UTILIZATION OF SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS (APPS) TO IMPROVE LIBRARY REFERENCE SERVICES AMONG ESL PATRONS

Speakers: Vilma Silva Butym

JoAnn Tebo

UTILIZATION OF SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS (APPS) TO IMPROVE LIBRARY REFERENCE SERVICES AMONG ESL PATRONS

THE BEGINNING

School of Information, USF School assignment project Independent study

RESEARCH STUDY QUESTIONS1. What types of apps related to the subject of culture

and language are available in the market nowadays that could be utilized by libraries to improve communication with ESL patrons?

2. What are librarians perceptions about the utilization of apps within the library environment in order

to improve library services to ESL patrons?

3. What measures can be taken by public libraries in order to provide patrons technological mobile tools that can be used for apps download and access?

METHODOLOGY

Study will encompass 3 distinct phases:

Phase 1: Technical Report – Apps available in the market (Completed) and data analysesPhase 2: Survey application among librarians from the public library systemPhase 3: Quantitative and qualitative analyses of data collected on phase 2

APPS MAIN FEATURESGENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

App Name Category Audience Ratings from iTunes Preview

Price

205 National Anthems Cultural knowledge Teen-Adults 4+ Paid

Busue Language Teen-Adults 4+ FreeByki Mobile Language Adults 4+ PaidDictionary.com Dictionaries/

EncyclopediasAll Ages 4+ Free

Duolingo Language Teen-Adults 4+ FreeGoogle Translate Translators Teen-Adults 4+ FreeHello-Hello English Language Teen-Adults 4+ Free

iHandy Translators Teen-Adults 4+ FreeIntro to Letters Phonetics K-Elementary 4+ PaidLing-Q Language Adults 3 Free/Paid

*upgraded packages

Mango Languages Languages K-12 4+ Free/Paid *upgraded packages

Memrise Language Teen-Adults 4+ FreeNational Geographic Geographical/Cultural

KnowledgeTeen-Adults 4+ Paid

Rosetta Stone Language Adults 4+ FreeSatVocb Vocabulary Adults 4+ FreeSentenceBuilder Language Elementary 4+ FreeSoundsRight Phonetics Teen-Adults 4+ FreeSpeaking Pal Language Teen-Adults 4+ Free         Total Apps: 18                          

APPS MAIN FEATURESPLATFORM REQUIREMENTS

App Name Platform Requirements205 National Anthems, Maps, Flags, Facts iOS 3.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Busuu iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5,6 & 6+), iPad, and iPod touch.

Byki Mobile iOS 5.1.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5), iPad, and iPod touch.

Dictionary.com iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5), iPad, and iPod touch.

Duolingo iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5,6 & 6+), iPad, and iPod touch.

Google Translate iOS 6.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5), iPad, and iPod touch.

Hello-Hello English iOS 6.0 or later. Compatible with iPad.Intro to Letters iOS 6.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5), iPad,

and iPod touch.Ling-Q iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5,6 & 6+),

iPad, and iPod touch.

Mango Languages iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5,6 & 6+), iPad, and iPod touch.

Memrise iOS 5.1.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone5), iPad, and iPod touch.

National Geographic World Atlas iOS 6.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5), iPad, and iPod touch.

Rosetta Stone iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5), iPad, and iPod touch.

SAT Vocab iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5), iPad, and iPod touch.

SentenceBuilder iOS 4.0 or later. Compatible with iPad.SoundsRight iOS 4.0 or later. Compatible with iPad.SpeakingPal iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone (optimized for iPhone 5), iPad,

and iPod touch.   Total Apps: 18  

TECHNICAL REPORT RESULTS

18 Apps Selected (Ranking position criteria) http://itunesapple.com

10 Apps on Language 03 Apps on Word Meaning & Phonetics 02 Apps on Translation (dictionaries and

encyclopedias included in here) 02 Apps on Geographical & Cultural

Knowledge 01 App on Vocabulary Formation

TECHNICAL REPORT RESULTS

10 Apps Target Teenagers & Adults 04 Apps Target Only Adults 03 Apps Target Children Under 7 years of age

THE NUMBERS

The U.S. English, Inc. Facts and Figures states:

2007: 8.1% of U.S. population – No English Proficient

2009: 4.7% of U.S. residents lived in linguistically isolated households

2010: 25.2 million U.S. residents (8.7% of the U.S. population) – Limited English Proficient

There are 325 languages spoken in the U.S.

