Possible Research Topics

For my final project, I would like to explore the role of synchronous CMC as it pertains to participation and performance. I have read a lot of literature in the course that asserts CMC indeed improves the quality of linguistic output and the level of participation among the more reticent students. I personally would like to see whether this is an accurate assertion. I would need to find a way to measure the performace of students before and after synchronous CMC is implemented. I would take a sample of both weak and strong students and see if the quality of linguistic output improves. Furthermore, I would analyse the level of participation of the so-called "reticent" students during CMC vis-à-vis the traditional class setting. Does CMC indeed improve performance and participation? If it does, who improves more, the weaker students or the stronger students? Furthermore, another issue I would like to address is, if CMC does indeed do what many people claim, what synchronous CMC method is the most effective? Is it possible even to tell? These are certainly questions that will prove to be invaluable in the classroom setting. If CMC is effective, the teacher could play a more active role in improving his or her students' performances.

Summary of Blogs

For my blogs, I decided to search for three topics that were the most interesting to me. Besides language, what I love most is comedy and travel. So, the first blog I came across was completely dedicated to the show “Family Guy,” on Adult Swim. I have loved that show ever since it came out, so I was curious to find out what the blog had to offer. The blog obviously run by a group of the production team. The gaps between posts are sometimes two or three weeks, which is what I would say to be the biggest downfall of this blog. Despite that, it has a lot to offer us Family Guy junkies. First off, it is “authentic” in that an actual member of the Family Guy Production Team posts the blogs. He mainly gives updates on shows, seasons, and characters. He also provides direct blogs from the actors themselves. I actually was able to read a blog written by Alex Borstein, who plays the role of Lois Griffin. Finally, the blogger gives an overview of the latest Family Guy merchandise (Paintings, DVDs, games, etc).
Since choosing between one’s favorite animated comedies is like choosing one’s favorite child, I decided to pick both. The second blog I visited was the official South Park blog. It resembles the Family Guy blog in many regards. First off, it is run by actual members of the production staff. This blog, called “South Park Studios,” provides up to date information about what is going on in the show. Also, it provides weekly summaries and analyses of the newest shows, as well as commentary from the creators and animators. Finally, it also provides the latest in merchandise and DVDs. I personally prefer this blog to that of Family Guy only because it seems to give more in depth commentary and analysis of each episode. It even gives commentary on some of the classics, which are my personal favorites.
In order to satisfy the inner traveler in me, I found an *outstanding travel blog. In reality, it is an enormous collection of blogs called “Travel Blogger.” Here, one can find travel diaries of just about any country in the world. At the main page of the site, one has only to click on a continent, and then a country. Since I am personally fascinated by Scandinavia, I chose the Norway travel blog. All week, different people who had been traveling in this country posted their own blogs, along with pictures of the beautiful sites they had visited. What struck me the most, however, was that, on any given blog, you could see entries in two or three different languages. I personally saw entries on the Norwegian blog in French, as well as in English. This is definitely a blog that I would recommend because it is so versatile and so well done. It indeed has enough to satisfy even the most capricious of travelers!
In summation, having observed these blogs this week, I was able to start thinking of some of ideas for my own blog. While I don’t have any specifics at this time, I am definitely going to try to incorporate these three interests of mine into my blog. They are, after, part of the fabric which makes up who I am as an individual.

Thoughts on TIFLE

My experience in the TIFLE class has been very enlightening so far. I will be the first to admit that I feel very uncomfortable with technology. But this course has noy only shown me the merits of using technology in foreign language instruction, but it has also how it can be made pedagogically sound. I am not sure yet which methods I am going to use in my classroom instruction, but I am the most fond of the internet messaging. I firmly believe that this method lends itself to effective communication through technology.

