Teaching English On- Line Conversation to EFL/ESL students JALT 2011 Averianova Irina Nagoya University of Business, Japan JALT 2011 Averianova Irina Nagoya University of Business, Japan

Formats of Online Conversation  Internet Relay Chat (IRC)  Multiple Users Domains (MUDs)  Facebook, Twitter  Blogs  SMS  Internet Relay Chat (IRC)  Multiple Users Domains (MUDs)  Facebook, Twitter  Blogs  SMS

Cell Phone - History

Instant Messaging-Top Choice in Communication  Finland, Sweden, Norway - 90% of the population  The European average - about 85%  trillion  Some teens send up to 100 messages a day

Online Conversation 540 million people use the Net Every 6 th person on earth English is the dominant language of electronic communication In 2010, non-native speakers using the Internet outnumbered native speakers Significant expansion of EMC in TEFL 540 million people use the Net Every 6 th person on earth English is the dominant language of electronic communication In 2010, non-native speakers using the Internet outnumbered native speakers Significant expansion of EMC in TEFL

EMC in EFL Classroom ENHANCED MOTIVATION AND AUTONOMY OF LEARNERS  Authenticity  Interactivity  Security: a) psychological b) linguistic ENHANCED MOTIVATION AND AUTONOMY OF LEARNERS  Authenticity  Interactivity  Security: a) psychological b) linguistic

EMC in EFL Classroom >> Opportunities for Conversation communication Blog exchange  Chat room participation  FaceBook interaction  Twitter  SMS exchange and texting as learning activities communication Blog exchange  Chat room participation  FaceBook interaction  Twitter  SMS exchange and texting as learning activities

Online Conversation: Written Speech Spoken Writing (Hybrid, A new computer style, Internet Slang, Internet language, Net speak, Chat Room Shorthand, Tech-talk, Nu English) DISCURSIVE DRIVES  Economy of writing  Maintenance of orality in the absence of direct auditory interaction  Linguistic relaxation (Hybrid, A new computer style, Internet Slang, Internet language, Net speak, Chat Room Shorthand, Tech-talk, Nu English) DISCURSIVE DRIVES  Economy of writing  Maintenance of orality in the absence of direct auditory interaction  Linguistic relaxation

Electronic Discourse ABBREVIATION Initialisms: ASAP, TTYT, ISTM, KISS, PICNIC, HAND, POS, TUL Clippings: Pic, Peeps, Attn Homophonic coinages: 2dA, 2u2, UC, Qt, Y

Electronic Discourse  SIMPLIFIED SYNTAX :Incomplete sentences: Need 2 go; been watching ya; “Contracted” contractions: dont, whats, that’s  EMOTICONS (SMILEGLYPHS, SMILEYS) :-) “smile” :’-( “crying” :-* “kiss” :-O “surprise, shock” :-D “laughing” “screaming” >:-O “angry/yelling >:-( “angry/grumpy”

Electronic Discourse IRREGULAR CAPITALIZATION AS MAINTENANCE OF PROSODY AND EMOTIVE CHARGE  Lower case letters only - whispering: can you remember what we sposed to be doing today???  Upper case letters only - shouting: WHYS NOBODY DO NOTHING!!!!!!!  Mixed case - emphasis: did I just see GOD??? IRREGULAR CAPITALIZATION AS MAINTENANCE OF PROSODY AND EMOTIVE CHARGE  Lower case letters only - whispering: can you remember what we sposed to be doing today???  Upper case letters only - shouting: WHYS NOBODY DO NOTHING!!!!!!!  Mixed case - emphasis: did I just see GOD???

Electronic Discourse in SMS  il b kmg dar 2 mor 2 c S cz I need 2 giv her dr buk kmg wif P vl meet 2 k g’n8 (-: (I’ll be coming there tomorrow to see S, because I need to give her the book. Coming with P. We’ll meet too ok? Good night.’)  YYSSW - yeah, yeah, sure, whatever  SWYRT - so what do you think?  - I will be home at 2 o’clock)

Electronic Discourse in IRC go 2 bed RIGHT NOW YOUNG MAN! can't do it since i live alone i feel that i can b my own parent parent now nice try tho lol lol I'm off 2 watch a movie - see you all again hehehe * Vickim waves goodbye vickim nite vick

Electronic Discourse in EFL Classroom The major problem: Excessive use & abuse of peculiarities of electronic discourse  Initial enthusiasm  Emulation  Limited language aptitude (appeased by economy of writing and linguistic relaxation)  Insufficient code-switching skills  Lack of knowledge of netiquette The major problem: Excessive use & abuse of peculiarities of electronic discourse  Initial enthusiasm  Emulation  Limited language aptitude (appeased by economy of writing and linguistic relaxation)  Insufficient code-switching skills  Lack of knowledge of netiquette

EM Communication & conversation in EFL Classroom Excessive use/abuse of peculiarities of electronic discourse results in:  Exclusion  Flaming  Hostile & insulting reaction  General lack of comprehensibility  Non-standard language in the academic context Excessive use/abuse of peculiarities of electronic discourse results in:  Exclusion  Flaming  Hostile & insulting reaction  General lack of comprehensibility  Non-standard language in the academic context

Lack of comprehensibility in “… I really consider the Japanese 2B very different from us but hope U tell me more about it l8R. I/m looking forward to ur reply!! TCOY!!! :-) KIT!!:-) LTTA!!!” “… I really consider the Japanese 2B very different from us but hope U tell me more about it l8R. I/m looking forward to ur reply!! TCOY!!! :-) KIT!!:-) LTTA!!!”

Texting in academic writing xs cmpnstn fnds wl b nvstd 4 srvvng fmly mmbrs (In translation: “Excess compensation funds will be invested for surviving family members.”) (I. Berman, 2006) xs cmpnstn fnds wl b nvstd 4 srvvng fmly mmbrs (In translation: “Excess compensation funds will be invested for surviving family members.”) (I. Berman, 2006)

Texting in academic writing  Common disclaimer phrases (called “parantheticals”) ofn contract in2 ACRONYMS – they tend to certain points in a sentence which can facilitate decoding. Some e.g.s.: IMHO – In my humble/honest opinion…  Lol, btw, b/c (N. Baron 2009) $, &

What teachers teach about online conversation  Cultural awareness  Mutual courtesy  Technical conventions of conversing online BUT  Linguistic conventions of electronic discourse are generally either not acknowledged or intentionally neglected  Cultural awareness  Mutual courtesy  Technical conventions of conversing online BUT  Linguistic conventions of electronic discourse are generally either not acknowledged or intentionally neglected

Online conversation in TEFL- needs  Code-switching skills  Knowledge of traditional writing conventions  Communicative awareness  Netiquette  Ability to differentiate between creativity and normative language use  Code-switching skills  Knowledge of traditional writing conventions  Communicative awareness  Netiquette  Ability to differentiate between creativity and normative language use

Online Conversation and TEFL ROLE OF THE TEACHER  Introduce rules of conversation in the chosen medium  Introduce the fundamentals of netiquette  Introduce conventions of electronic discourse  Facilitate adequate understanding between the communicants ROLE OF THE TEACHER  Introduce rules of conversation in the chosen medium  Introduce the fundamentals of netiquette  Introduce conventions of electronic discourse  Facilitate adequate understanding between the communicants

Online Conversation and TEFL ROLE OF THE TEACHER Ensure acquisition of comprehensive language competence within any conversational framework Thank you!