Chinese language learners’ anxiety toward chat partners in computer-mediated communication

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-147
Author(s):  
Yanlin Wang ◽  
Steven M. Crooks ◽  
Stefanie Borst
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Chinese Language ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Online Chat ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chinese Language Learners

Abstract Studies have shown foreign language anxiety (FLA) can negatively impact learners’ performance in the classroom, but learners experience less FLA during computer-mediated communication (CMC) activities. Although it has been documented that communicating with native speakers (NSs) can make foreign language learners more anxious, very few empirical studies have compared learners’ anxiety levels toward different online chat partners. The current study investigated intermediate Chinese language learners’ FLA in online text CMC activities chatting with NSs and non-native speakers (NNSs). The quantitative data analyses showed that there was a significant difference in the anxiety level between chatting with NSs and NNSs in text-based CMC: chatting with NSs made Chinese learners more anxious than chatting with NNSs. Language confidence and partner familiarity were the two main factors mediating the anxiety. Practical pedagogical implications and future research directions were discussed.

Computer Mediated Communication: Tools for Instructing Russian Heritage Language Learners

2008 ◽  
Vol Volume 6 (6.1 (Spring, 2008)) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Meskill ◽  
Natasha Anthony
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Heritage Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Russian Language ◽  
Heritage Language Learners ◽  
Heritage Learners ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated

The unique needs, goals, and constraints of heritage language learners in U.S. higher education and the multiple ways that they differ from those of second and foreign language (L2) learners have been well documented (Brisk, 2000; Chevalier, 2004; Grosjean, 1982; Kagan & Dillon, 2003). Each population uses its two languages in diverse ways, for differing purposes and with vastly dissimilar levels of proficiency. Shaping these distinctions are the contexts and purposes in which and for which learners are and/or become fluent. In the mother tongue, these contexts and purposes are most often interpersonal and involve home and family. By contrast, the contexts and purposes in which and for which a ‘school educated’ learner tends to master the foreign language are public and academic. This study examines Russian heritage learners in a U.S. university Russian language course and how computer mediated communication (CMC) was used to support their acquisition of academic literacy in the mother tongue. The CMC approaches reported can serve as models for accommodating heritage learners in post-secondary foreign language classes in ways that benefit all learners.

Virtual immersion

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 63-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenza Tudini
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Discourse Markers ◽  
Negotiation Of Meaning ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Computer Mediated

Most studies in the field of synchronous Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) deal with interactions between language learners, while interactions between native speakers (NS) and learners have not been explored to the same extent, particularly to ascertain whether chatting with NS can provide a pedagogically sound bridge to conversation. Through the analysis of interactions within a NS Italian chatline, this paper considers whether the chatline environment can act as a bridge to conversational Italian by providing the same opportunities for second language acquisition reputedly offered by face-to-face interaction. Italian NS chatline discourse is analysed for its conversational ‘flavour’ by considering variety of Italian, range of topics, questions, discourse markers, feedback tokens and negotiations. The findings of this study suggest that NS chat discourse can provide learners with exposure to colloquial and regional varieties of Italian, which are generally unavailable in language textbooks. Furthermore, NS chatline discourse offers learners a type of informal conversational practice which also includes negotiation of meaning, thus confirming its role in promoting language learning.

Development of Multi-word Sequences by Adolescent EFL Learners through Online Interaction

English Today ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
Yen-Liang Lin
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Human Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Native Speakers Of English

The term Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) has been widely used since the 1990s to refer to a wide range of computer technology that facilitates human communication through the Internet, and applied linguists are increasingly concerning themselves with the influence of computer networks on language use (Crystal, 2006; Hassan & Hashim, 2009; Lewin & Donner, 2002). In the English as a foreign language (EFL) context, text-based CMC has been widely adopted as a learning tool as it provides learners with authentic input, as well as opportunities to communicate with native speakers of English and to participate in the target social and cultural contexts (Liaw & Master, 2010; Lin, 2015; Sasaki, 2010).

Solidarity and Rapport in Social Interaction

2011 ◽  
pp. 934-946
Author(s):  
Jung-ran Park
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mutual Understanding ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Online Chat ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
The Social

This chapter examines the way online language users enhance social interaction and group collaboration through the computer mediated communication (CMC) channel. For this, discourse analysis based on the linguistic politeness theoretical framework is applied to the transcripts of a real time online chat. Analysis of the data shows that online participants employ a variety of creative devices to signal nonverbal communication cues that serve to build interpersonal solidarity and rapport, as well as by seeking common ground and by expressing agreement online participants increase mutual understanding and harmonious social interaction. This sets the tone of positive interpersonal relationships and decreases the social distance among participants. In turn, this engenders solidarity and proximity, which enhances social interaction through the CMC channel.

Virtual worlds and language learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabela Melchor-Couto
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Affective Variables ◽  
One Step ◽  
The Eu

Technology has made an invaluable contribution to foreign language (FL) teaching, particularly so in recent years. The advanced technical capabilities offered by digital games, including voice and text chat, take the use of computer-mediated communication in language learning one step further, allowing for remote, anonymous and situated learner interaction. This article presents an overview on how virtual worlds (VWs) are being used for educational purposes and for FL teaching in particular. A literature review on existing research has been included, covering areas such as FL interaction, impact on affective variables and attitudes towards the use of these environments. Special attention will be devoted to how VW interaction may affect students’ anxiety, motivation and self-efficacy beliefs. Finally, teacher perceptions will be explored through the data collected among 179 secondary school FL teachers participating in the EU-funded TeCoLa project (‘Pedagogical differentiation through telecollaboration and gaming for intercultural and content integrated language teaching’).

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