Retrieved from http://www.us-english.org/userdata/file/FactsandFigures.pdf

THE NUMBERS

Year Total Populatio

n

Lives in household with Internet access

Individual Internat access at home

Individual accesses internet from some location outside of

home

    Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

2010 292,065 221,767 75.9 189,960 65.0 113,526 38.9

2011 293,414 224,349 76.5 204,596 69.7 187,950 64.1

2012 297,229 235,721 79.3 222,038 74.7 205,500 69.1

               

Information was retrieved from Computer and Internet Use

http://www.census.gov/hhes/computer/

THE NUMBERS

The PewResearch Center stated on their Mobile Technology Fact Sheet 2014:

As of January 2014:

90% of American adults have a cell phone 58% of American adults have a smartphone 32% of American adults own an e-reader 42% of American adults own a tablet computer 29% of cell owners describe their cell phone as “something

they can’t imagine living without.”

As of May 2013, 63% of adult cell owners use their phones to go online. 34% of cell internet users go online mostly using their

phones, and not using some other device such as a desktop or laptop computer.

THE NUMBERS

Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/09/16/cell-internet-use-2013/

LING-Q

PRICING CONSIDERATIONS

MANGO LANGUAGES

MANGO LESSON EXAMPLE

Q-MULTI LANGUAGE TRANSLATOR

GOOGLE TRANSLATE

ASL DICTIONARY

ASL EMERGENCY SIGNS

Easy to learn ASL basic emergency signs that may help save a life.

SIGN 4 ME

205 NATIONAL ANTHEMS, MAPS, FLAGS, & FACTS

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WORLD ATLAS

BYKI

DUOLINGO

TOP LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPOKEN IN 1980 & CHANGES IN RELATIVE RANK,1990-2010

App Name Android Platform Requirements205 National Anthems, Maps, Flags, Facts Compatible with Android, iTunes required.

Busuu Requires Android 2.3 and up.Byki Mobile Compatible with Android.Dictionary.com Compatible with Android.Duolingo Compatible with Android, even Android Wear (see flashcards)!

Easy Language Translator Compatible with Android 2.3 and up.Google Translate Compatible with Android, additional requirements may vary by device. Hello-Hello English Compatible with Android.Intro to Letters Compatible with Android, iTunes required.Ling-Q Web-based, so it requires an internet connection, IE 10+, Firefox 4+,

Safari 5+ or Chrome, and requires an iPod or MP3 player and headset mic for chats. Does frequent updates/

Mango Languages Web-based, so it requires an internet connection, modern browser, and current Adobe Flash Player and Java .

Memrise Compatible with Android.National Geographic World Atlas Not currently compatible.Q Multi-Language Translator Compatible with Android 2.3 and up.Rosetta Stone Compatible with Android.SAT Vocab Compatible with Android.Sentence Builder Compatible with Android.SoundsRight Compatible with Android.SpeakingPal Compatible with Android.ASL Dictionary [American Sign Language] Compatible and requires 3G or Wi-Fi Internet connection. You must have

sufficient SD memory available. iTune compatible.NOTE: There is NO SOUND with this app.

ASL Emergency Signs Compatible with Android. No internet required for use. Do not use instead of an interpreter, intended for educational use. iTune compatible.There is NO SOUND with this app.

Sign 4 Me Compatible with Android and iOS.. Developed by a team of 8 Deaf culture ASL professionals.

APPS MAIN FEATURESANDROID PLATFORM REQUIREMENTS

RECOMMENDATIONS

Have a list of apps to recommend for inquirers• Plan for different OS devices

Explore use of tablets in the library, how might apps be offered

Explore app loans – are sequential uses allowed? How would this work?

Who would ensure the app was removed from the device?

STYLES AND STRATEGIES

When learning a new language:• Mix grammar with the vocabulary

and culture sectionsTo reduce frustration levels To aid learningTo reduce awkward feelings To build understanding

CHANGE METHODS AND APPS

Know your learning style, but stretch a bit

• Start a conversational group with apps

• Quiz a partner on grammar rules

• Find an ESL learner and use the apps

together to learn their language or,

• To discuss their culture, idioms or

gestures.

Your Mom, Boss or Professor is Not Watching You!

Check the answer sheets (screens). • Then, try again! • Use the words in a different sentence. • Brainstorm examples with another

learner.

Practice with the app, then:• Read some literature in the new language

• Visit a restaurant and listen to the flow of conversations [Not eavesdropping!]

DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2ZQU07UJXA Sumit Dagar’s Prototype of a developing phone/scanner Braille system

IN CONCLUSION

Comments?Questions?