Language Learner Behaviour in a Virtual Environment

The author in his article explores how people intereact in different ways when it comes to communication online as they feel more relaxed and less stressed out. They bound to disclose private information related to themseleves and voice out their viewpoints in a more frank and honest way. These findings tend to reinforce the fact that an online learning environment may function well in a more chilled out and stress free surroundings in comparison with classroom. Therefore the level of worries tend to work well to the advantage of learning foreign language and it comes as a result of increased volume of language production. It is worth to mention that there is distraction of accent, no time frame to work on or to comply with, people can't be observed eliminating level of stress, introvert students will be at a big advantage while extrovert ones will be at the opposite side. There are number of drawbacks needed to be highlighted like there is no dominance of one group or another and this will change the dynamics of the old group. the online communication can reduce the anxiety level related to the language. This will not tackle foreign language students' problem, but it can serve as scaffolding platform, as worried students started to loosen up and gain more self confidence in engaging themselves in the targeted language conversation. Probably it is worth investigating those shy students' personalities to see if there is an impact on the classroom setting like whether they can maintain the same type of online personalities or not. Online communicaton has a great advantage as the level of participation tend to increase and students are very active in comparison with a normal classroom whereby students' participation vary a lot and it is not possible for the teacher to do the same. We have to remember in type of online communication there is no absolute protection from freeloaders. Language learners potray various behaviours as we seen in the above. The teacher needs to notice that computer based tasks are beneficial for the integrated part of language learning as we saw inactive students tend to become more active in online communication. Students behaviour alterations and perceptions related to them. So the behaviour patterns and perceptions vary a lot as some students may be stunned if confronted of their changed behaviour online and others may be feel more distracted. It is vital to set up some sort of explicit conduct code. In overall online environment in relation to language learning considered to be a pretty new for most teachers and students, and problems are bound to pop out without any expectations. This type of learning may be suitable for some students and certain levels of language teaching. We have to bear in our minds that it is a great and effective tool for us to use as it can dismantel barriers that prevent students from engaging in group task.

My experience with online communication tend to deal with questions raised by students in relation to a given task in the classroom, online submission for assignments and communication related to whatever being taught during the lesson. On the other hand students have access to my email around the clock to communicate and enter blogs not related to the classroom in a more free and relaxed environment.
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