ComputerMediated Communication

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Computer-Mediated Communication

• Xiaofei Lu
• APLNG 588
• September 27, 2007

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Agenda

• Logistics
• Homework 2 back
• Homework 3 out
• Hot Potatoes exercise discussion
• CMC overview Ch4
• Presentation 1 Warner (2004)
• Presentation 2 Greenfield (2003)

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CMC overview

• Introduction
• Types of CMC
• Modal considerations of CMC

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Introduction

• What is CMC?
• Synchronous vs. asynchronous CMC
• Open vs. closed
• One-to-one vs. multi-party settings

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5
Email

• Advantages of email as a learning tool?
• Monolingual NS-NNS key-pal arrangements
• Benefits? Problems? Alternatives?
• Tandem learning
• Principles of reciprocity and autonomy
• Benefits negotiation of meaning, error
  correction
• Effects of motivation on task performance

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Chat

• How chat compares with f2f conversation
• Pros and cons of chat for CALL
• Pros and cons of open and closed chat sessions
• Choice of tool and task

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Moos

• The origin of virtual environments
• Moos for language learning
• How Moos compare with chat
• From text-based to graphically interfaced
• LambdaMoo
• Active Worlds

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Conferencing

• Text-based, audio and video conferencing
• Advantages
• Motivating, sense of presence
• Practice of oral and aural skills for distance
  learners
• Correction of pronunciation errors
• Collaborative learning (Socioconstructivist
  approaches to LL)

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Mailing lists and BBS

• Differences between the two?
• Applications in CALL
• Discussion of issues in the TL
• Discussion of issues about the TL
• Effect of the lack of privacy of the information

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Mediation and communication

• CMC as an instrument or means of mediation
• Effects of the computer on communication
• Time for sending and receiving messages
• Participant relationships
• Types of language used
• Types of equipment
• Individual preferences

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Modal considerations of CMC

• Communicative affordances of technology
• Modal considerations of CMC
• Temporal dimension
• Social and psychological dimension
• Linguistic dimension
• Material dimension
• Individual dimension

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The temporal dimension

• Different time pressures on learners in CMC
• Quantity quality of language output (Abrams
  2003 Sotillo 2000)
• Synchronous
• Delayed synchronous
• Asynchronous
• Practical considerations in time arrangements

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Social psychological dimension

• The concept of social presence
• Social differences from f2f communication
• Turn taking
• Communication breakdowns
• Anonymity and its pitfalls flaming and lurking
• Expression of emotions

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Linguistic dimension

• Lexical and syntactic complexity of output
• Appropriateness of CMC for language learning
• Exposure to Netspeak, topic confusion
• Negotiation of meaning
• Potential or actual increases in proficiency

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Material and individual dimensions

• Physical properties of the technology
• Individual preferences

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