Some interesting blogs I found

Summary of Blogs

For my blogs, I decided to search for three topics that were the most interesting to me. Besides language, what I love most is comedy and travel. So, the first blog I came across was completely dedicated to the show “Family Guy,” on Adult Swim. I have loved that show ever since it came out, so I was curious to find out what the blog had to offer. The blog is obviously run by a group of the production team. The gaps between posts are sometimes two or three weeks, which is what I would say to be the biggest downfall of this blog. Despite that, it has a lot to offer us Family Guy junkies. First off, it is “authentic” in that an actual member of the Family Guy Production Team posts the blogs. He mainly gives updates on shows, seasons, and characters. He also provides direct blogs from the actors themselves. I actually was able to read a blog written by Alex Borstein, who plays the role of Lois Griffin. Finally, the blogger gives an overview of the latest Family Guy merchandise (Paintings, DVDs, games, etc).
Since choosing between one’s favorite animated comedies is like choosing one’s favorite child, I decided to pick both. The second blog I visited was the official South Park blog. It resembles the Family Guy blog in many regards. First off, it is run by actual members of the production staff. This blog, called “South Park Studios,” provides up to date information about what is going on in the show. Also, it provides weekly summaries and analyses of the newest shows, as well as commentary from the creators and animators. Finally, it also provides the latest in merchandise and DVDs. I personally prefer this blog to that of Family Guy only because it seems to give more in depth commentary and analysis of each episode. It even gives commentary on some of the classics, which are my personal favorites.
In order to satisfy the inner traveler in me, I found an *outstanding travel blog. In reality, it is an enormous collection of blogs called “Travel Blogger.” Here, one can find travel diaries of just about any country in the world. At the main page of the site, one has only to click on a continent, and then a country. Since I am personally fascinated by Scandinavia, I chose the Norway travel blog. All week, different people who had been traveling in this country posted their own blogs, along with pictures of the beautiful sites they had visited. What struck me the most, however, was that, on any given blog, you could see entries in two or three different languages. I personally saw entries on the Norwegian blog in French, as well as in English. This is definitely a blog that I would recommend because it is so versatile and so well done. It indeed has enough to satisfy even the most capricious of travelers!
In summation, having observed these blogs this week, I was able to start thinking of some of ideas for my own blog. While I don’t have any specifics at this time, I am definitely going to try to incorporate these three interests of mine into my blog. They are, after, part of the fabric which makes up who I am as an individual.

Journals Found Online

Journals Found Online:

Title: Synchronous and Asynchronous Text-Based CMC in Educational Contexts (Article)
Author: Johnson, Genevieve, Marie
Journal Name: Tech Trends (v. 50, no. 4) 2006
-Journal basically analyses current uses of technology in the K-12 schools. The Journal conducts interviews and experiments as well on most current media one can find in a classroom. For example, its earliest issue from back in 1985 deals with the use of TV in education. This journal would provide a good general overview of CMC. The average length of articles seems to be about 20 pages.

Title: Technology-enhanced Language Learning: A Case Study (Article)
Author: Yang, S.C.; Chen, Y.J.
Journal Name: ScienceDirect
Website: www.sciencedirect.com
-This Journal deals with the use of technology in foreign language education, as well as other fields such as mental health. The average length of each article seems to be about 15 pages.

Title: Computer Assisted Language Learning (Article)
Author: Colapert, J.
Journal Name: EPSCO
Website: www.epscphost.com
-EPSCO is a journal that specializes in education, language & linguistics and technology. It has been publishing issues since 1997, many of which are prevalent in the use of technology in the language classroom. Average length of articles is 20 pages as well.


Title: Using Assistive Technology to Foster Language Skills in Preschool and at Home (Article)
Author: Skau, L. and Cascella, P.W.
Journal Name: Teaching Exceptional Children
Website: www.vnwev.hwilsonweb.com
-Even though this journal deals mainly with a certain group of children, it provides good insight on language acquisition methods as it pertains to young children. The average length of each article is about 10 pages. The journal has been publishing since 1983.


Title: Learning and the Development of Intercultural Experiecce (Article)
Author: Meeling-Liaw
Journal Name: Language Learning and Technology (Sept. 2006)Website: http://find.galegroup.com