Mutually Beneficial Foreign Language Learning: Creating Meaningful Interactions Through Video-Synchronous Computer-Mediated Communication

• Fumie Kato ^[1] ; Ryan Spring ^[2] ; Chikako Mori ^[1]
  1. [1] University of North Carolina at Charlotte

     University of North Carolina at Charlotte

     Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] Tohoku University

     Tohoku University

     Aoba-ku, Japón

     
• Localización: Foreign language annals, ISSN 0015-718X, Vol. 49, Nº. 2, 2016, págs. 355-366
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Providing learners of a foreign language with meaningful opportunities for interactions, specifically with native speakers, is especially challenging for instructors. One way to overcome this obstacle is through video-synchronous computer-mediated communication tools such as Skype software. This study reports quantitative and qualitative data from a Skype partner program that emphasized meaningful communication between American students learning Japanese in the United States and Japanese students learning English in Japan. Analysis of pre- and posttests showed significant improvement in the listening and speaking abilities of the Japanese participants and in the speaking abilities of the American participants.