Reflections on Language Learning and Technology 2

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
Messaging, Gaming, Peer-to-Peer Sharing: Language Learning Strategies & Tools for the Millennial Generation

Summary

Instant Messaging and Mobile Communication

Instant messaging (IM) is a good form of communication. Nowadays we have AIM in the United States ; and in the rest of the world, MSN .It has particular language usages, for example short utterances and the use of abbreviations; that is why that IM provides informal conversations. Many IM programs also support audio exchanges and video as well. Many language instructors are sending their students out to find IM partners, because they recognize that it is a very useful tool for learning.

The use of mobile phones, by way of short message service (SMS) is also a support of language learning. In Europe, the EU has funded a major initiative called m-learning which uses mobile phones to reach young adults who have not done well in traditional learning environments. The purpose is that they can engage young learners when they can do it (a time and a place away from formal institutional setting), but it has to be related to their preferences. The m-learning has incorporated a learning management system and speech/text tools. Some projects of m-learning are a Finish language learning program of grammar and pronunciation and Java-based review exercises. Another use of the mobile phone is called moblogging or mobile blogging; it is about that you can post to a blog from a digital camera, PDA, or cell phone.

Peer-to-Peer Networking and the iPod Phenomenon

The initial popularity of the iPod was due to peer-to-peer (P2P) networks (FastTrack, Gnutella, Bittorrent). It is used as a means to find and exchange resources and for helping in improving pronunciation. Since 2001 iPods have additional capabilities like personal calendars, games, and notes. The language teachers are very interested in the notes function.

Gaming
Educators are very interesting in gaming because it consumes a lot of time of young people. Some researches that are studying this phenomenon have found some surprises.

Constance Steinkuehler discovered that multiplayer online games are a good way for socialization, enculturation ,and learning because it provides for example identity work and rich meaning-making.
Rebecca Black has observed some participants in a Web community about animé fans, and she has discovered that through this site, there is a good deal of reading and writing. In this site the participants have to create a “fanfiction”. The stories have Japanese or Chinese backgrounds, but they have to be written in English by non-natives. Black argues that this kind of website can be helpful for adolescents-especially marginalized people- owing to that they construct and develop community, and it is a good way for self-improving .
Some games used for language instructors are: SIM COPTER that is a basis for giving directions and writing and Zip and Terry designed to teach children English.

Reflection

These kinds of technologies are very useful for our students because we have to recognize that they know more about these topics.

I agree with the use of msn and mobile phone for learning a language due to the fact that the students feel more comfortable when they talk to a foreigner than with a teacher in a regular class, but we have to be very careful about the use of this method because on the web there are dangerous people .

The iPods are another good for teaching , but we have to know that this kind of technology is very expensive in countries such as Chile.

From my point of view , the games are the best way for learning a foreign language due to the fact that they are cheap , entertaining , and dynamic. A part from that, they provide socialization, enculturation ,and the most important thing: self-improving; but we have to be careful about the time that the adolescents spend on those type of activities.