CHAT

 

 

 

What is chat?

In 2002, after having taken part in a significant number of chats / chat sessions,  I defined chat as "a two-way form of computer-mediated communication (CMC), a dialogue in real time as we keyboard or speak our words, an online conversation between two or more people by means of a computer" (Almeida d'Eça, "To chat or not to chat in the EFL classroom").

 

Chat is a live, online conversation between two persons, but often with a group of people. Since it happens in real time, there may be a need for time management in advance, especially if people are in different and distant time zones. Arranging for a specific time that is suitable for (most) everybody is a 'must'. However, when the group spreads many and very distant time zones, such as Becoming a Webhead (BaW), that isn't always possible. In this case, it's a must to record the audio part of the session so that it can be available for everyone to listen.

  

When chat takes place with a group of people, we need to "start a conference" and invite people in. To do this you need to have their Yahoo IDs. A conference is a private group and only invited guests are allowed in. They must "accept" the invitation before joining the conference.

 

Chat platforms

We will use Yahoo Messenger as our demo chat platform (more links in the tutorial below).

 

 

Skype is also a very common and reliable chat host. Here are its free features. Download it.

 

 

  

Tutorial about Yahoo Messenger 

• Getting a Yahoo ID
• Downloading Yahoo Messenger
• Logging in
• Creating a Friends' list
• Starting a text and voice chat
• (Dis)Advantages of chat for language learning
• Why use chat in the L2 classroom?
• Practical advice 
• Conclusions 

 

For a full view, click here (then click "Full", bottom right of the slide screen)

 

  

Some uses of chat 

For the students 

• practice the language they're learning with native and non-native colleagues
• work in groups in the target language (while the teacher can monitor each group)
• invite guest speakers to talk with your students about a specific topic
• ask for and get timely, just-in-time help from a teacher or peer

 

For the teachers

• have online meetings with other fellow teachers
• prepare work together with other teachers
• prepare a joint presentation
• ask for and get or give timely, just-in-time help to a peer 

 

For more ideas, see this comprehensive list of topics

 

Live chat 

Guests: Christine Meloni, Valentina Sitnik (at 11:00AM) and Larissa Olesova at 9:30 AM (Yakutsk Tme)

• personal and professional text and voice chat
• ask Christine and Larissa questions
• demo of some YM features 

 

Suggested Readings 

Is txting killin Nglsh @ skool? No way sez Prof - Patrick Verel (In Focus: 1 Mar 2010) 

To Chat or not to Chat in the EFL Classroom, That is the Question! - Teresa Almeida d'Eca (2002)

The Use of Chat in EFL/ESL - Teresa Almeida d'Eca (2003)

Online Tools that Promote Language Learning and Foster Professional Development (includes Yahoo Messenger) - Teresa Almeida d'Eca (2004)

Teaching and Learning through Chat: A Taxonomy of Educational Chat for EFL/ESL - Dafne Gonzalez (2003)

 

Computer lab activities (suggestions) 

• Download Yahoo Messenger
• Create a friends' list
• Text chat with one friend
• Start a conference and invite 3-4 friends to text chat
• Have a voice chat with a friend and then in a groupThink of ways to apply chat in your class/es
• Brainstorm possible uses of chat with your EFL studentsRead one of the articles and take note of what helped you most; report back to the group in the following session

OR

• Work in groups of 4 in each
• Assign one person to play a teacher's role and the rest of 3 to play students' role
• The person playing the teacher's role needs to provide a space for chat in YM (start a conference)
• Invite all students to chat with a teacher in YM
• Prepare questions and/or topics to discuss with the students 
• Try text and voice chat
• To try voice chat you may use computers from different rooms (you may ask Elena Zakharova about help)
• Do not talk during text chat in lab
• Keep notes about your experience as a teacher and students
• Prepare feedback on the article the next day to share with others
• Save archive of chat in YM - share your experience with Teresa in class the next day
• You may demonstrate chat log from your computer to Teresa and other participants

