COMPUTER MEDIATED COMMUNICATION

Gary A. Cziko and Sujung Park conducted a research named “Internet Audio Communication for Second Language Learning”. The research is based on six programs which are AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger for Windows, MSN Messenger, Windows Messenger, PalTalk and iVisit. In this article Cziko and Sujung review these free programs, and let us compare their features in terms of their utility in second language teaching. They are alternatives of each other as they all include communicative context that can be used as a tool providing contact with native speakers of a language. However, their utility may differ according to the learner’s preferences and needs. For example, some provide audio visual communication with the help of internet while others do not. This article gives us a detailed research on these six programs with their pros and cons.

Barbara E. Hana and Juliana de Nooy‘s study “A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to Forum: Electronic Discussion and Foreign Language Learning 1”aims to find out how online discussion groups can affect second language learners outside classroom. The study attempts to discover the way which creates the successful participation. In addition to this, the study also provides how electronic discussion boards can be used as a medium of communicative teaching. The case study conducted via web site of a French newspaper concludes that learners should be encouraged to use electronic discussion lists, but while doing this, they should be informed about the communication differences between two cultures.

HISTORY OF CALL

Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) can be defined as the learning which benefits from computer in a specific way in order to learn and teach a language. CALL first appeared in 1960s with some materials which are based on PLATO system in University of Illinois. However, it did not get widespread utilization until the early 1980s. With the spread of microcomputer in education area, CALL gained much importance. There were both free and commercial CALL programs with different characteristics. Thanks to the support of HyperCard, the Apple Macintosh started to be used instead of Apple II in some education programs and became popular among teacher-developers. In the early stage of Macs, PCs were more preferable in that they were cheaper than Macs. Windows operating system decreased the difference between Mac and PC. In this period, utilization of computer in education increased. Teachers began to benefit from email and writing classes employed word processors. Computer mediated communication affected student’s motivation positively by making it easy for unsociable students to participate in the class. Some teachers used multi-user domains in order to provide interaction among students. Standardization of CD-ROMs in home computers made commercial multimedia more popular in language learning area. Arise of the World Wide Web was probably the most effective factor that led the CALL to be integrated into language learning.


Online Communities of Practice

Community of practice refers to the groups which include people in the same interest and their interaction with each other in order to develop themselves and share their experiences on this interest with the other members of the group. Wenger claims that learning is a process which necessitates active participation of the people in social communities of practice. It is applied in organizations, government, association, international development, the web, social sector and education. Its advantage in education area is that it helps teacher training and ensures interaction between colleagues and administrators which are away from each other. It also affects educational practices internally, externally and over the lifetime of students.