Research Article
Using Cell Phones to Improve Language Skills: The Hadeda Project
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-642-12701-4_2, author={Laurie Butgereit and Adele Botha and Daniel Niekerk}, title={Using Cell Phones to Improve Language Skills: The Hadeda Project}, proceedings={E-Infrastructures and E-Services on Developing Countries. First International ICST Conference, AFRICOM 2009, Maputo, Mozambique, December 3-4, 2009. Proceedings}, proceedings_a={AFRICOMM}, year={2012}, month={5}, keywords={cell phone spelling language}, doi={10.1007/978-3-642-12701-4_2} }- Laurie Butgereit
Adele Botha
Daniel Niekerk
Year: 2012
Using Cell Phones to Improve Language Skills: The Hadeda Project
AFRICOMM
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-12701-4_2
Abstract
Language skills are essential for education and economic development. Many countries (especially in Africa) have more than one official language and even more unofficial languages. Being able to express oneself effectively in the written word is required for tertiary education. Unfortunately, cell phones are often blamed for the degradation of language skills. There have been many studies blaming cell phone usage and instant messaging as being responsible for the the lack of language skills of children, teenagers, and young adults. Hadeda is a facility where teachers and parents can create spelling lists for pupils and children using either a cell phone or an internet based workstation. Hadeda then generates a fun and enjoyable cell phone midlet (computer program) which pupils and children can download onto their personal cell phone. Hadeda pronounces the words with electronic voices and the pupils and children can then practice their spelling on a medium they enjoy.