Four Reasons WhatsApp is a Great Choice for Communicating with Learners

Communicating with learners outside of class was fairly uncommon before the pandemic. During the pandemic, it was essential. Now, whether we are in-person or online with students, it’s great to be able to be in touch outside of class. Here are four reasons why WhatsApp, a popular messaging app, is a great choice for communicating with adult learners in ABE classes.

First and foremost, many learners already have WhatsApp installed and have used it to communicate with friends and family near and far. Other apps popular with schools because of administrations’ ability to monitor communications, like Remind, offer oversight and tighter security, but it’s another format, system and log-in that students need to learn to use. When you meet them where they already are on WhatsApp, it’s easier to get started. 

Second, an advantage WhatsApp has over regular calls and texts is that it works via wifi, so no cellular service is needed. This way, if learners’ miss a payment on their cell service, as long as they can connect to wifi, they won’t miss communications from you or the rest of the class.

Third, WhatsApp makes it very easy to create and send voice and video messages right in the app. This makes it seamless to send a quick welcome video to new learners that they can watch when it’s convenient for them, and re-watch if they misunderstood something. Voice messages are great for learners to practice listening and speaking and for teachers to provide personalized feedback in a quick and easy way. 

Finally, writing messages on a phone can be tedious and time-consuming. WhatsApp has a desktop app that you can install on your computer so you can type messages with all ten fingers on a full keyboard, making sending messages much quicker.

Some may have concerns that using WhatsApp might blur the lines between personal and school life. You can help send the message that communications should be school-related by only responding during “office hours.” This might be a timeframe just before and / or after class. Block anyone who messages you inappropriately in the app. You won’t receive messages from them again.

Here are just a few ideas for using WhatsApp with learners:

• Send a reminder to attend virtual classes with the link to join
• Send links to activities learners can do from their phones outside of class
• Have learners send you photos of their work and respond with a voice message or marked up photo
• Send new students a welcome video
• Create a class group chat where you can send announcements and learners can communicate with the whole class

Check out these instructional pages from the WhatsApp website that will aid you in using it with learners:

• How to download or install WhatsApp
• How to send voice messages
• How to send media (including photos and videos)
• How to create a group chat
• How to download WhatsApp Desktop

Meet learners where they already are and learn to use WhatsApp today!

For questions or comments regarding this Tutor Tip, please contact Tutor Training Coordinator, Meghan Boyle at mboyle@literacymn.org.