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Mobile English Language Education In Rural India: The Current Landscape October 14, 2009 Ashley M. Evans

Mobile English Language Education In Rural India: The Current Landscape October 14, 2009 Ashley M. Evans. THE PROBLEM. The Problem. 1.4 billion people in India live on less than $1.25 a day (that’s roughly one-third of all the poor people in the world!)

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Mobile English Language Education In Rural India: The Current Landscape October 14, 2009 Ashley M. Evans

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  1. Mobile English Language Education In Rural India: The Current Landscape October 14, 2009 Ashley M. Evans

  2. THE PROBLEM

  3. The Problem • 1.4 billion people in India live on less than $1.25 a day (that’s roughly one-third of all the poor people in the world!) • Almost 30% of the country’s rural population live in poverty • Agricultural workers depend on unpredictable weather patterns for their livelihood • English is the language of business, government, and commerce • For the rural poor, it's a “gateway language” for reaching the middle class

  4. The Problem • Even so, less than 5% of India's population speaks English • Rural public schools are under-staffed and under- resourced • Teacher absenteeism is common • Many students cannot attend school every day

  5. THE POTENTIAL

  6. The Potential • India is the fastest-growing mobile phone market in the world • Large part of demand coming from rural consumers, who typically earn less than $1,000/year • Subscriber base grew 48% in 2008 to 347 million customers • Cell towers rapidly going up in the countryside Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123413407376461353.html

  7. SO WHAT ARE ORGANIZATIONS DOING TODAY?

  8. English Seekho • Launched through a partnership between education company IL&FS and Tata Telecom • Service started up in August 2009, has had thousands of sign- ups • Provides 5 minute audio English lessons • Multiple-choice questions and copies of lesson text sent via SMS • Speech recognition technology tests user's English • Subscription 20 Rs/ month, plus airtime fees • Targeted at Hindi speakers Source: http://englishseekho.in/

  9. Nokia Life Tools • Debuted in India in early 2009, rolling out later in Asia and Africa • Graphical interface for content, which is fed into device by SMS • As well as English, offers news, agricultural updates, market prices for farmers • English tips, grammar/vocabulary lessons, quizzes • Provides explanations/translations in local language • Currently available for 10 Indian languages • Subscription costs 30 Rs to 60 Rs per month Source: http://dinamehta.com/blog/2009/08/30/raju-go-and-get-some-bakery-mobile-innovations/

  10. MILLEE • MILLEE: Mobile and Immersive Learning for Literacy in Emerging Economies • Currently in pilot versions • Berkeley-based team of CS researchers • Text, audio, and graphical elements • “Lesson screens” teach English words and grammar • “Tests” as games – matching, spelling, or navigation challenges similar commercial video games • Games require electricity, but no extra airtime/fees • Only works on a single phone model • An extra challenge for the designers: Indian games differ from Western games Source: http://blog.babbel.com/cell-phone-learning-can-make-a-difference-matthew-kam-on-a-game-based-approach-for-english-learning-in-india/

  11. PERSPECTIVES

  12. Perspectives Reason for Pause... • How well do low-tech voice-recognition technologies really work? • Can needy families afford English lessons, even low cost ones? Questions to Pursue • What is best pricing model (subscription? One-off fees? Free?) • Are games-based design or traditional test formats more effective? • How to ensure students' literacy levels are sufficient? • Can mobile learning stand on its own without formal schooling?

  13. Selected Bibliography Bellman, Eric. "Rural India Snaps Up Mobile Phones." The Wall Street Journal. 9 Feb. 2009. <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123413407376461353.html> "Cell Phone Learning Can Make a Difference--Matthew Kam on a game-based approach for English learning in India." babbelblog. 27 Feb. 2009. <http://blog.babbel.com/cell-phone- learning-can-make-a-difference-matthew-kam-on-a-game- based- approach-for-english-learning-in-india/> English Seekho. http://englishseekho.in/ Mehta, Dina. "Raju, Go and Get Some Bakery--Mobile Innovations."  Conversations with Dina. 30 Aug. 2009. <http://dinamehta.com/blog/2009/08/30/raju-go-and-get- some-bakery-mobile-innovations/> MILLEE.  <http://www.millee.org/> Nokia Life Tools.  <http://www.nokia.co.in/explore- services/nokialifetools> "World Bank Updates Poverty Estimates for the Developing World." Research at the World Bank. 3 Nov. 2008. <http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/E XTRESEARCH/0,,contentMDK:21882162~pagePK:641654 01~piPK:64165026~theSitePK:469382,00.html>

  14. QUESTIONS?

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