 

 

Photos and Script from Today's Chat:

 

Chat Script File: teresa_yakutsk_2010.txt (you may download and print)

audio file from the chat on March 22 - Teresa's introduction

audio file # 2 from the chat on March 22 - Evelyn's talk about VenTESOL

audio file # 3 from the chat on March 22 - Evelyn's talk about VenTESOL

audio file # 4 from the chat on March 22 - Valentina (Elista) talk about BaW2010

 

Chat:

 

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:09:54 PM): Hi dear all

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:10:10 PM): hola evelyn!  welcome to yakutsk

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:10:31 PM): can you hear us?

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:10:36 PM): we hear you

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:10:55 PM): evelyn do not check hands free

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:11:19 PM): i'm not checking it

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:11:20 PM): I can hear you both

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:12:07 PM):

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:14:27 PM): you are very welcome

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:14:48 PM): nd is choppy

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:14:58 PM): i'll remove my hands free

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:15:35 PM): no sound

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:15:40 PM): yes

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:15:44 PM): far

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:15:49 PM): we lose sound now and then

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:15:54 PM): you show up and out

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:15:58 PM): bad sound now

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:16:01 PM): yes

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:16:02 PM): cy

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:16:03 PM): very well

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:16:05 PM): yes

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:16:43 PM): how many?

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:17:07 PM): larissa, hands free unchecked?

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:17:11 PM): yes

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:17:17 PM): no fee

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:17:19 PM): this is Evelyn hands free?

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:17:28 PM): i don't know

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:17:33 PM): i'm hands free

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:17:37 PM): I think she is using hands free to talk

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:17:44 PM): yes

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:17:44 PM): yes

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:17:50 PM): Teresa needs uncheck hers

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:17:58 PM): not absolutely clear though

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:18:10 PM): it's unchecked

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:18:16 PM): go ahead Evelyn

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:18:17 PM): pls continue eve

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:18:38 PM): created a ning

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:18:50 PM): 350?

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:18:58 PM): wow!

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:19:02 PM): inviting english teachers all over venezuela

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:19:30 PM): great! kudos to you!!!

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:19:33 PM): VenTESOL

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:19:36 PM): twitter account

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:19:41 PM): great idea

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:19:46 PM): @VenTESOL

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:19:57 PM): facebook? also a good idea

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:20:35 PM): introducing members to different ICT tools

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:20:46 PM): eager to learn

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:20:54 PM): me too

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:21:24 PM): 7 different groups in the ning

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:21:29 PM): wow

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:22:14 PM): annual convention at the end of may

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:22:32 PM): 28th-29th May

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:22:37 PM): aimed at teachers in elem and second school, but also for univ teachers

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:23:01 PM): forum for univ teachers esp. those taking a graduate program

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:23:12 PM): interesting

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:23:51 PM): certain univ are offering different programs for english teachers

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:24:07 PM): a what?

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:24:24 PM): of ventesol?

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:25:05 PM): we do emails now in Yakut TESOL

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:25:16 PM): yes!

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:25:24 PM): used to have f2f meetings; now have a wiziq group and meet at wiziq, a virtual classroom

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:25:36 PM): a brave new world!!!

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:25:42 PM): indeed

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:26:03 PM): many options for teachers to make connections and learn together

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:26:11 PM): Teresa we need Google Earth - to show connection between us today - and to post to wiki

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:26:17 PM): yes

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:26:38 PM): yes. i was just thinking about that

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:26:55 PM): google maps is lighter. i'll do that here

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:27:03 PM): yes google maps - sorry

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:27:10 PM): right

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:27:18 PM): absolutely, evelyn

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:27:47 PM): Yakut TESOL can ask questions

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:27:50 PM): you're trying to do things that can be done with any groups

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:30:22 PM): ven teachers living abroad

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:30:33 PM): One of them is in Russia!

