week 4: SVCMC and pronunciation (Alastuey,2010)

For this week, I read Alastuey’s article “synchronous-Voice Computer-Mediated communication; Effects on Pronunciation. This article investigated whether synchronous-voice computer-mediated communication (SVCMC) promotes more authentic interactions and affects improvement in pronunciation and phonetically modified output as a result of authentic interactions. The article concluded that SVCMC is beneficial for pronunciation and phonetic interlanguage. As Skype was used as a tool for research test, it is often used among language learners to increase their opportunities to communicate with native speakers and other language learners. It seems especially more beneficial for people who are not able to go abroad and have no chance for face-to-face communication with native speakers. Even though it is beneficial in different ways, there seems a limitation for beginners who are lack of language knowledge and background. For intermediate or advanced language learners, it is not difficult to hold conversation in face-to-face interaction as well as online chatting. However, beginner-level language learners are not only lack of skills to hold communication but also not familiar with how to negotiate meanings during conversation. If they are not aware of what is correct or incorrect pronunciation of certain L2 words, it is not possible to them to produce modified outcomes. As we talked in the first week, it is very important to have clear and specific goal and curriculum and to understand our students (who are they, what language problem they have, etc.) to maximize the effectiveness of using certain technology in language learning. Even though it is proved that using technology is effective to promote authentic interactions we have to put special attention for whether it is as well appropriate for students and curriculum that we are actually working with.