This week's blog will introduce an excellent free of charge mobile application which gives its users the opportunity for communicating with people all over the world using the English language. This application is called Wakie.
Users of this application can choose for what purpose they are exactly using it, and one of the options is practicing the English language. Hence, the application links them with people who share the same interests and they start a voice call. In addition, users can choose to use the English language in conversations about more interesting and appealing topics such as discussing food and culture, singing and solving riddles.
Why should I use it?
While using Wakie, users will discover many advantages that they are unlikely to find in other software programmes, most importantly:
1. Wakie is absolutely free of charge. You get the chance to talk to people who share the same interest as you from all over the world with only having internet connection.
2. Using Wakie reduces language anxiety. When I was trying to know how people think of Wakie as a means for language development, a Russian user said: "I am using this application for three months now, and I am not afraid of the English language anymore". She explained that this is because she talks to learners who also aspire to improve their language, and being a stranger, she does not really care how they judge her language. Hence, she talks more freely and gets a great opportunity to practice communicative skills.
3. Wakie keeps you engaged and motivated. I also talked to an Indian guy who told me that he has been using this application for a year now. In addition to the reduction of language anxiety, using Wakie is fun because you get to discuss really interesting topics in the English language. For instance, after talking about his experience, this guy suggested that we sing together, which was a great fun experience. I personally will return to the application to sing and have lively chats with more people.
4. In addition to developing communicative skills, you will get the chance to expand your vocabulary. A Brazillian lady told me that she has been using Wakie for almost a year now, and she could expand her vocabulary through being involved in conversations about various topics. She added that her use of vocabulary has become more natural due to the consistent exposure to and use of the English language.
After talking to these people and hearing their experiences, I got really impressed with the level of engagement it offers. Learners usually get bored of a certain tool in a very short period because they feel that learning become mechanical and they are being instructed by a robot. On the other hand, Wakie, to a great extent, corresponds with the Vygotskyan theory which views learning as a socially mediated process. Through talking to people and sharing experiences together, users of the application collaboratively develop their communicative skills
Suitability for Palestinian learners:
The above mentioned advantages are international and apply to all language learning contexts. However, as a country where English is used as a foreign language, Palestinian students rarely get the opportunity to communicate in English outside the language classroom. Through using Wakie, Palestinian students will get a greater opportunity for using the English language for communicative purposes with people from all over the world. Moreover, smartphones and internet connection are almost available with almost all learners in Palestine, so they will not need any costly tools.
Any Conserns?
Well, talking to strangers is not always a good experience. Some users may not abide by the internet etiquette, especially if they are using the application anonymously. However, spam users usually get blocked after a short period of time because users report them when they misbehave. Moreover, each member has a rating out 5, so when using Wakie, choose to chat with users with good rating and avoid ones with low rating to ensure you are dealing with well-behaved individuals.
Very interesting tool it is! People can engage in authentic exchange of target language even more flexibly if they find something common to talk about. There is an activity which I regularly use in my introductory classes each term that is finding common interests/hobbies and asking questions to each other. Once they finish knowing their partner, theys share their partner's comments with class.
ReplyDeleteStudents of my teaching context is going to love Wakie, I think!
This sounds lovely, Nusrat! me too! I think I can even give the students some tasks based on Wakie, like to go find someone to talk to over the weekend and to give me a list of 5 common/uncommon things between them! plus, the amazing thing is that it is free! let's hope it remains free! :D
DeleteWhen you used this app I was there, the tool is great that you could use it to communicate with others as long as they have the same interested topic. However, I think the connection could be improved
ReplyDeleteI was afraid of someone asking me about my majors in the university and told him that I study English and ask me about his specialty and I do not know how to respond to it but after I used this application I was stripped of my fear
ReplyDeleteA beautiful way to help discover what hide others in their diverse cultures and their lives, especially that it most often make you discover meanings and vocabulary and things that were not learned in addition to a beautiful program and the blog is the most beautiful and effortless wonderful I thank you really
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing for those who have anxiety. They need it to get out of their bubble because some people have great potential. However; when they talk, they would be in a stammering mess. What I dislike in the English Department is that most of the students don’t talk in English that much and they nag about their not-so-fluent language blaming others.