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:30:36 PM): keeps the connection with the country and colleagues

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:30:49 PM): and have input from teachers abroad

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:30:57 PM): i'll ask if there are questions

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:31:01 PM): Ask questions

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:31:27 PM): they can use your mic Tere

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:32:45 PM): This is our Ning http://ventesol.ning.com/

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:32:51 PM):

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:33:03 PM): Ok

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:33:06 PM): Thanks Evelyn

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:33:14 PM): Hi Alexandra

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:33:26 PM): ok

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:33:35 PM): Alexandra has her Ning

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:35:06 PM): facebook, ning...

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:35:27 PM): ning offered the facilities to ???

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:35:43 PM): we didn't understand

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:35:49 PM): an online space

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:36:24 PM): with the possibility of uploading diff. types of docs, slideshows...

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:36:56 PM): forums and blogs

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:37:24 PM): a member joins the ning and creates a profile

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:37:39 PM): each person has a page, right?

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:37:43 PM): I will post the script from today's chat to our wiki Teresa

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:37:53 PM): seven regions in venez

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:38:14 PM): mp3

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:38:27 PM): audio and video

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:38:44 PM): so you think it's great for a group?

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:38:50 PM): We can start thinking about our Ning - the question to Alexandra - Teresa

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:39:09 PM): yes, we can

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:39:25 PM): evelyn, pls shorten bec sound is not very clear

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:40:27 PM): sure

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:41:01 PM): http://ventesol.ning.com/

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:41:42 PM): answer questions to be able to join

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:41:46 PM): yes

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:41:48 PM): tere

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:41:58 PM): Thank you Evelyn!

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:42:06 PM): Larissa

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:42:14 PM): you can join and Tere too

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:42:20 PM): Yes for sure

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:42:21 PM): ty

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:42:47 PM): yes

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:43:36 PM): linl pls, evelyn

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:43:38 PM): link

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:43:50 PM): http://ventesol.ning.com/

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:44:02 PM): It's been very kind of you

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:44:07 PM):

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:44:53 PM): Thak you

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:44:55 PM): yes!

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:45:05 PM): thank you, evelyn!

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:45:07 PM): Thank you and have great evening!

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:45:10 PM): 20

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:45:17 PM): I want to see Teresa in Yakutsk

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 9:45:31 PM): izquierdo_evelyn@yahoo.com

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:45:32 PM):

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:45:45 PM): ByeTeresa - you may explain that participants can find all info

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:45:46 PM): bye bye, eve!

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:45:51 PM): Not Teresa

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:45:53 PM): Evelyn

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:46:16 PM): repeat pls

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:46:56 PM): great!

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:47:01 PM): chat page

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:47:18 PM): yes

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:47:30 PM): take your time to work on YM

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:47:43 PM): Valentina will join in 10-12 minites

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 9:48:21 PM): fabulous!

lolesova (3/21/2010 9:48:42 PM): what are your plans for afternoon at 15?

Vale Si (3/21/2010 9:57:50 PM): OK

Vale Si (3/21/2010 9:59:50 PM): sure!

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:00:49 PM): you may have some coffee so far

Vale Si (3/21/2010 10:01:31 PM): OK

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:01:38 PM): you can now talk, ladies

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:01:39 PM): Valentina you can talk

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:02:26 PM): ty

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:02:49 PM): poor you!!!

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:03:08 PM): a brave English teacher

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:03:58 PM):

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:04:01 PM): blushing

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:07:25 PM): skype

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:07:43 PM): what exactly?

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:07:53 PM): yes

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:08:03 PM): exactly

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:08:52 PM): yes indeed

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:09:07 PM): I remember our conferences too

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:09:20 PM): lik we are now

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:09:22 PM): like

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:09:38 PM): blogs and wikis

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:10:03 PM): ning, a social network

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:10:06 PM): Valentina and I met in the Russian Ning

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:10:16 PM): interesting|

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:10:25 PM): Wow

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:10:45 PM): blogger

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:10:50 PM): exactly

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:11:14 PM): wordpress, very difficult

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:11:25 PM): how many hours did you spend to work on BaW Valentina?

