2. GETTING A YAHOO ID go to http://login.yahoo.com/ click on ‘Sign up’ (bottom right) complete theformand click the ‘Create My Account’ button (I believe you will get a confirmation message Yahoo Mail to be able to ‘activate’ your account) have free access to all Yahoo personalized services, such as Yahoo Messenger
3. YAHOO MESSENGER a text and voice chat environment go tohttp://messenger.yahoo.com/ click the ‘Download Now' button to download the software follow the step-by-step installation start chatting with friends immediately!
4. LOGIN click on the icon in the status bar or desktop window you see when connecting to YM
5. this window opens (first time, without list of friends) add friends (click the Contacts menu or the icon) you are ready to start chatting with whoever is online
6. YAHOO MESSENGER FEATURES send an instant message = start a one-on-one chat (Actions menu) invite to conference = start a group chat (Actions menu) let your friends see you: 'Start my webcam' see your friends: 'View my webcam' create a friends' list (individually or in a group)
11. YMESSENGER'S POTENTIAL FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING the '4 in 1 tool': practice of the four basic skills through the '3 in 1' mode reading text writing listening audio speaking video to enhance and add excitement to the chat
12. CHAT AND THE EFL (ESL) CLASSROOM: ADVANTAGES added motivation and excitement to learning learning by interacting with real people collaborative and cooperative learning interactions at 4 different levels: st-st / t-st / expert-st / st-materials
13. MORE ADVANTAGES practice communicative skills carrying on a conversation, interviewing, negotiating meaning practice social skills greeting, introducing yourself, leave taking, turn taking gain transferable skills relevant to the world of work group work, (inter)personal skills, organizational skills gain technological competencies = computer & digital literacy diversified and comprehensive learning
14. CHAT AND THE EFL (ESL) CLASSROOM: DISADVANTAGES oversimplified language ur - l8r - cuz - jk - oic - brb - csl need for time management (if different time zones are involved) technical problems connection speeds (no problems with text only) audio and video together can crash the connection
15. INSTANT MESSAGING LANGUAGE "My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 :-o kds FTF. ILNY, it's a gr8 plc." (composition handed in by a 13-year-old Scottish school girl) Correio da Educação. 10 Mar. 2003.
16. DECODED TEXT (!) "My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York, it's a great place."
17. WHY USE CHAT IN THE EFL (ESL) CLASSROOM? innovative and exciting setting: cyberspace! strong emphasis on 'communication' and authentic language exchanges about the 'real' world, with 'real' people, in 'real' time intensive practice in 2 or 4 basic skills
18. PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR USING CHAT IN CLASS take care in choice of platform start small set a task for each session monitor student work both on- and offline (through chatlogs)
19. CONCLUSION chat = synchronous, live, real-time communication adds fascination, excitement and enrichment to L2 learning allows intense and real(-time) practice of language has tremendous potential for professional development contributes to onlinecommunity building generates fun, healthy socializing, mutual support, strong bonds and true friendship diversifies and broadens scope of learning