ReplyDeleteWhen there are more than one student at different levels and different skills are wonderful if they find people like them with uneven skills makes collaboration with each other something beautiful and easy to deal - mariam salim
ReplyDeleteWonderful tool ..
ReplyDeleteusers can choose to use the English language in conversations about more interesting topics such as discussing food and culture, singing and solving riddles.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting application because it developing communicative skills and it get the chance to talk to people who share the same interest as you from all over the world with only having internet connection.
This actually the best. I will start using it cause my spoken English is falling down. And I think that this is the most suitable technique for our case. Nevertheless, it is free. Maybe it is good to add a practicing course in the uni using this app.
ReplyDeleteI think that thorough using Wakie, students will get a greater opportunity for using the English language for communicative purposes with people from all over the world,and this application will improve our communicative skills.
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ReplyDeletethis app is really good for the learners who want to enhance their communication skills.in palestine we dont have many native speakers who we can speak with,so this app is really good for us to improve ourselves in langauge.i have a former experience in using such apps,i used another one italki and i didnt enjoy the whole thing in italki . i think this app is diffrent and i might give it a try!
ReplyDelete- aziza omar
Wakie is very wonderful programm and should be published between the students of the department of English at An-Najah National University.wakie helps students develop their conversation in English significantly because it is primary goal to improve communicate skills. From today I want to use it.
ReplyDeleteI think this application is the most helpful app for those who want to learn English language or even improve it. And for our English department I suggest, teachers and students should talk more about Wakie to make it common and encourage the students to use it. In addition, I felt satisfied when I read about blocking the spam users.
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ReplyDeleteThis is a good breakthrough,we all need apps like this to enhance our communication skills. Many student find it difficult to communicate in other language since they feel afraid about making mistakes. However, through your app student will be able to use the language to communicate and have fun with people from different nations . They will be able to share their opinions freely and meet friends with shared interests. Good job
ReplyDeleteThis applecation is very good because it helps the students to improve their communication skills.It developes our english language and makes our life easy.This applecation allows to communicate with other people from different nations and shared their interests.People feel free to communicate with other people in different countries and have fun with them. Also,People will communicate without afraid of making mistakes.All people in these days need an application like it because it is very usefull and all our life depends on communication way like wakie.
ReplyDeleteIm so excited now knowing there's an application that will help me refresh my communicative skills! I will definitely start using it. The best way to improve yourself in learning a second language is listening such as listening to songs and watching movies in the target language + speaking. Speaking is the most effective way in learning a new language.
ReplyDeleteI can see that this application basically follows the direct method in teaching.
It is also wonderful getting to talk to people from around the world and with different levels of language.
-Lena Ismail
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ReplyDeleteOK,we as learner we need to improve our language skills because we still have problems with communication and the idea that we just use English in the class room and we go out we just forget the language .So using this app ,will help me and other learners to practice the language and get used to it . I will start using it !.
ReplyDeleteThis app is great! I love the idea and the thing it's provided to us.you can Ask questions, get answers, give advice, help others and meet new people. Socialize when bored, express feelings through voice calls!
ReplyDeleteand i love the idea that you can block the spam users .
also it's free application .
I think, it's easier to talk about certain things that bother you, with strangers than your closest friends. And wakie has some of the kindest strangers you'll ever meet!!
Those who have anxiety are the ones gaining the most out of this. Those who have great potential acknowledge that they do. However, they seem to be trapped in their own bubble and can't find a way out no matter how much they try. Such a stammering position they're in as soon as they're put in situations in which they need to talk aloud. In my opinion, as an individual with individual opinions, I certainly dislike a fact in the English department. Students in the department don't talk in English to improve they're language skills yet tend to blame others for how influent they are in English. Never put your faults on others, you are the only one who is capable of helping yourself.
ReplyDeleteDigital videos, for example, allows learners to create representations of themselves. It is also communicative way such as mobile devices allow for new forms of creative relations between people, so it become very effective and successful.
