Chapter -6-P 74 – 77

Prepared by: Ayat Hamdi Al-Gatanany

How to use chat ?

Why use chat in language teaching?

When the teachers want to use chat with learners they need to ask the following questions :-

Does using text or voice chat with learners improve their language ?

What kind of English should learners use in chat ?

What technical skills do teachers and learners need to be able to use chat ?

What benefits does the use of chat bring to the classroom ?

Is it better to use text or voice chat with learners ?

Does using text or voice chat with learners improve their English?

• Chat is a synchronous tool to improve learners’ language abilities.

• Text chat provides opportunities for negotiating meaning .

• Voice chat is more likely to make learners produce more fluent language.

• Text chat and voice chat many advantages and disadvantages.

What kind of English should learners use in chat?

• We would recommend that students use standard written English conversation in text chat and email.

• If you want to use abbreviations, you need to explain them the first time you use them in chat, e.g. btw = by the way.

• In text chat, use ? To ask for the floor, ‘…’you have not finished a contribution , and ‘.’ finished the a contribution.

• In voice chat, use Turn please to ask for the floor, Done or Over finished speaking.

Moderator

In chat with more than two users, the teacher will take on the role of moderator.

What does the moderator role? Introduces the chat. States the chat agenda. Allocates turns in the chat. Keeps participants on track. provides brief summaries of points covered in the

chat. Indicates when the chat is over.

What technical skills do teachers and learners need to be able to use chat?

No special technical skills are needed by either teachers or learners.

Teachers and learners should know where and how to type comments in a chat window for text chat, and how to use a microphone and speakers, or a headset for voice chat.

What benefits does the use of chat bring to the classroom?

1- Using chat in classroom can be hugely motivating to learners .

2- Teacher will bring current technology into

the language learning process and creating variety by using a new tool.

3- Using chat can opening up the possibility of contacting and communicating classes in other parts of the world.

Is it better to use text or voice chat with learners?

Text chat requires written interaction, while voice chat relies on spoken interaction.

Many chat programs combine text and voice capabilities .

Learners should use a combination of both voice and text chat, if possible.

There are a number of advantages associated with using chat in classroom

learners may already use text chat at home.

Bring current technology into the classroom.

Use of a new tool can be motivating for learners.

Enables learners to make contact with learners in other countries.

Text chat Voice chat

A low tech option.

Non-threatening and easy to learn to use.

Chat transcript can be used later for language analysis.

“Real “ oral practice of language.

Voice chat software increasingly easy to download and use.

Advantages

Text chat Voice chat

Text chat can be chaotic (overlapping turns, disjointed, topic decay…).

Unclear whether text chat really improves learners’ English.

Can be difficult to identify errors vs. typos vs. non-standard chat speak.

Weaker typists are put at a disadvantages.

Suitable for very small groups only.

Reliable broadband internet connection needed.

Recording a chat may be complex and require other software.

Disadvantages