English Language Teaching Department L2 Learners’ stories: Evidence from language exchange communities as an autonomous learning tool Cem BALÇIKANLI Gazi University English Language Teaching Department E-mail: balcikanli@gazi.edu.tr English as an International Language Conference, İzmir - 2009

Outline 1* web technologies in language learning 2* language exchange communities- how they work? 3* study 4* conclusions

Exclusive Web designer Static In the hands of few One way Static In the hands of few

Collaboration Co-creation Social networks Shared control My Web

Today’s students are Digital Natives (Marc Prensky, 2001) Visual learners Multi-taskers Short attention spans Use technology to express themselves Information analysts Content producers Real-time learners - instant messages. Students today are fundamentally different. Due to the kinds of experiences they have had with interactive technologies their entire lives, they have developed preferences that are different than most of ours. Marc Prensky has given them the title of “Digital Natives.” They are visual learners, multi-taskers, with short attention spans, who use technology to express themselves. They are information analysts, content producers, and real-time learners who prefer instant and text messages. Technology is very important in their lives. They have to turn off their cell phones and put away their iPods. Click on underlined text to watch videos.

Examples of Web 2.0 Technologies

New technologies (self-access multimedia facilities, for instance) provide the practical means whereby learners can take a more active part in decisions involved in learning. The application of new technologies to education, in this context, language education, is altering, obviously, the way we live, we think, we learn and we teach. Raya, M. K. & Fernandez, J. M. P. (2002). Learner Autonomy and New Technologies. Educational Media International.39 (1) 61-68

language exchange communities

Worldia

the research The english language institute, in the University of Florida five international students learning english Mixxer, Worldia interview

Is it easy to use. Is it interesting. Why Is it easy to use? Is it interesting?  Why?  Is it good for English practice?  How? How does it contribute to your independent skills? What other special features does it have?

Extracts from students … it is essential in a way that it increases contact with language …it is very motivating to use it. … I can practice English in a way that I want. …the potential use for language learning is great as it helps foster learner autonomy. … I can learn daily expressions through this website. … it keeps me alert in English. …you can only learn some in class, so tools outside the classroom are important. …thanks to this, I feel I have developed more awareness for my learning. … it is very good for English practice. … I feel less nervous when I practice English with it.

Language awareness Authentic Language Exposure Less threatened atmosphere Learner independence Learner interaction

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