conference-1
TRANSCRIPT
What is online chat?“…an online conversation between two
or more people by means of a computer” (Almeida d’Eca, 2002)
“Messages are typed, sent, and received instantaneously, and participants are required to communicate in the same session.” (Smith, 2004)
“Each textual turn appears in the same format in which it was sent.” (Jepson, 2005)
A typical chat session
Benefits of online chat for the L2 learner
Quite similar in many ways to the face-to-face interaction (Smith, 2004)
More comfortable and confident in expressing opinions than in face-to-face communication (Saito & Ishizuka, 2005)
Increased participation among students and increased quantity of learner output (Smith, 2003)
Great potential of increasing noticing (Lai & Zao, 2006)
Re-readability of the messages (Lai & Zao, 2006)
Studies show that chat can be used to
develop...
Communicative competence (Jepson, 2005; Nichol, 2001; Smith, 2003; Sykes, 2005)
Ability to recognize and produce new lexical items (Smith, 2004)
Fluency in productive and receptive skills (Almeida d’Eca, 2002)
Different uses for chat
Category Purpose Examples
Free-topic chat Practice languageBuild fluency
Students practice English during week-ends
Collaborative Task- oriented chat
Accomplish real-life tasks
Information gapJig-sawBrainstorming
Practice chat Practice a skill or strategy
Role-playingInterviewing Grammar practice
(adapted from Gonzales, 2003)
Our Question…
Our research
Setting: American Cultural Perspectives, a pre-academic, beginning advanced level course at ALI
Goal: For students to notice and master their use of specific vocabulary and phrases in context
Process: Assign online chat activities so students can look at chat logs and reflect on their use of vocabulary
Chat session sequence
Chat reflectionHighlight instances in which you used new
vocabulary and phrases:
Facial expression, Gesture, Body language, Communication
I noticed that, It appeared that, I observed
What new vocabulary words did you learn?
Are there instances where you could have communicated better? (example: could have used a different word or said something differently)
What we foundStudents tended to misuse phrases, “I
noticed” , “It appeared” and “I observed”
Students samples:
Student A
1. I observed that the game can aprove your iq (6:00)
2. It appeared that something on the menu in restaurant? (6:02)
3. I observed that Jesus is come back after he died five days. (6:20)
1. I observed that most people from china (6:13)2. I noticed that chinese food is the best (6:07)
Student B
1. I observed that we should do something out the door (6:00)
2. I observed that we can do some sports (6:02)
1. I observed that there is no some difference between us. (6:14)
Follow-up chat
After a lesson on the difference between “I noticed that” and “I observed that” students use of vocabulary in context seemed to improve
Student A
No errors 1. I observed that the actress looks like the “gossip girl” Berlair (12:09)
2. Sure, I notice that. The man a little crazy (12:09)
3. Do you notice his gesture? (12:11)4. Do you notice that they were dancing after
the meeting? (12:18)
Student B
No errors 1. I make on observation that american guy really nice and romantic (12:08)
2. I observe that maybe most american guy face love are afraid (12:11)
3. wol, I make on observation that if you really fall in love, you can do everything for your lover
Students’ reflectionsSome of the most common feedback
Implications Online chat logs can be used for teacher
assessment and student self-assessment
Online chat is useful for practicing vocabulary and phrases in context
Online chatrooms are a good place to practice communication strategies.
Chat can be motivating and exciting for language learners
TipsSet a specific goal to achieve during the chat
Consider students’ skills: literacy, typing skills, L2 skills
Hands off during the chat, and monitor students’ learning with chat logs
Small group
Do a trial and a practice session
Thank You
We especially want to thank
Mariella Diaz and Diana Holder
Dr. Casey Keck
and Nadya McCann
for their contributions and support.
Any questions?