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?