Introduction

Earth Speakr is a work of art started by artist Olafur Eliasson. The main question behind Earth Speakr is how we can make the planet safe for the future. This artwork invites kids to speak up for the planet and encourages adults to listen. More information about the Earth Speakr App can be found here on the official website or in the TED talk Eliasson gave in 2020.

Target group and Time

The target group for this wiki page is foreign language teachers of children who want to use the app with their classes. To make a message learners should be between 7 and 17 years old. (There are no age limits for teachers to help.) The time to record and upload a message can be completed in a few minutes, but this is only if the learner knows what to say and the app doesn't crash. If the focus of the project is more collaborative, (children should do research before creating the message or should share messages with their classmates as a way to practice and receive feedback), several school lessons may be needed.

Here are several sample messages students from the Freie Universität Berlin helped children from a grade 6 class to make during the spring of 2021.

A rubbish bin has this message. An empty pizza box on the ground complains like this. Here a bottle makes a musical contribution.

A clump of grass has this message. Here is a tree who wakes up to make an important point.

Learning objectives

Earth Speakr Messages can be in any language. Making them encourages collaboration, taking the perspectives of others, technical skills as well as gaining confidence in speaking. Listening to messages other children have created is also a way to build understanding. Having fun sharing what you have made is, of course, also essential.

Instructions to set up the activity

Data Privacy and Permission The easiest way to explore using the app is to find a child who is between age 7 and 17 who you help make and upload several messages. (Adults are allowed to help, but they are not allowed to make Earth Speakr messages.) However, as page 8 in the pdf below says, children who are under 16 need permission from a parent or guardian to upload their message. Permission can be granted inside the app, which is a nice feature, but this requires sending an email and the parent or guardian responding. This can be a source of disappointment because children who are able to download the app and try it on their phone, can mistakenly think that "everything is working" until they find they want to upload their message and can't. 

Teachers using a single device for children are liable for any content made on their device’s account and therefore must receive parental consent for all users in advance. The advantage of using one device is that only one account is needed.

Using gestures to practice a message before recording

This is a learning procedure for one-on-one instruction which can be used either online or in person. In a slightly adapted form, it also works in the classroom.

Decide on a phrase and write it down. (For example, inspired by this message, you could say: Don't use plastic bags. Use me!)

Decide on gestures and which object you want to give a voice to. (Explain relevant grammatical points if age appropriate.)

1. The teacher gestures and speaks every word. Child speaks. (Teacher makes notes of difficult sounds.)

2. Gesture puzzle A. (A "gesture puzzle" simply means words are gestured out of order.)

Pause to clarify pronunciation issues, then continue with the puzzle.

3. Gesture puzzle B. (child gestures words out of order)

(Teacher makes notes of which words the child did not choose. These are the ones which probably need more practice. Repeat beginning with step 1 if necessary.)

4. Comprehension check: What does our phrase mean in your first language?

5. Add emotions: How would you say this if you were happy/sad/tired? (e.g. If you are speaking as a cloth bag, what kind of voice fits?)

6. Have the child write their phrase down on a piece of paper. Include the following information: 1) Which object is speaking and 2) what does the object want to say? (The child should tell you when they are done and hold up their paper for you to see if working online.)

7. Congratulate them for their efforts and say you will look for their message on the Earth Speakr website.

Letting it run...

Additional Resources

Here is a paper on gesture and spatial terms (Janzen Ulbricht 2020) which provides a theoretical background on why and how gestures can help with foreign language learning. (The nuts and bolts of the argument can be found in the first full paragraph on page 2.)

If you as a teacher become stuck coming up with a gesture or if you are curious about sign languages, Spreadthesign has gathered fascinating signs from different sign languages around the world.

Macmillian has an interactive IPA chart which is helpful for teaching English sounds.

Adrian Underhill on Teaching Difficult Sounds. This video builds on Underhill's Sound Foundations book (2005). The entire video is useful but minute four explains why "repeat after me" and abstract descriptions of pronunciation are both not useful strategies. Teaching techniques presented here can easily be used while creating an Earth Speakr message to improve pronunciation.