Teaching English with Cell Phone Part 3

One of the times the student or adult leaning ESL (English as a second language) has time to spare is during airline travel. Fortunately for some passengers the European Union has approved the use of cell phones during flights over Europe. Permission will be given beginning late in 2008.

There will be some guidelines. For instance the phone service will be unavailable during takeoffs and landing times. If the captain should deem it necessary, he can disable the phone service at any time during the flight. It will be the same as the rules for using laptops and listening to music on the planes. This new ruling is for the European skies only at this time.

Imagine the immigrant traveling to the United States perhaps being a little apprehensive about his first encounter with Americans and the new language he will be expected to know. His cell phone can be an important learning tool during the flight. The new learn English cell phone is equipped with a microprocessor containing a huge database of the English language. He can start with the most necessary questions such as “where is a restaurant” or “where is the men’s room.” Studying with the help of his English lesson cell phone will serve the dual purpose of language acquisition and taking his mind off the possible difficulty of arriving in a new country.

The situation of all or most of the passengers talking on their cell phones will create quite a din. Since the learn English cell phone is no quieter than any other this will affect the student as much as the traveling businessman. Of course the potential immigrant to the US will not be affected since only Europe is giving this plan a try for now. Perhaps the learn English phone can soon be used on the transatlantic flights as well. The individual new to the country and ESL can then practice his language skills through utilization of the English lesson cell phone.

In the worst case scenario – the airlines will evaluate the use of cell phones as being too noisy and unpleasant for most passengers and require all travelers to use text messages. The learn English mobile device will be easily transferable to the use of texting.

Some rules to facilitate courteous use of the English lesson cell phone as well as other cell phones can be put into place BEFORE problems occur. Such as:

* Requiring passengers to put phones on vibrate rather than ring mode.

* Requiring text messaging ONLY during night flights.

* Advise passengers ahead of flight time about all rules.

* Advise passengers of the cost of each type of cell phone use.

The use of cell phones including learn English mobile devices may prove to be prohibitive in several ways. For example:

* When a passenger talks non stop during the entire flight.

* A phone set to ring mode by mistake.

* A passenger using an exceptionally loud voice.

These actions can be as aggravating as having a drunk talk to you or someone falling asleep on your shoulder and snoring into your ear.

It would be preferable for everyone to be text messaging quietly. The ESL student could use the time to learn from his English lesson phone without disturbing others. If someone should by chance fall asleep on his shoulder, he would be able to find the words – in English – to tell him to use a pillow.