2010年1月28日 星期四
My English learning experiences on the "My Happy Planet" website
I have had experiences learning English using Internet technology similar to Almon, in Lam and Kramsch’s article. I have learned English via a website called “My happy planet” before I traveled abroad in the U.S. I am quite impressed by the way a person, using the Internet, is free to create a “self identity.” This can make using a new language less stressful. In Lam and Kramsch’s article, Almon is crossing gender lines, and is taking on the nurturing, supportive voice usually associated with the female identity. This situation produces another “I” – in other words, Almon can speak with more than one voice or persona. Sometimes, I would like to try to be an “ideal” me on the website. In reality, I am still afraid of making mistakes or embarrassing myself when discussing (in English) something I am not familiar with; while on the websites, I could “create” a new born identity. When I chatted on the “My Happy Planet” website, I enjoyed making pen pals who have different habits than I have. I felt comfortable sharing my opinions no matter how imaginative it is since I have built a new social environment. Under this circumstance, I felt more confident in my English, just like Almon, who designed his website and is more willing to share things in English there than in his face to face interactions. Therefore, the computer-mediated forum indeed created a stage for second language acquisition (SLA). Even though some might argue that this is not “standard” English, there is no doubt that it assists English learners to take their language skills “one step” further.
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Thanks for sharing your experience, Hsuan-Ying, it's interesting to know of such stories, and I'd be interested in talking to you about it more. I wouldn't worry that it wasn't 'standard' English, as every register or domain of English has its own standard, and I'm sure you developed expertise for those uses--it is the experience of developing competence that transfers, so it was definitely worthwhile.
回覆刪除Hi, Hsuan Ying~
回覆刪除Your experience sounds pretty interesting.
However, I am still curious about why people become more confident when communicating via the virtual world in the computer. Is it because when communicating via computer, we don't see each ohter, and don't have eye contact either. Actually, we have no idea about the interlocutors' first reaction, or their facial expressions, which always affect the face-to-face communication in the real life.
I want to know after learning Engligh via "my happy planet", whether you are afraid of making mistakes, or becoming embarrassed when talking about the unfamiliar topin in English in the real life communication? I mean what kinds of changes have happened to your real life communication?
This is the "My Happy Planet" website I used to make American friends.
回覆刪除http://www.myhappyplanet.com/
Dear Yi,
回覆刪除As you have mentioned above, these are the reasons I like to chat in English via computer. Especially, I have time to organize “grammatical sentences” and even look up the dictionary for the “appropriate terms.”
Yes, I am still afraid of making mistakes and becoming embarrassed when talking about the unfamiliar topic in English in the “real life communication.” I think this it is my problem. Since I am a “slow” learner, I need more time to response to the questions. So, it is hard to “take my time” during the face-to-face communication. However, the online chatting room allows me to “think” and to avoid mistakes and embarrass.
I obtain “confidence” via “My happy planet” website which is the dramatic change in my real life communication in English. Since you and I have the similar educational background in English, you probably notice that most Asian students do not have environment to “use” English, let along “speak” English. Your situation is definitely better than me since your major is English. Under this circumstance, I turn to the website, free resource, for help. I started to makes friends via internet, and forced myself wrote messages to them at least once a week. However, it is not always “successful” to make American friends. In other word, I met some friends who did not have the same interest as I have. I felt “boring” at first, but I found that it is a good way to learn not only English, but also “new” knowledge from my friends. Since that time, I have an open mind to chat the unfamiliar topics. Once I am willing to chat sports and American songs which I am not interested in at all, I have more chances to communicate with my American friends. I know that I still have a long way to go, but I am glad that I find the way to build my confidence in English.