Google Voice

According to Wikipedia, Google Voice provides a U.S. telephone number, chosen by the user from available numbers in selected area codes, free of charge to each user account. Calls to this number are forwarded to telephone numbers that each user must configure in the account web portal. Teachers can use this bi-modal tool for developing their students’ speaking and texting. I always use this simple tool for the warm-up at the beginning of the class. I give my students a specific question and ask them to call my Google Voice number and leave me a voice message and then a text message in the target language.

https://voice.google.com/

Why do I ask my students to use Google Voice?

1- Our students should get trained to speak over the phone using the target language.


2- For a warm-up, Google voice saves time as all students leave me a voice message at the same time.


3- All students have an equal opportunity to speak and leave a voice message.


4- I listen to each and everyone and text him/her back (when I have the time) in the target language commenting on his/her message. 


5- I get notified by email when a student leaves a voice message. I can text him/her back using my Gmail account or my Google Voice app on my phone. 


6- Students are encouraged to speak on the sentence level/paragraph level as they are encouraged to use the whole 3 minutes of the voice message.

The benefits of using Google Voice in the classroom, I have come up with the following points:

https://voice.google.com/

This method is very interactive and engaging. It increases the students’ motivation.  Students become connected with their teachers. Teachers trace the development of their students as all voice messages are saved on their Google accounts. (Formative Assessment). Students gain the role of participants in the community of practice (social network and friends that use this technology). Google Voice fosters students’ autonomy and agency.

As mentioned above, there are six convincing reasons to use Google Voice in your classes. But you might ask about the benefits of using this free tool. Let me mention five crystal clear points as a response to this question:

1- This method is very interactive and engaging. It increases the students’ motivation.

2- Students become connected with their teachers.

3- Teachers trace the development of their students as all voice messages are saved on their Google accounts.

4- Students gain the role of participants in the community of practice (social network and friends that use this technology).

5- Google Voice fasters students’ autonomy and agency.

With that being said, let me assign an activity for you. Create a Google Voice account for free. Invite your friends to leave you a message and text you. See how it works before trying it with your students.

https://voice.google.com/