Thursday, September 21, 2006

Positioning Topic

I have decided to focus on Computer Mediated Communication in the realm of Second Language Acquisition. I an particularly interest in how this process can connect language learners to native speakers. Most of the studies I have found so far have focused on asynchronous commutation view email or synchronous via text chat. I have found some recent studies that use Voice Over IP technology to connect native and non-native speakers.

I am interested in this topic because I believe the new communication tools of the Internet are opening up new opportunities change how languages are taught. Having lived in Taiwan and picked up some Mandarin Chinese, I believe interaction with native speakers in essential for learning a language.

Here are some the studies that I have found so far:
  • Computer-Mediated Negotiated Interaction:
    • This study had language learners engage in tasks together online and examined how the used language to solve problems.
  • Conversations and negotiated interaction in text and voice chat rooms.
  • "REFLECTIVE CONVERSATION" IN THE VIRTUAL LANGUAGE CLASSROOM
  • Task Design for Audiographic Conferencing
I am interested in what can be done to engage students in meaningful conversations online. Also what task can be created that will allow the students to interact and promote such conversations.
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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

You should talk with Elizabeth Lowe in Latin American Studies. She runs the Translation Studies program here at UF (http://www.translationstudies.ufl.edu/). And she helped design the new language lab at the University of Tampa.

9/22/2006 6:44 AM
Jade said...

Sounds very interesting. I'm looking forward to reading your findings. I've worked with a variety of ESOL students through working on my undergrad and Master's at UF (although most were elementary aged and younger) and as a part of one of my lesson plans I considered creating online interactions between non and native speakers for the purpose of learning language. Many examples I found online, like you mentioned, were extended only to email and chat formats, which ultimately discouraged me from pursuing that aspect of the lesson.

Good luck :)

9/27/2006 9:31 AM
Anonymous said...

I am also interesed in ESL/EFL. As a non-native speaker of English, Computer-Mediated Negotiated Interactionand Conversations and negotiated interaction in text and voice chat rooms are very fascinating. In fact, I tried to the World Conversation Club (http://eflbridges.net/?q=node/15), a webcast/Skypecast where English language learners and teachers can meet each other and engage in conversation, but it was like a nervous breakdown experience. I wish I could speak English like a native...

9/29/2006 6:24 PM

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