HOW TO IMPROVING STUDENTS CONVERSATION SKILL BY USING VOICE CHAT

HOW TO IMPROVING STUDENTS CONVERSATION SKILL BY USING VOICE CHAT


by Narti Herwanti

Preface

“Alhamdulillah” with bless of Allah SWT, the beneficent and the Merciful. The writer has been able to finish this paper which is submitted as fulfillment of the requirement of the “Writing for Academic Purposes” by the lecturer is H. Cunong N. Suraja, Drs., M.Hum.
This paper is an attempt to study about the techniques used in “How to Improve Student Conversation Skill in by Using Voice Chat”. This paper is an attempt to study about the techniques used in teaching English, especially in conversation skill. The writer believes that the teaching of conversation is an important factor to find some information about how to teach speaking skill in teaching learning process.
This paper is far from perfect in spite of having done his best. Yet, the writer hopes that it will be useful for the teachers generally and for those who are engage in studying the English Language in particular. And the writer also hopes may Allah reward for their previous contribution and bless our life. Amin







Bogor, June 2011



The Writer



Introduction

A. The Background
There are four language skills in English teaching learning process, popularly known as listening, speaking, reading and writing. These inability skills could not stand alone, they should be taught interactively as in the real life they are used together. Nowadays, many schools are available facilities anywhere in regions. The ones who want to enhance their English speaking ability are provided by so many facilities in which they can learn from. The big number of members in the schools is one the proof that teenagers or even children are having a big desire to be able to speak English. However, though so many schools are provided it doesn’t means that people will directly have any confidentiality to join conversation or speak. English language is something important for now, everything related with English. When the teacher teaches the students, sometimes they always get problem. Today is so different with a few years ago when teaching. In teaching language not only speak in front of the students, but we need something to convey the message for the students for the example by using a computer as the media. Talk about the computer, everyone especially a teenagers almost known and familiar with internet. The students always faces those things, based on my personal experience the writer can learn that when study English language just think to remember the words and vocabularies. Actually those are wrong, English language is not to remind but has to use even though we do not know the meaning. When someone uses a computer in the term of social network things or gadget like computer, laptop, notebook, or hand phone with English language for the first time may be we can do not understand about the meaning. But when we use it every day we can know about that’s meaning. Therefore, over here I want to use a computer as a media to chat in the social network to teach my students. And the writer hope this way will be getting good effect when the student studies English language especially in speaking skills because speaking plays an important role in learning English to express and convey their ideas, feelings opinions and to make a communication to other people through information.
Based on the conditions, in this paper, the writer tries to solve the problem by offering one teaching technique for “How to Improve Student Conversation Skill by Using Voice Chat”. The reason why the writer chooses the conversation skill because it is one of teaching methods that very effectively for students, so they will be able to speak with another people.
























Abstract
Speaking is one of the skills in English teaching learning process besides listening, writing, and reading. In fact many students were difficult in developing speaking skill. They felt difficulty convey the message, arrange the correct words, and say it to other people. Because of that, to minimize this problem, a teacher has to use and choose the correct method in teaching speaking. There are many methods in teaching learning speaking, such as using a song, using the real object, make a real condition of the theme situation, etc. in this study the writer choose the voice chat as media which will be developed in teaching conversation.





















Theorictical background
A.Teaching conversation
As we have known there are many methods used in teaching learning process. The use of method is adjusted with the materials that will be taught. Every teacher should always prepare the suitable teaching method before presenting the materials in the class.
The word “teaching” is often defined by giving an experience to the students that have not gotten before. It can also defined by helping students in doing their activities in the classroom especially in study their lessons.
As we know that conversation is a talk between two or more people in which thoughts, feelings and ideas are expressed, questions are asked and answered, or news and information are exchanged. Besides that, there are several dictionary Synonyms for "Conversation": discourse, discussion, dialogue, chat, speech, speech communication, spoken communication, spoken language, voice communication, oral communication.
In a conversation, teacher will help students to learn English by using it in conversations with English speakers. Students work in the classroom is very important. It will help them to practice English, to speak more clearly and fluently, and to listen to others carefully and understand what they are saying. But it is also very important for them to practice English outside of the classroom.
Besides that, teaching conversation is one of teaching method that very effectively for students because through this method, student will be able to speak English very well. In teaching conversation, the teacher has to know the qualities of a good conversationalist include the ability to think clearly, use English effectively, speak to point, stimulate others to talk, describe situation and events.








