Using Google Voice to Improve Pronunciation

Aurora VarnMS Valley State University

Create an account at https://www.google.com/voice/

• This site has several tutorials that show how to use Google voice.• I use it as a voice mail where students leave short assigned

reading or short oral tasks. Assignments take 2-3 minutes.• The advantages are:

– Teachers don’t have to give their phone numbers. Google creates a phone number.

– Teachers don’t have to be in a particular location to grade, because one has access via a website.

– There is a written record of calls.– Teacher can save audio files in computer– Students don’t need recorders or microphones. It only needs a phone

to create a digital recording.

Creating a account

Then, fill out form “Create an Account”

Click on “sign up” button

Settings• Google voice will ask you for a phone number

with which to associate your Google voice account. I give my cell phone, but my students don’t see it. Students only see the google voice phone number.

• I also set the account under “do not disturb,” so it will only function as a voice mail since I can also receive phone call in my cell phone from Google voice phone number.

Setting

Use the Setting button at the top left corner of screen to select your choices for the account.

Setting

Under the calls tab, select the “do not disturb” option.

How to save a recording

• After you give a reading or oral assignment, you sign up to your account. You will see your students’ voice mails. It looks this way:

• Teacher can play students’ recording as many times as needed.

• Also, instructor can save recording as an audio file. To save it, you click on more:

Saving recording

• Then, you want to download it to your computer. After you click on download, your screen looks like this one. Save file.

Saving recording

• I use “save as” since it gives me the choice to place file in a particular location in my computer and to chose audio format like in mp3.

• Google voice gives you the time and date students submit recording.

• I also use Google voice to send phone texts messages. Since students identify themselves when they call, I save their number in contacts. I use texts to remind them of important dates such as tests and deadlines.

Rubrics

• I use this rubric to grade recording. It is simple, but it has been helpful to get my students to work harder in their pronunciation.