Tecnología

Let us Keep Talking

«No matter if it is virtual or face-to-face interaction, what really matters is the eff ort that you put into continuing to expand your knowledge of the language.»

Juan Sebastián Albañil García

Licenciatura en Lenguas Modernas con énfasis en inglés y francés

Conversations are a tool that allows the transmission of codes in real situations, which can cause an impact on its participants in diff erent ways. Now, if we put the conversation in a language learning context, we are going to see that this instrument enables us to develop skills related to our process regarding the language. For instance, English and French conversation clubs in our faculty are a prove of this phenomenon. Thus, this space will allow us to participate in a context more grounded to reality, no matter if it is on a face-to-face or in a virtual scenario. Let us see some benefi ts that conversation clubs in other languages can bring to our lives as language learners.

To start with, conversation clubs in our faculty bring up a great variety of topics related to our reality as language learners. Some examples of these could be topics that are usually spoken such as stereotypes, paranormal stories, science, or history. Besides, these spaces promote research in English on many subjects, thus enriching culture and knowledge, and projecting them

“Since this is a conversational context, students are less likely to su er from anxiety, for they are not being evaluated or asked to be prepared to express their thoughts” beyond the classroom or the “institutional context”. Moreover, regarding the circumstances in which these conversations happen, Schegloff (1987) stablished that these have a less institutional and more familiar context, and this can lead to open new doors when we think about language learning. A great example of this can be when informal expressions or “slang” are used in conversations.

However, behind this contextual dynamic, it can be affi rmed that those topics are an excellent excuse to practice the language. Indeed, since this is a conversational context, students are less likely to suff er from anxiety, for they are not being evalu- Referencia: ated or asked to be prepared Schegloff , E. A. (1987) “Beto express their thoughts. As tween Micro and Macro: Contexts a result, according to Stevick and Other Connections”. The Micro(1976), those learners with Macro Link. Eds. J. C. Alexander et attitudes more conducive to alii. Berkeley: University of Califorsecond language acquisition nia Press, 207-33. will not only seek and obtain Stevick, E. (1976) Memory, more input, but they will also Meaning, and Method. Rowley, Ma.: have a lower or weaker fi lter. Newbury House

They will be more receptive to the input, and it will strike “deeper”. So, it can be said that by reducing stress, the input will have a greater impact on the learning process. All in all, conversation clubs are always a good opportunity to Virtual conversations. Taken from https://gobritish. practice our abilities es/blog/recursos-clases-online/ in a second language in a more relaxed way. Furthermore, these spaces can boost our knowledge in English or French by using our likes as a tool to promote learning. Also, this is a place free of stress and, as a result, a good environment to encourage our self-confi dence and motivation about the language that is being learnt. Although these are rough times, the pandemic is not an obstacle to continue creating new opportunities to speak. Then, no matter if it is virtual or face-toface interaction, what really matters is the eff ort that you put into continuing to expand your knowledge of the language.