Using Etherpad and Twitter to Teach and Learn Foreign/Second Languages

Technology Workshop
Using Etherpad and Twitter to Teach and
Learn Foreign Languages
Facilitated by
Shigetake Ushigusa
M.S. Student in Educational Technology
Purdue University
sushigu1@purdue.edu

Wednesday, April 15th, 11 – 11:30 A.M.
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Twitter and Etherpad

Synchronous Asynchronous
(=Same time) (=different time)

Twitter
Text

Etherpad
Text

Preview
• Introduction (5 minutes)
– Brief assessment
• Demonstration of Etherpad (8)
• Demonstration of Twitter (7)
• Summary (5)
• Questions and answers (5)

Etherpad
• Etherpad:
– is a synchronous collaborative editing tool.
– works entirely on the Internet.
– does not require log-in.
• Etherpad in foreign language instruction:
– Realtime textual communication
• Helps students learn at a distance
• Facilitates students’ collaboration

LgX= {Spanish, German, French, etc.}
Etherpad for LgX202: Example

• Who is this example useful for?
– For all teachers who know how to use
email and browse the Internet.

-Schedule-
Syllabus statement of Etherpad
Class 1
-Introduction: Syllabus
In this course, Etherpad will be
used to collaborate with other
Class 2
students and with the
Homework 1
instructor.
Etherpad is a synchronous
collaborative editing technology
on the Internet.

-Schedule-
Syllabus statement of Etherpad
Class 1
Use of Etherpad is not required,
but you are recommended to
Class 2
use it. It is a very strong
Homework 1
collaborative tool.

-Schedule-
Class 2: In-class Activity
Class 1
Form groups of 3 students.
Introduce yourself to each other
Class 2
in each group. Present the
In-class activity and
following in front of the class (in
follow-up homework
English):

-Short introduction of team members
-Strengths of the team
-Name of the team

-Schedule-
Class 2: Follow-up Homework
Class 1
Write the following in the target
foreign language:
Class 2
In-class activity and
-Short introduction of team members
follow-up homework
-Strengths of the team
-Name of the team

You can use Etherpad, email, or
face-to-face meeting to
collaborate.

Etherpad: Hands-on
• Shigetake is an intermediate learner of LgX.
• He will phone you during your office hour.
• He will ask you to help him with LgX
composition.
• You will open the email from “Etherpad”.
• You will edit and correct his sentences.

Etherpad + Instant Messenger
(& text-chat) (video, voice, drawing)

Create a shopping list
collaboratively
(1 minute video)

Advantages of Etherpad
• Double textual channels (pad & chat)
• + Instant Messenger

Twitter
• Twitter:
– Social-networking (one-to-many and one-to-
one)
– Micro-blogging (140 characters)
• Twitter in foreign language instruction:
– Communication tool
• Manage a course
• Increase linguistic/cultural input and output
• Twitter account

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example

• Who is this example useful
for?
– First time teacher-users (and
more)
• How are class Twitter
accounts set up?
– Provide your and your
students emails to Director
of LRC.


-Schedule-
Syllabus statement of Twitter :
Class 1 (Sample syllabus statement is available at
-Introduction: Syllabus http://ushigusa.wikispaces.com/ )

In this course, you will be expected
Class 2
to use Twitter, a micro-blogging
device on the Internet.
Class 3

Class 4


-Schedule-
Class 1 You will have your class Twitter
account to communicate with the
instructor and other students
throughout the semester.
Class 2
(Send an email to Director of LRC to
Class 3 get an account)
Class 4


-Schedule-
Class 1
If you are new to Twitter, you are
advised to use your account only for
the course. For personal purposes,
create another account.
Class 2

Class 3

Class 4


-Schedule-
Class 1
How?

-Use a computer or mobile
Class 2 phone
-Log in to Twitter at least once a
Class 3
day
Class 4


-Schedule-
Class 1
-Introduction: Syllabus Why?
-Instructor’s posts:
Class 2 Homework assignments,
Changes of schedule
Class 3
Word for today
Class 4
-Other students’ posts:
Questions and comments
Target language output


-Schedule-
Class 1
-Introduction: Syllabus Here are some etiquette and tips
regarding how to use Twitter:
Class 2
-Use of proper language
-Read Twitter terms of service
Class 3
-If you decide to use your mobile,
check costs of texting with your mobile
Class 4
-Cyber stalker (Do not reply to any
outsider’s message.)

Twitter: Hands-on
• The next 6 slides are also in the handout.
• You will log in to www.twitter.com .
– The username and password (in the slip)
have been created only for the practice
purpose.
• In this activity, please take the role of a
student. Shigetake will be your teacher.

Open Internet Explorer

If you find this symbol
 Click on it and go to the next page.
If you cannot find it
 Please raise your hand. Shegetake
will assist.

Twitter site

(1) Type
username and
password.

(2) Click “Sign in.”

Here is your username
This part means “Type
(just for this
your message in the white
demonstration).
box below.”

Please ignore what you
already have in this part of
Twitter. You will receive the
instructor’s message, which
is more important.

Instructor (sushigu1) will type a message here
and click “update”. The message will be sent
to all of you.

Please
disregard this
part for now.

You will receive a message from
sushigu1 (instructor) soon here.

The most recent
message will be added
to the top.

(1) You can type your question to the
instructor, then click “update”.

Instructor’s message.

(2) The question will be
displayed here.

Specifying Receivers of your message

Hello, everyone!
Will be sent to all.

@sushigu1 I have an important question. When is the
deadline?
Will be sent to sushigu1 and
copied to all.
Dsushigu1 This might be a dumb question, but when is
the deadline?
Will be only sent to sushigu1.