A. Definition of Voice Chat

Chat is a tool that allows for synchronous, i.e. real time, communication over the internet. It has enormous potential to link students around the world, in real time. It is a technology that many learners will often be familiar with and will use in their social lives, so it is worth exploiting in the classroom where possible. When talking about chat, we need to distinguish between text and audio chat, and between public and private chat, all of which can take place one-to-one or between groups of users. What makes chat essentially different from other forms of synchronous communication such as mobile phone texting, for example, is presence. User are able to see the status or availability of other chat users, such as whether the user is online, away, busy, and so on.
Chat is one of the most interactive areas on the Internet and they are regularly visited by children and teenagers. Putting it plainly and simply, a chat room is a place on the Internet where people meet to talk about various subjects. Conversation is simultaneous, synchronous and written. A user writes a message onto the computer and the message is immediately displayed on another computer. From a teacher's point of view, chat rooms may turn out to be one of the best places to engage our students in real and meaningful language practice. From a student's point of view, chats are an exciting means of communication and an enriching opportunity to communicate with native or non-native speakers in English.
Technology is more advanced than the previous status and we are capable to make voice chat to communicate with others in present period. As we know that voice chat is more likely to make learners produce more fluent language. It is communication between chat users takes place via audio, much like a phone conversation, but is conducted on the internet. Using voice chat does require a reliable broadband Internet connection. If we have a dial-up or modem connection, it is probably safer to stick to text chat because it generally takes higher connection speeds to transmit and receive audio and video data.
In this paper, the writer uses voice chat technology like Yahoo! Messenger. Yahoo! Messenger screenshot shows both text chat and voice chat in operation at the same time. Yahoo Messenger is a free instant message service by which you can chat with friends. Yahoo Messenger freeware can be considered as the best tool for chatting. When we want to chat, we need to use it is a pair of headphones or speaker, a microphone and a webcam (web camera), so that we can not only text chat and voice chat, but we can also see our interlocutor, if they have a webcam installed on their computer. Besides that, we look at the use of chat in the classroom, where the teacher can link up classes and groups in different locations, as part of collaborative project work or for one-off chat session such as those described above. Using chat needs to have a clear purpose for learners. There is not much point taking a class of learners who regularly meet face-to-face to a computer room during class time simply to chat to each other via a computer when they can do so more effectively simply by turning to their partner.

B. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Voice Chat

Using chat in the classroom like voice chat can be hugely motivating to learners. By using chat with learners, the teacher is bringing current technology into the language learning process, creating variety by using a ‘new’ tool and also opening up the possibility of contacting and communicating with classes in other parts of the world. There are increasing numbers of teachers in all levels of education using chat to connect learners at a distance, from primary students to adults.
There are advantages of using voice chat:
a. Learners may already use voice chat at home
b. Brings current technology into the classroom.
c. Use of a new tool can be motivating for learners.
d. Enables learners to make contact with learners in other countries.
e. ‘Real’ oral practice of language.

Disadvantages of using voice chat:
a. Suitable for very small groups only.
b. Reliable broadband internet connection needed.
c. Recording a chat may be complex and require other software.




C. How to structure a voice chat lesson

Like a lesson, a chat lesson needs a clear structure and aims. First, ask yourself what learners will get out of your chat. If the chat is to be held, as we suggest, between classes in different countries, there are, as we have said, several benefits for your learners:
• Contact with other learners, and motivation that this brings.
• ‘Real’ communication with a real purpose.
• Use of a new medium in the classroom.
• A chance to practice spoken English.
There are several possible groupings for running chats between two classes in different geographical locations:
• If learners in both classes have access to individual computers, they can simply be put in pairs, with one learner from Class A being paired with one learner from Class B.
• If there are enough computers available for learners to work in small groups on a single computer, clear guidelines for turn-taking in each group need to be provided by the teacher.
• In the single computer classroom, an entire class can use one microphone for a voice chat, with the teacher allocating turns, introducing topics and signaling the various stages of the lesson.













