Comments on: The Best Sites For Developing English Conversational Skills http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/ ...For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:29:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Larry Ferlazzo http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-5327 Larry Ferlazzo Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:54:07 +0000 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/#comment-5327 Karenne, I definitely only view these sites as opportunities for limited practice, and ways for students to perhaps develop a little more confidence when they do have one-on-one conversations. Larry Karenne,

I definitely only view these sites as opportunities for limited practice, and ways for students to perhaps develop a little more confidence when they do have one-on-one conversations.

Larry

]]> By: Karenne Sylvester http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-5325 Karenne Sylvester Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:31:42 +0000 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/#comment-5325 Hi ya Larry, I'm afraid I very much agree with David. Conversation is two-way spoken dialogue, most of these sites offer opportunities to chat (with fingers) but not to converse. xxKarenne Hi ya Larry,

I’m afraid I very much agree with David.

Conversation is two-way spoken dialogue, most of these sites offer opportunities to chat (with fingers) but not to converse.

xxKarenne

]]> By: Jason Daniel http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-1659 Jason Daniel Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:48:31 +0000 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/#comment-1659 Hi David, I <a href="http://englishbabyblog.com/2008/04/11/best-sites-for-converastional-english/" rel="nofollow">blogged about this a little</a> over on our site, but I thought I'd leave a comment here to say you’re right. That would be a really cool feature. Our chat rooms are really popular, but I bet people would get a lot out of chat rooms with live, real-time, Skype-style conversation. Jason Daniel English, baby! Hi David,

I blogged about this a little over on our site, but I thought I’d leave a comment here to say you’re right. That would be a really cool feature. Our chat rooms are really popular, but I bet people would get a lot out of chat rooms with live, real-time, Skype-style conversation.

Jason Daniel
English, baby!

]]> By: English Baby | Blog » Blog Archive » Best Sites for Converastional English http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-1656 English Baby | Blog » Blog Archive » Best Sites for Converastional English Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:41:01 +0000 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/#comment-1656 [...] were happy to discover that over the weekend we were named one of the top three sites for learning conversational English by Larry Ferlazzo, king of ESL/EFL website reviews and best of [...] [...] were happy to discover that over the weekend we were named one of the top three sites for learning conversational English by Larry Ferlazzo, king of ESL/EFL website reviews and best of [...]

]]> By: Larry Ferlazzo http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-1616 Larry Ferlazzo Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:21:28 +0000 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/#comment-1616 David, I couldn't agree with your more. I'd actually say a similar critique holds true for most of the most websites I highlight because I don't think anything beats genuine one-to-one or small group interaction. Larry David,

I couldn’t agree with your more. I’d actually say a similar critique holds true for most of the most websites I highlight because I don’t think anything beats genuine one-to-one or small group interaction.

Larry

]]> By: David http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-1615 David Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:56:09 +0000 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/04/05/the-best-sites-for-developing-english-conversational-skills/#comment-1615 Larry, While I think all these sites are great -- they do show that there is a BIG missing feature which would make me hesitate in saying they help "develop conversation skills". Why do I say this? Well, a conversation is not a typical "learning" situation and it also entails "real" compulsive output by both people. Typically termed "engagement". What happens at these sites is isolated learning where the response is passive at best. Some of them, Live Mocha or Ebaby seek to be "conversational" but really they just have become sites for the lonely hearted and there is no pedagogical/learning focus. A lot of Pizzaz. In the case of Live Mocha, from the times I've been there I also believe they "stage people" to promote interaction. Somewhat insincere in my opinion. Nor is there VOICE -- the big pink elephant that isn't in the room (to use a metaphor). Two way communication is crucial -- in real time and with voice/audio. The net offers that, someone just has to set it up for educational purposes. I'm looking into a fully educational and simple audio chat room system where users anywhere in the world can simply click and join a classroom and talk. This would be really developing conversation skills - imo. Thanks again for letting so many know about these sites. I'm not saying they aren't "good" or even "excellent" -- just that they have major shortcomings when it comes to the conversational part. David http://eflclassroom.ning.com Larry,

While I think all these sites are great — they do show that there is a BIG missing feature which would make me hesitate in saying they help “develop conversation skills”.

Why do I say this? Well, a conversation is not a typical “learning” situation and it also entails “real” compulsive output by both people. Typically termed “engagement”. What happens at these sites is isolated learning where the response is passive at best.

Some of them, Live Mocha or Ebaby seek to be “conversational” but really they just have become sites for the lonely hearted and there is no pedagogical/learning focus. A lot of Pizzaz. In the case of Live Mocha, from the times I’ve been there I also believe they “stage people” to promote interaction. Somewhat insincere in my opinion. Nor is there VOICE — the big pink elephant that isn’t in the room (to use a metaphor). Two way communication is crucial — in real time and with voice/audio. The net offers that, someone just has to set it up for educational purposes.

I’m looking into a fully educational and simple audio chat room system where users anywhere in the world can simply click and join a classroom and talk. This would be really developing conversation skills – imo.

Thanks again for letting so many know about these sites. I’m not saying they aren’t “good” or even “excellent” — just that they have major shortcomings when it comes to the conversational part.

David
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

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