Advantages of Twitter: for Beginning
teacher-users
• Helps classroom management (reminders,
schedule changes, etc.)
– Students’ mobiles can be activated.
• Can be used to provide “Word/Expression for
today!” in the target foreign language
(Example: Yo solo é que no sé nada. It means
….)

Advantages of Twitter: for Advanced
teacher-users
• Anonymity increases output.
(Activities such as “20 Questions” or
“Discussions” can be conducted in the target
foreign languages.)
• Twitter can increase authentic language and
cultural input ( Twitpic)
• Teacher can conduct a poll ( Twit Poll)

Summary : Advantages/Disadvantages for
Foreign Language Course
Etherpad Twitter
Advantages 1. Distance tutoring 1. Management tool
2. Collaborative work 2. Linguistic and
3. Good for Spanish, cultural in/output
German, French, etc. 3. “Cool” and appealing
to college students.
Disadvantages 1. Not ready for 1. No voice / video
Chinese, etc. yet 2. Some mobile phones
2. Some students may don’t show texts in
not have a webcam. foreign languages.

(This table is also found in the handout.)

Compared to Adobe Connect and Blackboard:

Synchronous Course
Communication Management

New “Cool” Tools Etherpad Twitter
Easy to learn.

Big Educational Adobe Connect Blackboard
Tools Too many functions for beginners to learn

Possible applications for teaching
Etherpad Twitter
-Instructional tool -Course management tool
-Instructional tool
Distance tutoring / conferencing Announcements

Student’s group collaborative project Word for today
Various collaborative service-learning Information gap
projects for creating documents in the
target language
Communication with Kutztown
students who are studying abroad
Inviting a guest who lives in the target
culture

Practice Etherpad
1. Six of you will receive an Etherpad email.
2. Open the email.
3. Follow instruction there.

Write a “shopping list” for a taco party for the faculty:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

http://etherpad.com/ep/pad/view/83VGTRv55D/uMqO26EDFJ

Practice Twitter: “20 Questions”
1. Log in to Twitter using the same username and
password.
2. Shigetake has someone famous in mind.
3. Ask questions. (Example: “Is this person still
alive?” “Is this person a male?)

Misc./Appendix
1.Etherpad: Getting started
2.Etherpad: Edit, save, and retrieve
3.Twitter: Getting to know
4.Twitter: Mutual “following” among
classmates
5.Twitter: 20 questions
6.Twitter: 3 techniques

www.etherpad.com
Type www.etherpad.com and push
the enter key.
www.etherpad.com

Go to the next page.

Etherpad site

Click “Create new pad” and go to the next page.

Etherpad: Edit, save, and retrieve

Etherpad: Open, invite, co-edit/chat,
save, and retrieve
• Open: Type etherpad.com and push enter.
• Invite: Type an email address (in right column)
• Co-edit: You and the email recipient will edit a text
together.
• Chat: Under “Chat,” you can text-chat.
• Save: Click “Saved Revisions” and click “Save Now”.
• Bookmark the text in “Favorite”: Click “View”. Use the
browser to bookmark it in “Favorite”.
• Retrieve: Find the document in “Favorite”. Click “
View and edit current pad”. (If your browser does not allow
you to bookmark the URL, you can copy and paste the URL
in a Microsoft Word document (or email).

Twitter: Breakdown
Username
“Home”

Twitter: Breakdown
Still “Home”:

This part works
like INBOX

Twitter: Breakdown
Still “Home”:

2 followers

When Gyutaro1 says
something publicly, it will go
to the followers’ Homes.

Twitter: Breakdown
Still “Home”:

Gyutaro1 follows 5 people.

When any of them writes a
message publicly, it will
come to Gyutaro’s Home
(here).

Twitter: Breakdown
Still “Home”:
This works like bookmark.
Bookmark good posts so
that you will evaluate their
Twitter performances
efficiently later.
Everyone’s messages
are viewable here.

Twitter: Mutual “following” among
classmates (including the instructor)

Mutual “following” is required
All students are
“following” the
instructor now.

This means the
instructor’s
messages will go
to the students’
inboxes.

Mutual “following” is required
The instructor
will ask every
student to
follow everyone
else in the class
next.

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example 1
Twitter Homework 1:

The instructor has a famous person
in mind. Ask him/her only yes/no
questions. (Examples: “Is this
person alive?” “Is this person a
female?”) Read questions and
answers exchanged. When you
figure out the answer, ask “Is this
person name ?”

Twitter for a LgX 102 course: Example 1

• The instructor will send a name of a famous person (for
example, Madonna, Dalai Lama, etc.) to half of the class
(=Group A).
• Any members of the other half (Group Q) will start asking
only Yes/No questions (such as “Is this person an
American?” “Is this person a leader?”)
• Any members of Group A will answer the question by only
saying a complete sentence, such as “Yes, he is an
American.” or “No, he isn’t an American.”
• You can also add “Maybe,” “Close,” “Absolutely,” etc. But
do not give any specific hints such as “She is a singer” or
“He lives in Asia.”
• The best question and answer is “Is she Madonna?” “Yes,
she is.” and “Is he Dalai Lama?” “Yes, he is.”

Twitter: 3 Techniques
• To send a message to all:
– Just type your message in the box under “What are
you thinking?” and click “Update.”
• Ignore the weird question of “What are you thinking?” at the
top of the Twitter home page.
• To send a message to a specific person, while
copying the same message to all:
– @sushigu1 Are you going to the library by yourself?
• To send a message only to a specific person:
– D sushigu1 I would like YOU to go to the library with
me (and no one else other than sushigu1 will see it).

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