Skype At school
Skype is a program to chat with people all over the
world. The user has to download and install the program, a registration is
needed. Though this is a disadvantage, to me the advantages outweigh it. Skype
is a very intuitive program; pupils do not have to learn how it works. A short
introduction to the surface of skype should be enough to get acquainted with
it.
Especially to Foreign Language Education skype offers lots of possibilities. Pupils can chat with each other to train speaking and listening skills in a sheltered space. Skype offers a voice chat. This means, you can hear your partner but you do not see him or her. By using this feature, we can imitate a telephone call. Talking to someone on the phone in a foreign language is very difficult. Not seeing your partner’s face means not so see his or her facial expressions. You have to listen very closely. Nevertheless, in modern life we do have to use the telephone quite often when it comes to work later. Practicing this skill helps the pupils to get used to it.
Another nice feature skype offers is videochatting. This means you use the webcam while chatting for you can both see and hear your partner. Videochatting is a nice option if chat with foreigners. Of course we must not chat with foreigners you never met or talked to. But the teachers can prepare very easily, if they contact their partner school. Every school has partner schools in various countries and cities. Why not using this? The teacher contacts the teacher from a school in England, for example. Ideally, you find a school teaching German. If so, you can help them with learning German and in turn they help you with learning English. To the students it is very interesting and exciting to talk to native speakers. By talking English and German in turns, they do not feel offended due to their mistakes. Correcting each other creates a more relaxing atmosphere.
Of course this needs a lot of preparation. The teachers have to get in touch beforehand to coordinate the topics, they have to decide which language has to be spoken and of course they have to arrange appointments. But I think the success is worth it. Giving chance to talk to native speakers is the most important thing in teaching a language. It not only helps improving pronunciation, it also helps to get to know about cultural things.
Especially to Foreign Language Education skype offers lots of possibilities. Pupils can chat with each other to train speaking and listening skills in a sheltered space. Skype offers a voice chat. This means, you can hear your partner but you do not see him or her. By using this feature, we can imitate a telephone call. Talking to someone on the phone in a foreign language is very difficult. Not seeing your partner’s face means not so see his or her facial expressions. You have to listen very closely. Nevertheless, in modern life we do have to use the telephone quite often when it comes to work later. Practicing this skill helps the pupils to get used to it.
Another nice feature skype offers is videochatting. This means you use the webcam while chatting for you can both see and hear your partner. Videochatting is a nice option if chat with foreigners. Of course we must not chat with foreigners you never met or talked to. But the teachers can prepare very easily, if they contact their partner school. Every school has partner schools in various countries and cities. Why not using this? The teacher contacts the teacher from a school in England, for example. Ideally, you find a school teaching German. If so, you can help them with learning German and in turn they help you with learning English. To the students it is very interesting and exciting to talk to native speakers. By talking English and German in turns, they do not feel offended due to their mistakes. Correcting each other creates a more relaxing atmosphere.
Of course this needs a lot of preparation. The teachers have to get in touch beforehand to coordinate the topics, they have to decide which language has to be spoken and of course they have to arrange appointments. But I think the success is worth it. Giving chance to talk to native speakers is the most important thing in teaching a language. It not only helps improving pronunciation, it also helps to get to know about cultural things.
