Teaching Speaking with WhatsApp?

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

To make teaching speaking effective, the feedback needs to be precise and prompt. In a traditional classroom, teachers gain access to monitor students’ progress, give feedback and encourage participation. The presence of a teacher makes the teaching and learning of speaking effective as students can follow the whole process and interact with it.

As our class moved online due to the pandemic, teaching speaking has become a challenge. While some may suggest the use of video conferencing tools such as Skype, Zoom, Web ex or Google Meet, there will inevitably be technical challenges standing in our way. Personally, I am into video conferencing as I love seeing people, doing tasks together as in a traditional classroom with the advantage of recording the whole session. The recording features of video conferencing will enable the teacher to reflect on the session while students can improve their language.

In this post, I would demonstrate how WhatsApp can be used for teaching speaking. As I mentioned in my previous post, WhatsApp was the most widely used medium for TnL in my district. For a start let us review some of the features we can use in the classroom.

1. Video call

WhatsApp supports video conferencing accommodating 4 people at one time. It can cater for a small group discussion sans recording features.

2. Voice recorder

Students can use the voice recorder to speak up and practice speaking.

3. Video sharing

Teachers and students may distribute offline videos from their gallery in the chat. It may be during class or at any other time.

4. Chatbox

Teachers and students may type questions, answer or for anything that they want to say.

5. File transfer

Teachers may transfer files for students to use for the lesson. It can be downloaded prior to use during the class sessions. Revision materials may be distributed utilizing this feature.

Okay, now let’s get on to it. The lesson notes for teaching speaking to young learners. The learning materials are from the Superminds. This is a textbook for primary, level one students. Oh! the class size must be in a lesser number, preferably 10. Refer to my previous post, on why small groups?