Virtual Speaking Habla Virtual

Do you have or want to have a
Virtual Amigo?
On the web it is difficult to actually "speak", but it is possible to simulate real situations in which the student feels as though he or she were speaking. Sites, such as the ones I have included below, allow students to not only practice using a more natural, verbal language, but to also be corrected by their piers at the moment they make a mistake.

	Chat Cafe	LANGUAGE IN PRACTICE! Encourage students to visit a "chat cafe" such as this one and practice their Spanish with native speakers.
	More Chatting	There are numerous possibilities for language practice on the web. Here is another site, but encourage students to seek out additional sites that seem of interest to them. Many sites are centered around a discussion of specific topics. Check out these sites ahead of time for yourself so you can initiate student interest. As busy as students are, they need many added incentives to take time to practice their Spanish, but once they're interested, your job will become much easier.
	RTA	Remote Technical Assistance Project Home Page
	Spanish MOO See activities below	--Mundo Hispano: The Spanish Language Learning MOO. The site explains itself, but to initiate your own character in this virtual world, clip on "Last Thoughts". Discussion on the use of MOOs the Computer Mediated Classroom (CMC). --Arda MOO is another MOO that prides itself on being all in Castellano.
	Y-Talk	Y-talk is simply e-mail in real time. For a brief explanation of how to do this click here.

ACTIVITIES

PEN-PALS: You could do this using e-mail or real-time "y-talk". Hook students up with those of another class at the same level and have them e-mail you their conversations, or print them and bring them to class so they can receive some corrective feedback. You may have them try to find pen pals with native speakers who are also on the web or on-line. Have students report to the class about the people they have met on line. Then ask them to write about interesting cultural differences they have learned about, or discussed while on-line. Have them maintain these contacts through-out the quarter.

INTERCAMBIOS: You might be able to get in contact with a University in a Spanish-speaking country and find the e-mail addresses for students planning to come to the US to study. For beginning level Spanish students this is ideal since they can use the vocabulary they know and are learning to describe themselves and where they live etc... USE YOUR OWN RESOURCES! You might want to check with he EAP (Education Abroad Program to see if they can help you.)

CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS: Use the web as a basis for classroom discussions. Have students research a topic or current event which will then be discussed and debated in class.

MOOs: Have class all log on to a MOO at the same time. Each student will take on a new identity in the "virtual world". You might be able to collaborate this activity with another class either on your same campus, or even one in a different state or county.

Y-TALK: In order to y-talk, you must login as those you were e-mailing. At the UNIX prompt (at least at UCDavis) you simply type: ytalk(space)(and your ez#). You might have to know the name of the machine the other person is on, but not always (especially if they're on the same machine as you are). The rest should be self explanatory as the computer asks your party if they want to talk to you and as they enter "yes", both screens will split in two and you can communicate simultaneously.