Many language students like to use electronic translators. I teach English and over the years I have watched them grow in popularity. Students love them, there is no doubt about that. Teachers are not so united. Some think they are great, and others hate them. For me, it has taken some time to befriend them, and work out how to take advantage of them in the classroom.
This blog from Edutopia highlights Kathy Shirley and her work with iPods in an ESL classroom. At a session I attended, she shared the amazing growth her students underwent when they could hear themselves and could redo their oral practice assignments over and over until they were satisfied with the results. Her teachers have since gone on to expand their use of iPods in the classroom. The iPods offers unlimited possibilities for all second language teachers. And one of the best parts, as Kathy said, is that minimal tech. expertise is required on the part of teachers.