Summary of Research Studies about Speaking and Listening Online: A Source of Internet Resources

Author: Renzo Zambrano
Conversational Strategies
Section: 851
Prof: Luisa Cristina Álvarez


The Research Studies that are going to be discussed now were studied by George M. Chinnery, who is teaching Adult ESL at the Carlos Rosario International Career Center and Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. Chinnery is now pursuing a M.A. in TESOL at he University of Maryland in Baltimore, U.S.A. As part of his studies, Chinnery came up with a great research study called “Speaking and Listening Online: A Survey of Internet Resources” This Research Study is about all the technological advantages that Internet has as a resource for Foreign Language Learners and Teachers to be used in class as part of their learning process of the new language. Chinnery explains that Internet offers many ways of communicative activities, exciting technological advances which can be included as part of the learning process, making it more fun and easier for the students as for the teachers. There is a variety of programs which offer many possibilities for students and teachers of watching and listening videos, holding conversations in real time with people from all around the world and even programs who can help developing the reading and writing skills of students. Chinnery comments that teachers can have students accessing to websites that include prepared exercises, stored audio or video files for developing listening skills. Other possibility that Internet offers for students to use is Live Chat. Using this Internet tool, students would have the chance to chat in real time with people from other countries where the language is spoken; this communication can take place via text, where students type their messages onto the screen or by voice, where users wear headsets with earphones and microphones. Chinnery is applying all this technological resources in their students from the University of Maryland in Baltimore and he has discovered that the Process of Learning a Second has been more efficient and that students feel motivated using all this technology in their learning process.