Evernote is used in order to help students more easily organize their audio recordings, as opposed to students having a large collection of untitled recordings on their phones. It is also used as the recording tool itself.
This can be used as an ongoing activity throughout the semester. It incorporates a simple technique that motivated students can practice on their own to improve their speaking by recording their words and then creating their own transcripts.
Objectives
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Materials
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Levels
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Preparation
A. Prepare appropriate questions for student use which will elicit a short 20-60 second response. These could be questions related to student life on topics where students can readily express their opinions.
Example questions: What is the best way to improve your speaking? What are some things you like best about the place where you live?
B. Students should be asked to download the free Evernote app onto their mobile devices before class.
Introducing Evernote to the class
There are two basic methods for recording audio in Evernote:
I. Create a note first, then add audio.
A. Prepare appropriate questions for student use which will elicit a short 20-60 second response. These could be questions related to student life on topics where students can readily express their opinions.
Example questions: What is the best way to improve your speaking? What are some things you like best about the place where you live?
B. Students should be asked to download the free Evernote app onto their mobile devices before class.
Introducing Evernote to the class
There are two basic methods for recording audio in Evernote:
I. Create a note first, then add audio.
- Create a new note and add a descriptive title
- For Android, tap on the “+” button along the top, then select Audio Recording. For iOS, tap on the paper clip icon along the bottom bar, then select Audio.
- To stop recording, click the check mark (Android) or select Done (iOS)
- This method is described here in the Evernote Knowledge Base.
II. Record immediately, then title the note (Android only)
- From the main menu page in the Evernote app (not from within a note), click the microphone. The device will begin recording immediately. To stop recording, click the check mark.
- Add a title to the note.
An example of a recording I created in the Evernote app on my Android mobile phone is here.
Ask your students to each create a folder for their class recording within the Evernote app. This is where they will keep all of their notes and recordings. For organization, the best practice would be to create a new note for each recording and title it with the date and a descriptive title.
Students are now ready to begin their tasks.
Procedures
1. Put the students in pairs and distribute the questions.
2. Each student will record their audio onto their own phone. Partner A can be responsible for operating Partner B’s phone while he/she talks, and vice versa. Students should record a response that is no longer than a minute.
3. For homework, students first should transcribe their audio exactly, then go back and make any corrections in a different color. The transcript should show both the original recording and the corrections. If students have Evernote installed on their computers, it may be efficient for the student to transcribe the audio directly in the note which contains the recording. This note can be printed out for submission.
4. Additionally, students should write a brief, one paragraph reflection on what they learned from the task. This raises the students’ awareness of their speaking habits, and may also help students reflect on any personal progress.
Related note
Meet Evernote, your new best friend
Ask your students to each create a folder for their class recording within the Evernote app. This is where they will keep all of their notes and recordings. For organization, the best practice would be to create a new note for each recording and title it with the date and a descriptive title.
Students are now ready to begin their tasks.
Procedures
1. Put the students in pairs and distribute the questions.
2. Each student will record their audio onto their own phone. Partner A can be responsible for operating Partner B’s phone while he/she talks, and vice versa. Students should record a response that is no longer than a minute.
3. For homework, students first should transcribe their audio exactly, then go back and make any corrections in a different color. The transcript should show both the original recording and the corrections. If students have Evernote installed on their computers, it may be efficient for the student to transcribe the audio directly in the note which contains the recording. This note can be printed out for submission.
4. Additionally, students should write a brief, one paragraph reflection on what they learned from the task. This raises the students’ awareness of their speaking habits, and may also help students reflect on any personal progress.
Related note
Meet Evernote, your new best friend