Writing Proficiency Assignment : Using Smartphone in Learning English

Technology in field of communication has thriven, so it is believed that no modern man who is able to live without interaction and communication. Even necessity toward communication tools seems to have become primary needs which is as important as foods.
Communication tools and media that have been become human's pal such as computer, internet, e-mail, and cellphone do not only ease to communicate for only relating comradery. Further, communication technology has spread into all human's life areas, influenced culture and way of life, including education field. Learning process by utilizing technology such as the use of internet, which in it computer, nay cellphone have important role. Cellphones have been designed so sophisticated so that enable students to access internet. One of types of cellphone that most supports since it has complete features even almost has all the same functions as computer is 'smartphone'. Below will be explained various benefits of smartphone that facilitates students and teachers in learning process, particularly in learning English.

First, its sophisticated features enable students and teachers as smartphone users to access internet. With this sophistication students and teachers are not even necessary to have face to face class to finish their English learning process. By internet they do not need special time and place to study. They only need to connect to the internet network, and then interact via it. For instance by using social media such as facebook. Facebook provides 'group' facility. In this group teachers can play their role in teaching. They can make an English group related to what course they teach, than invite all of their students to join in that group. Discussion can be done through this group every time. Teachers could give explanations and assignments in form of writing text by posting them onto terrace of the group, then students could actively comment or mention their own opinion in new post. Facebook also supports to have indirect face to face class at the same time between teachers and students through 'video call' in chatting facility, so that if necessary, class-like atmosphere could be created although teachers and students are not in the same room.

Being compared with computer and portable computer, smartphone is more concise than both. Students will not feel hard to bring portable computer or only can join learning process in a room which has computer inside. Students can bring smartphone wherever they go without being weighed down or provide a special place and bag to put their smartphone. They can carry it easily, so in meal time, shopping, and walking they can still join their internet class, and interact in English in their community.

Next, via smartphone, students can easily join various English communities which can be accessed by internet. There are many online English course websites that can be joined. For example is italki.com, which does not only facilitate English, but also other languages from all over the world. In this site, everyone can affiliate and discuss about everything by using English with fellow members from people worldwide. This site also provides online English learning with online teachers. But, to join the course with teachers, students are required to pay online by credit system so-called Italki Credits (ITC). If students want to join a free English learning community, there are still many others that could be accessed and joined by smartphone in students' hand.

Other benefit of smart phone is by smartphone, students can also install the dictionary application and many other applications related to English. One of the newest applications that can be accessed by smartphone is 'fun lyrics'. This application invites students, particularly primary school students to learn English by using children's songs. This application helps students to know more vocabularies and evolve their pronunciation.

Smartphone has been the trend in society, children nor old people. Having smartphone is kind of their own pride that could expand self confidence. That is way online learning by using smartphone will increase students' learning passion.

However, licensing of using smartphone to primary students requires more attention from parents. It is worried they will be more interested toward applications as games and others if parents do not introduce smartphone to them from the side of education firstly. Using internet as learning media also must be filtered in order students derive accurate and exact information in their English learning process.

Thus the benefits of using smartphone in learning, specially English learning process. In the conclusion, smartphone brings more positive effect in learning. The obstacles involve space and time are not necessary to be worried anymore. Some of smartphone's facilities are also usefull. What students need is only the passion to learn. Because of how sophisticated a facility, without passion all will not be interesting and useless.