ReplyDeleteEnglish with Lucy channel is an attractive channel that motivates and enhances students to learn language in an entertainment way. I follow this channel because it develops my speaking and listening skills in order to be professional in English language. I recommend to change the traditional style of teaching and provides more entertainment ways as English with Lucy channel to make the learning more attractive as possible.
DeleteEnglish with Lucy channel is an attractive channel that motivates and enhances students to learn language in an entertainment way. I follow this channel because it develops my speaking and listening skills in order to be professional in English language. I recommend to change the traditional style of teaching and provides more entertainment ways as English with Lucy channel to make the learning more attractive as possible.
ReplyDeleteThis is really helpful. It enables the learner to improve his English which will make him fluent in communicating in English. I know it will help me to be confident too for sure. This app will let the learner know about other countries and cultures that he may have never known about.
ReplyDelete-Effat Braik
After reading this, I'm excited to try this app! This is a great way to develop our English, to practise more, to get to know new people...
ReplyDeleteBecause practise is the key to learn new languages
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ReplyDeleteAya Fa9 March 2018 at 02:16
This app is very useful.I like the idea of that you can block the spam users .It also allows you to talk to people around the world and to know new different cultures.This app is very effective and I will start using it. (اية فلاحة)
From what i see in our schools students are unable to use the language or communicate because in schools teachers don't focus on the speaking skill nor pronunciation so students get to collage with this huge problem that is always ignored and no one deals with it , an app like that is perfect to our students .
ReplyDeleteBy Eman Zuhd
I absolutely believe that this app would make a difference for those who want to improve their spoken English. However, as a Palestinian English major student, I could always feel the eyes of others staring at me and my friends when we start speaking in a foreign language. People even make fun of us when we do so. And this is why I believe that such an app would make a difference, but it still needs time and effort to learn a language even if an app has all the perfect elements required. Learning a language doesn't have to do with apps or smartphones, it is the learner who decides whether to go on or stop.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great app for those who really want to improve their language. I have downloaded the app and started using it. Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting tool. I think that students can improve their communicative skills. And their English language through communicating with other people from all over the world.
ReplyDeleteنور يوسف الشيخ
This is the best application! i have been looking for such app for a long time.It can definitely help students to improve their communication and oral skills .I like the idea that i can block the spam users too. In addition,as i noticed it has the same rules of the direct method in teaching ! تيماء خقش
ReplyDeleteThis is very encouraging and helpful application for those who are anxiety about communication with others . specially , who travel to a foreign country and find a difficulty to communicat with them . Also , it is great application for palestinian because they concentrated on grammar and vocabulary rather than communication skills . so , this application diffrent and help to concentrate on communication skills and I want to use this application because it is so smart
ReplyDeleteWell I don't know this application but according to your explanation I found It very useful especially for those who want to improve their communicative skils and to increase their vocabulary. It is also give the students a great chance to talk in the English language with people all over the world. So they will get knowledge about the other cultures.But in this app you will talk with people are different from your religious from your traditions so this probably caused some arguments and problems.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading this, I'm excited to experience this app! This is a great way to develop our English language, practice more, and meet new people ...
ReplyDeleteBecause practice is the key to learning new languages, but since the application is anonymous, care must be taken to avoid exposure to negative attitudes or practices
BY;أريج سليمان قواريق
جامعة النجاح الوطنية
Using "wakie" has many advantages. First of all, it helps reduce anxiety because you see all people around you almost at the same level as you are. Secondly, its free of charge. This is mostly suitable for people who can't afford to get into tutoring programs. Finally, they keep you engaged and motivated into developing your language skills. As we all know, good results need good effort!
ReplyDeleteThe results are the most important, and we can find this in this app. The students even though the teachers will be able to communicate effectively. This will make the relationships stronger and more obvious .. the students relationships, the teachers relationships and the students-teachers relationships. It will save time when it comes to know each others better, we don't have to meet face to face for this aim. It will definitely help to make their English more professional and use it in their daily communication. Hence, it will help the shy ones to less the distance they put to themselves and be more effective minds in their society which will help to know various cultures across places in no time probably .. It is a nice world to live.
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