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:11:34 PM): oooohhhhh

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:11:42 PM): many manya many....

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:11:48 PM): Valentina used her winter break

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:12:21 PM): it's very hard to do it when having classes at the same time

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:12:23 PM): researcg?

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:12:31 PM): extra work?

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:12:38 PM): professional development

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:12:57 PM): Yes Teresa

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:13:28 PM): audio and video

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:13:55 PM): bbc podcasta: audio files

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:14:00 PM): Did you create your own voxopop during BaW?

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:14:01 PM): podcasts

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:14:17 PM): Blini

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 10:14:23 PM): I loved them

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:14:25 PM): Evelyn remembers it

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 10:14:27 PM):

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:14:41 PM): blini!!! yummy looking

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:15:02 PM): BaW voices

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:15:10 PM): intro

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:15:13 PM): we'll be talking about voxopop and vocaroo

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:15:44 PM): vritual classroom

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:15:49 PM): with Evelyn

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:15:51 PM): exercises

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:15:57 PM): hot potatoes?

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:15:58 PM): interactive exercises

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 10:16:03 PM): elluminate, alado wiziq

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:16:10 PM): we'll be looking at hot potatoes and lingt

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:16:33 PM): my studiyo

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:16:42 PM): Teresa will demonstrate Valentina's wiki

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:16:59 PM): Valentina will join for YM to talk about wiki tomorrow at 11 too - Teresa

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:17:02 PM): blended learning

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:17:22 PM): ok. a very nice surprise!

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:17:31 PM): me too

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:17:44 PM): we can help you - in case questions or concerns

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:17:55 PM): evelyn, have you accepted my membership?

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 10:18:04 PM): yes, Tere

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 10:18:08 PM): I also welcomed you

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:18:11 PM): great

Vale Si (3/21/2010 10:18:19 PM): Hello

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:18:26 PM): again Alexandra?

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:18:53 PM): Practical usage and how to use blogs in classroom - examples - Valentina

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:19:13 PM): Voxopop - examples how you use with your students - Valentina

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:19:29 PM): 3-in-1

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:19:50 PM): Examples Valentina

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:20:20 PM): Teresa used blogs a lot -

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:20:47 PM): Valentina works in the university

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:21:03 PM): Comments to discussion?

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:21:37 PM): Teresa can put the link to Valentina's blogs - and mine too - I will add them

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:22:12 PM): i don't have the links to vale's blogs

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:22:19 PM): I have - I will add

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:22:28 PM): pls do. ty

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:22:34 PM): yes for sure

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:23:04 PM): add voices

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:23:11 PM): they will be trying voxopop in the workshop

Vale Si (3/21/2010 10:23:27 PM): OK

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:23:38 PM): wednesday

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:23:54 PM): we will join

Vale Si (3/21/2010 10:23:58 PM): OK

Vale Si (3/21/2010 10:24:13 PM): OK

Vale Si (3/21/2010 10:25:14 PM): Tutorials!

Vale Si (3/21/2010 10:26:29 PM): Teresa, the links are in the BaW10 session

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 10:26:33 PM):

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:26:37 PM): I will add them Valentina

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:26:42 PM): Tuesday

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 10:26:50 PM):

Vale Si (3/21/2010 10:26:51 PM): Welcome

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:27:05 PM): right

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:28:02 PM): thank her anyway, pls

lolesova (3/21/2010 10:28:55 PM): Thank you Valentina - and see you tomorrow at 5 again

Vale Si (3/21/2010 10:29:03 PM): Welcome

Evelyn Izquierdo (3/21/2010 10:29:10 PM):

Teresa Almeida d'Eca (3/21/2010 10:29:16 PM): bye ladies. ty!!!

Vale Si (3/21/2010 10:29:36 PM): I can't understand why there are double words?!Bookmark