Teaching a language with M-Learning

By: Homz Umrigar

How do humans learn a language?

People learn languages naturally when they listen to a particular language being spoken. One of
the functions of the human brain is to analyze this. There are many places in the world where
people speak more than half a dozen languages. The Indian constitution recognizes 18 official
languages and several hundred dialects. In some parts of the world, like West Africa, it’s common
to find people who speak half a dozen languages. So how do they do it? How do people manage
to speak so many different languages? They don’t go to any language school. They are able to do
so because it’s a part of their daily lives. They know just enough of a language to be able to derive
some functional benefit out of it; to earn a livelihood. This is essentially how a child or an adult
learns a new language. It’s as simple as listening and interacting with people in real-life
situations.

How does the brain learn new information?

When you hear something, it gets registered in your brain’s short-term memory. It remains there
till the time it’s repeated and re-emphasized, failing which it gets erased from your short-term
memory. This information needs to be transferred to long-term memory. This happens by
repetitions, but if it’s in the same form as it was the first time, then it becomes monotonous. The
key here is to take the same information, or similar information, and vary it slightly allowing you
to see the same situation in a different angle.

The approach

Use natural conversation to teach a new language without any boring repetitions or formulas.
Research shows that every native speaker uses only about 2,500 words and phrases on a daily
basis. It’s not how many words you know, but rather, which words you can use. By aiming at the
start of each lesson to teach students those 2,500 words, a language learning program can
successfully impart any type of language training in the least amount of time.

What technology to use?

Definition

M-Learning stands for "mobile learning" and refers to the usage of training programs on wireless
devices like cell phones, PDAs, mp3 players, Apple IPOD or other such devices.

File sizes and time is of the essence in M-Learning as people are always on the move. How can
we develop a program that can teach the basics of any language in a short span of time? Do we
need to attend a classroom to learn a language or can we do it while on the move? The answer is
simple - use e-Learning & M-Learning.
Well, we need to use very simple audio technology here. Lessons can be delivered in an audio
format via a WAP enabled website. The same can be podcast over a university campus as well.
The training has to be split up into basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.

Process

1. Create a script of words, phrases and conversation pieces that cover 2,500 most
commonly used words by native-speakers. Segregate the same into three levels of
difficulty (Basic | Intermediate | Advanced).
2. Further segregate the script for each difficulty level into a 30-minute audio lesson.
3. Now that the scripts are ready and split up, have an instructional designer review the
same to validate if the logic is right.
4. Hire the services of a voice-over artist who is a native-speaker and record the lessons in a
sound studio.
5. Encode the audio lessons in either a streaming MP3 or WMA format.
6. Create a website and course delivery environment using a multimodal training process.
7. Enroll students & deliver the program

The training process

1. The training has to be divided into:

a. Self paced learning (Audio Lessons)
b. Live Virtual Classroom and Testing

2. Learning paths have to be assigned for all difficulty levels on a weekly basis.
3. Assign learners to tutors (50 students One Tutor) within the learning environment.

4. Tutor should assign audio lessons (each lesson being of 30 minutes) to students to study
on a weekly basis and track their progress. The same can be represented graphically to
students to make it intuitive.

5. Four lessons of learning activity can be assigned to learners on a weekly basis. It should
be mandatory for the student to learn one lesson (30 mins.) per day and repeat the same
at least 2 times, thereby having the student in the system for at least 60 minutes or more
on a daily basis.

6. System should validate and check student activity within the learning environment. In
case the student is absent for a long duration, the system should auto-respond to both
student and tutor informing about the former’s absence from the system.

7. Students can also call up the tutor via telephone (charges as applicable) or online chat
(voice or text), in case they have any doubts or are stuck at some point in the lesson.

8. At the end of the week, the student can attend a live virtual classroom to interact live
with the tutor.
 9. The tutor should make it a point to give basic instructions in the language being taught.
This will help students communicate and use what they have learnt. The students can
also ask questions and collaborate during this session to clear their doubts. The tutor
should conduct a voice test for all students during this session and give them feedback
on their progress. The tutor should sum up the session by assigning new learning path
for the coming week.

10. The same should be repeated till the end of the course.

How can these lessons be taught via mobile devices?

Currently, audio and video lessons can be transmitted to devices that support mp3 format for
audio and 3gp format for video. These files can be downloaded from WAP enabled websites or
through telecom service providers

Compatible devices

1. Sony Ericsson Mobile Phones (Series: J, W, Z and above)

2. Nokia (N series, 6600, E Series)
3. Motorola (V3 Razor and above)
4. O2 (All versions of XDA)
5. iMATE (All versions)
6. Samsung (D series)
7. HP (All versions of XDA)
8. BlackBerry (7800g)

For more specific information please check the relevant product website.

A Final Word
With the world quickly transforming into one global village, people need to acquaint themselves
with various local cultures. And there’s no better way of doing this than by learning new
languages. There was a time when Indians would only migrate to the United Kingdom or USA -
essentially English-speaking countries. Not anymore. Indians, today, are readily moving to
non-English speaking countries as well, either to study or to take up employment. Corporate
India, too, is regularly venturing overseas with new business initiatives.

For all of this, it is essential to be conversant in what are seen as the international languages.
Given that time and money are of the essence, conventional language learning modes are quickly
finding themselves out of favour. This is where M-Learning can play a pivotal role - by easing the
entire learning process and making it accessible to a large cross-section of users.