Job Discussion Forums

thelmadatter · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:08 pm Post subject: voice chat

Well, if "radio pasillo" (literally,Radio Hallway - Spanish slang for the "grapevine") is to be believed, we will be getting 20 new computers for the language lab. Im in charge of the lab. One thing I insisted on was headsets to have the capability of setting up the computers for voice chat.

I and several other teachers have had good results with having students do text chat with people around the world (just as long as they werent native Spanish speakers like my students) - so Id like to extend it to voice chat so they can actually talk!

Does anyone have experience with this or have this capability at their school? I want to be able to set up the computers and guide students as they do this... most for the very first time.

I know that MSN Messenger now has a "Voice Clips" capability which might make for a good start but I dont know how hard it is to find others on the net who are able to do voice chat yet.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Yahoo Messenger offers the ability to broadcast chat with video/audio...or one-to-one. You can make or join a group as well. I'd be happy to be a guniea pig for your students from time to time.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Skype does the same thing (audio or audio & video) for free. It is said that it has the best sound quality. Personally, I have found it great if both parties have DSL connections, but horrible if one party doesn't.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: voice chat

thelmadatter · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:41 pm Post subject: L1

There is a certain amount of honor involved, however I simply require my students (all native Spanish speakers) to find people to talk to who are NOT native speakers of Spanish. These can be native speakers of English or other learners of English from non-Spanish speaking countries. They keep a log of their communications and write a short essay at the end of the project period. Its the essay that really tells me if they had the conversations noted in the log.

Is it possible to cheat? Yes, up to a point, but its possible to do that with any project/homework. I usually know if they had the conversation by what they tell me they learned and experienced meeting people online (negatively or positively).

Many, once they find one or two interesting people, really take off with the project and sometime do 2,3 or even 4 times the amount of time online that I require. Its a good way to take advantage of the gregarious nature of most Mexicans. Most truly enjoy doing it.

One interesting episode, I had a student come up to me to tell me that she was talking to a Korean girl and the girl wanted to learn a few words/phrases in Spanish and she asked me if that was all right. I asked her "Do you have to explain what you teach her in English?" She answered "Of course, teacher! I don't speak Korean!" Very Happy

Those how try to cheat on the project almost always write horrible essays about it.

If youre interested in the project I assign, PM me and Ill send you a copy of it. We've also adapted it to lower levels... even English I (we allow bilingual chat for that one, the idea is to get them started having contact)

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

im happy with skype. sound can fade occassionally but all in all id say excellent since its free. also. calls to landlines are easy n cheap.
best
basil

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

How well does Skype work with a 56K dial-up modem connection?