Learning Journal #7 - Duolingo

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, today more than 4.7 million students in America are classified as ELL (English Language Learner) students in our classrooms.This statistic alone can be a scary fact, especially if a classroom teacher does not speak their home language. Many teachers across America are obtaining their ESOL endorsement by choice or are being forced by their school district to complete the credit hours in order to receive the endorsement.

 I was extremely lucky that when I graduated from college I left with my ESOL endorsement. I currently have been an ELL teacher for the last four years. I have no formal training in any other languages other than English and this can be extremely frustrating. Many people assume that if they are ESOL endorsed that they can can fluently communicate in other languages...MYTH! After receiving the 1:1 iPads this year for my class I was able to look at having ELL students in a different light. There are so many new technologies out for english language learners that I didn't even know existed. With the technology right in the hands of my students it is virtually impossible for those ELL students not to succeed.

 Just one month before school started one of my students entered America from El Salvador for the very first time. As she entered the room for meet the teacher I greeted her with a warm hello...only to be followed by silence. Normally most of the ELL students I've come into contact with before have at least understood the basics such as hi or bye. This was not the case. She couldn't understand a word I was saying and I had no way to communicate with her except to use the little bit of spanish I could think of from high school. When the students received their iPads we immediately put Google Translator on her iPad and another classmates. Instantly she was able to communicate with another little girl in the class. I was then able to write her what I needed her to do and she could respond back to me. Even though we could communicate the process was long and drawn out. Google Translator wasn't going to teach her English the way I needed her to use it.

 A few weeks ago I stumbled upon an app called Duolingo. This app allows students to learn a different language in a fun and exciting way. Students progress though levels or can test out of levels if they are advanced in a language. This app allows students to learn the following languages: Spanish, English, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian. The app requires the students to look at pictures, type, and even speak into the app to test for understanding.

 The BEST part... it is completely FREE!

 I installed the app on the students iPad and she instantly began to have fun while still learning! The rest of my class wanted to be able to communicate with my student and asked if they could have the app installed on their iPads for them to learn Spanish. I thought to myself at that point...look at what technology has given to these students in the palm of their hands. Duolingo is not supposed to teach students the complete language but it is there to help communicate in small areas. My students beg to use duolingo on their iPads each day when they complete assignments early. I can hear them using spanish vocabulary with my non-speaker every day and her ability to communicate in small ways has increased as well.

 I think this app is a large asset to any classroom that has ELL students and technology readily available to them. Certainly something worth checking out! Check out Duolingo on the web!

References: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2013). The Condition of Education 2013 (NCES 2013-037), English Language Learners. Retrieved from: https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=96