A CASE-STUDY OF AN FSL SENIOR SECONDARY COURSE INTEGRATING COMPUTER NETWORKING

Citation
R. Sanaoui et S. Lapkin, A CASE-STUDY OF AN FSL SENIOR SECONDARY COURSE INTEGRATING COMPUTER NETWORKING, Canadian modern language review, 48(3), 1992, pp. 525-552
Citations number
25
ISSN journal
00084506
Volume
48
Issue
3
Year of publication
1992
Pages
525 - 552
Database
ISI
SICI code
0008-4506(1992)48:3<525:ACOAFS>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
Considerable empirical research has suggested that students learning a second language (L2) in classroom settings need more opportunities th an they usually receive for extended spoken and written interactions w ith native speakers of the target language; otherwise their L2 develop ment may reach, and not move beyond, a certain "plateau" level of prof iciency. The present paper describes a research project which attempte d to address this curriculum problem through innovative uses of comput er networking to link a small number of grade 12, Anglophone students of French in Toronto with native French- speaking peers at a school in Montreal. The focus of the course was on the development of French wr iting skills using topics of cultural relevance and interest to the pa rticipating students.