Soldiers Enlist iPods to Break Down Iraqi Language Barrier

For U.S. troops in Iraq, communicating in Arabic soon may be as simple as playing a tune on an iPod. A software program, called VCOM Mobile, enables troops to select preloaded English phrases on iPods and display the corresponding sentences in a foreign language. Users can play an audio clip of the phrase and pull up an avatar, or computerized character, on screen to speak and gesture the phrase. The program comes equipped with 20 military missions, ranging from vehicle control point and cordon and search to patrol, meet and greet and medical triage. Have you looked into what podcasts can do for your students? Take a look at our Teaching with Technology article archives for ideas on how to get started.