How to Use Text Messaging to Teach ESL

Text messaging is a great way to communicate with your students and to have your students communicate with you. The 140 character limitation makes the "twitterer" choose his or her words carefully. This article presents a variety of ways to provide your ESL students with useful information via text messages.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• cell phone
• text message plan

1. Create your own word-of-the-day service. Send your students one new word every day. Make the word meaningful, not random. Relate the words to the current lesson plan. For example, if the current lesson is about weather, send weather-related words or phrases.

2. Text message grammar tips. Have your students text you back about their day using that grammar tip.

3. Text message conversational tips. For example, if your students work in restaurants, text message them phrases that they can use at work.

4. Have your students text you messages using the word-for-the-day. Texting is a good way to encourage students to begin writing.

5. Introduce text messaging casually. It is just one tool for teaching. Make it meaningful and you and your students will learn and have fun.