170 likes | 335 Views
Enhancing Communication with Voice and Video Chat. Susan Mraz & Luis Alonso-Ovalle Hispanic Studies University of Massachusetts, Boston. The traditional setting. In the classroom Teacher / student interaction Group activities: student / student interaction Outside of the classroom
E N D
Enhancing Communication with Voice and Video Chat Susan Mraz & Luis Alonso-Ovalle Hispanic Studies University of Massachusetts, Boston
The traditional setting • Inthe classroom • Teacher / student interaction • Group activities: student / student interaction • Outside of the classroom • Tutoring • Friends / neighbors / community
Challenges • Outside of the classroom • Tutoring: not real-life context • Friends / neighbors / community: not all students have access to native speakers.
Synchronous communication • Encourages speakers to develop real-life production / listening strategies • Introduces real-life dynamics (linguistic and cultural) • Introduces spontaneous interaction
Challenges • Limited opportunities to engage in synchronous communication. • Communication is not authentic. • Teacher / student: self-consciousness • Student / student: limited production / comprehension skills
Technology comes to the rescue • Use of real-time audio/video applications can • Enhance the traditional classroom synchronous communication • Supplement it
Real time audio/video • Class presentations • Group work / conferencing • Collaborating with “outsiders” • Bringing different backgrounds, linguistic skills • Interviews • Tutoring
Real time audio/video • Virtual real-time class visits • Native speakers • Real-life dynamics • Dialectal / sociological variation • Cultural conventions • Advanced language / linguistics: fieldwork • Experts
Real time audio / video • Virtual study abroad exchange • Inexpensive • Students can take the lead • Broader exposure to different linguistic varieties
Real time audio / video • Student / student exchange: different institutions • Can bring communities together • Breaking social barriers • Exchanging methodologies
Skype • p2p Internet telephony network • calls regular phone numbers (for a fee) • Freeware • Cross-platform
iChat • AOL IM, ICQ, .Mac, Google Talk and Jabber client • Mac Only
Skype demo • Audio: Several parties • Video: one-to-one • Optional video recorder • Text-messaging: • File sharing (as attachments) • Sharing web links • Can save
iChat demo • Audio: Up to 9 parties • Can record audio tracks with Garage Band • Video: Up to 4 parties • Can record audio tracks with Garage Band • Text-messaging • File sharing • Sharing web links • Real time picture sharing
Asyncronous audio / video • Practice at their own pace • Repeat input as often as they need • Improve pronunciation • Self-consciousness less of a problem: less stress for timid speakers
Asyncronous audio/video: Limitations • Lacking real-life dynamics (linguistic, and cultural) • Limited development of listening, speaking strategies • Non-spontaneous interaction
Some Tools for Asynchronous Communication • Audio • Audacity • Garage Band • Countless other voice recoding applications • Video: iMovie