EL APRENDIZAJE DE LENGUAS EXTRANJERAS Y LAS TECNOLOGÍAS DE LA INFORMACION Aprendizaje de próxima generación Capítulo 6: El Chat Características y Usos De Ana María Armendáriz Carolina Ruiz Montani El Aprendizaje de Lenguas Extranjeras y las Teconologías de la Información Aprendizaje de próxima generación

INDEX 1. Introduction 2. Oral 3. Written 4. Live 5. Identity 6. Uses 7. Participation 8. Speed 9. Brief exchanges 10. Turns 11. Chat Language 12. Courtesy 13. Foreign Language Learning 14. Reflections 15. Transfer to the English Class INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION Online chat is a text-based virtual communication. It may be: a. a one to one chat b. a group chat (as the one used in virtual university campus, or virtual learning environments, for delivering virtual classes) c. a chat with an irrestrictive number of participants (as in MSM or ICQ) It is also known as synchronous conferencing. This term is used in computer-mediated communication, collaboration and learning, to describe online chat technologies. Online chat is said to be synchronous because it takes place live, in real-time. The expression online chat comes from the word chat which means informal conversation.

2. ORAL To the text-base chat, it may be added a michrophone and headphones or loudspeakers, to hold a synchronous voice conversation. It can also be added a webcam to transmit synchronous images, snapshots or photos from files. Nevertheless, the predominant form is written. 2. ORAL

3. WRITTEN CHAT Similar to oral language, clear, direct, instantaneous, include reactive and non-verbal elements such as courtesy. 3. WRITTEN CHAT

4. LIVE Online chat differs from other CMC (Computer-mediated communication) forms, such as the forum or e-mail, in that it occurs in real-time, that is, people communicate synchronically. 4. LIVE

5. IDENTITY Participants may use their real names or may use nicknames in order not to reveal their identity. 5. IDENTITY

On line chat is used in professional, social and educational 6. USES On line chat is used in professional, social and educational settings. 6. USES

7. PARTICIPATION The users may be: a. Active: they participate on the chat through talking b. Passive: they participate on the chat just listening 7. PARTICIPATION

On line chat communication is essentially fast. 8. SPEED On line chat communication is essentially fast. 8. SPEED 8. SPEED

On line chat messages are short, having an average length 9. BRIEF EXCHANGES On line chat messages are short, having an average length ranging from one to four lines. 9. BRIEF EXCHANGES

10. TURNS Participants have to take turns to participate on online chat. This is part of the internet protocol called netiquette (=short for network etiquette, the code of conduct regarding acceptable online behavior). 10. TURNS

11. CHAT LANGUAGE Each chat group develops its own slang. But as communication via chat is very fast, it is common the use of: a. Acronyms: such as ASAP: as soon as possible LOL: laugh out loud IC: I see b. Symbols: such as :-6 -- Exhausted, Wiped Out :( -- Frown :-O -- Mouth Open (Surprised)

12. Courtesy In chat communities there are rules of common courtesy to all its members. In some cases, these rules are clearly stated in the terms and conditions of use of chat, as in the case of interactive virtual learning environments. Sometimes those rules are transferred from the conventions of respect and good manners that exist in oral language. This internet protocol is called netiquette.

13. FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING On line chat can be used on virtual classes for foreign language learning, moderated by a teacher via e- moderating.

14. REFLECTIONS Due to speedy writing, there is high tolerance to spelling mistakes. Digital language is not printed, thus it is dynamic, flexible and highly malleable. The globalization of information and virtual communications contribute to language dynamics, bringing about changes in it. On line chat has the following benefits: a. synchronic communication b. irrestricted number of participants c. ilimited distance communication d. virtual classes e-moderated by teachers beyond classroom boundaries 14. REFLECTIONS

15. TRANSFER TO THE ENGLISH CLASS On line chat can be used in the English class by students for doing a collaborative project. For intance, we can use it for doing our graded task, in order to organize the work, to interchange information, to take decisions as to how to creat the webpage on resources for the English class. 15. TRANSFER TO THE ENGLISH CLASS