structure, vocabulary or topic on their cell phones. While students create their sentences, teacher can move around the class checking if students need help.

2. In pairs, students have to dictate, letter by letter (without pauses) one of their sentences to their partner. They use their cell phones to write the sentences dictated to them. Students keep on alternating until they have dictated all their sentences.

3. Students show the sentences they have written down to their partner and check if they understood them right. Teacher can also help.

4. For debriefing, teacher can elicit some of the sentences created by students by writing them on the board.

Readthewords - audio files

Discovered this site via Tony Watt. Readthewords.com converts any text, blog, document or RSS into an audio file you can download to your i-pod to listen to. You can select the reading speed and the voice/avatar which is going to read it (male or female).

Check how it works:




How can we use this with sts?

• Students could convert texts to audio files to help them study.
• Students can use it to see the pronunciation of a given set of words.
• This would be an indefinite source of listening material which could be personalised.
• The teacher could use it to convert a text into an audio file and use it in class for dictation. 
• Or send the audio file to sts at home, have them listen, write down and hand in the dictation.
  

This is a text about a Brazilian composer called Heitor Villa Lobos which I converted into an audio file.



After creating the audio file you can download it to your computer, grab the embed code to post it in a blog , get the mp3 file link or even send it to someone by e-mail.