Assignment n° 8

Using chat in language teaching:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Why?

a-      With text chat, we need to teach learners to use “texts speak”, e.g. L8er for “later”.

b-       Voice chat is easier to use than text chat.

c-       The teacher requires a lot of technical knowledge to use text or voice chat with learners.

d-      It´s a good idea to teach learners some chat conventions, e.g. how to take turns.

e-       Using chat is best between classes who already meet regularly face-to face.

Development

a-      Yes, at least once or twice are enough for students to make progress. If the teacher explains the students some basic rules when making abbreviations, then the students will realized how to type texts speak. It is really necessary to do so, because students are internet users so they are constantly dealing with “texts speak”.

b-      In some cases the voice chat would be easier for students who don´t care much about pronunciation. But when students don´t feel confidents in pronouncing words, they are more likely to use text chat, even when they are at the same level in writing than those who prefer voice chat.

c-       Yes but not necessary. The teacher is supposed to be the source of knowledge in the classroom so he has to be prepared for the students´ questions in order not to waste time in learning what he could have learned just doing a course about using the internet access. But sometimes happen that the students know more than the teacher, in that case the teacher has to take advantage of it and allow the students to teach him in order to make them more interested on the topic.

d-      Yes, when students are lower writers than their pen friends they have to know how to make them notice they are still writing (…) or that they want to make a question (?).  

e-      Most students feel more confidents when they don’t see the other person when talking, that´s why they generally prefer to chat than talking face-to-face. In addition they are learners of English Standard Language. So chatting is a necessary tool for students to be aware of how the foreign language works.