Finding the Data

Active English Speaking is an educational website which offers a variety of lessons for a fee. Either through a group lesson, or one-on-one tutoring, they allow their students the chance to learn, ask questions, and interact with other classmates, through a virtual classroom.
"Communication is a skill that you can learn. It's like riding a bicycle or typing. If you're willing to work at it you can rapidly improve the quality of this very part of your life." (Loren Ekroth).
Chat is one of the most interactive areas on the Internet and they are regularly visited by children and teenagers. Putting it plainly and simply, a chat room is a place on the Internet where people meet to talk about various subjects.
Voice chat is more likely to make learners produce more fluent language. It is communication between chat users takes place via audio, much like a phone conversation, but is conducted on the internet. Using voice chat does require a reliable broadband Internet connection. If we have a dial-up or modem connection, it is probably safer to stick to text chat because it generally takes higher connection speeds to transmit and receive audio and video data (Gavin & Nicky, 2007: 72)
Conversation Skill can be explained as language abilities needed to interact in social situations. Language abilities include speaking with appropriate vocabulary, pronunciation, tone, intonation, rhythm, pauses, politeness and timing. To help students to be a better learner of English, there are ten “rules” for successful language learning that encourage them to follow. These rules suggest ways to help students become a successful learner, if they can follow this advice; they will learn English more successfully.
In the heyday of audiolingualism, one writer, Louis Alexander, warned that ‘the traditional “conversation lesson” is of no value at all if the student is not ready for it….The student must first be trained to use patterns in carefully graded aural/oral drills. Only in this way will he finally learn to speak. ‘The chat stage of the lesson, if it occurred at all, was simply there as a curtain raiser to the main event –the controlled practice of sentence patterns.
Such a view sits uncomfortably with the finding that conversation, i.e. casual talk that is primarily interpersonal, is by far the most common and the most widespread function of speaking. Moreover, there is a school of thought that the argues that, in L1 acquisition, the development conversational skills precedes the development of language itself. As Evelyn Hatch put it, ‘language learning evolves out of learning how to carry on conversations,’ i.e. out of learning how to communicate. By extension, it has been argued that conversation in a second language is not the result of language learning, but it is the site where learning occurs (Scott Thornbury, 2005).
It is also, of course, a fact that many language learners feel that their most urgent need is to develop conversational competence, and they regularly choose ;conversation’ as their principle objective when answering needs analysis surveys.
In making this paper, Writer didn’t do research to school. Just looking for some books and read it. So, we use that book for finding the data related in this paper. From some book, Writer got the data and put in this chapter. In function of conversation are helpful and essential because it can motivate the students to participate actually in language learning.
Conversation ‘lesson’ can be incorporated into normal class work. One teacher in the USA, Gisela Ernst, describes how she does this through the use of what she calls talking circles:
The talking circle is a total group activity that generally takes place at the beginning of the 45-min conversational English class. Almost every day, teacher and students gather in the talking circle to share and discuss experiences, anecdotes, news, special events, introduce the weekly theme, and the like. Although the teacher might open the discussion by suggesting a general topic, the overriding assumption is that the talking circle provides a place and an audience for students to discuss anything of interest to them.











Analysis

English Language Conversation Skills includes language abilities, conversation skills, social skills, culture knowledge and non-verbal communication skills. Non-verbal communication skills are classified as posture, body movements, gestures, facial expressions, proximity and eye contact.
When learn conversation, students must include everything if they actually want to converse with native English speakers. Students cannot just learn vocabulary or pronunciation as it represents less than 50% of most conversations.
Many language learners feel that their most urgent need is to develop conversational competence, and they regularly choose “conversation” as their principal objective when answering needs analysis surveys. For this reason, many language school offer ‘conversation Classes’ a way of complementing more traditional, grammar focused, classes. However, these offer challenge to teachers and course designers since it difficult to plan or programmed something as inherently unstructured and spontaneous as casual conversation. As one writer puts it, “genuine conversational interactions cannot be the outcome of planned lesson agendas; they have to emerge and so, by definition, cannot be planned.
The writer has found opinions about the title of paper. Especially that related with conversation. The writer put it into the data. There are many opinions from the different expert. But from that different, the writer can take an sample or one of the best opinion that appropriate with student’s need, so it can be used by them when learned English in the class.
Louis Alexander, warned that ‘the traditional “conversation lesson” is of no value at all if the student is not ready for it….The student must first be trained to use patterns in carefully graded aural/oral drills. Only in this way will he finally learn to speak. ‘
"Communication is a skill that you can learn. It's like riding a bicycle or typing. If you're willing to work at it you can rapidly improve the quality of this very part of your life." (Loren Ekroth).

Voice chat is very good for both teacher and students because it can be new knowledge for them in learn English. Besides that, voice chat can improve their English conversation.
Voice chat is more likely to make learners produce more fluent language. It is communication between chat users takes place via audio, much like a phone conversation, but is conducted on the internet. Using voice chat does require a reliable broadband Internet connection. If we have a dial-up or modem connection, it is probably safer to stick to text chat because it generally takes higher connection speeds to transmit and receive audio and video data (Gavin & Nicky, 2007: 72)
After seeing that opinion, the writer considered that voice chat is very important and good process for learners in language English. Voice chat make students interested for learning at the classroom. Students will not feel bored because with voice chat, they will get new course, new knowledge and new experience when they used it. Besides that, students will know how to use the voice chat when they are out of the class, especially when they go to the internet, so they will know how to use it.




















Conclusion
Many people want to improve their conversation skills and along with that they want to know how to start a conversation and make friends. Both of those are not too hard if a person learns how to do it, and once they have this ability they will be able to confidently talk with people, make friends and increase their popularity. Starting conversations basically comes down to approaching the person and using a conversation starter. Conversation is very important used to communicate. Related with conversation, we can use voice chat to communicate with the other people. Voice chat is more likely to make learners produce more fluent language. It is communication between chat users takes place via audio, much like a phone conversation, but is conducted on the internet. Using voice chat does require a reliable broadband Internet connection. If we have a dial-up or modem connection, it is probably safer to stick to text chat because it generally takes higher connection speeds to transmit and receive audio and video data.

















Bibliography

Dudeney, Gavin & Nicky Hockly. 2007. How to Teach English with Technology. Edinburgh Gate: Pearson Education Limited.

http://www.conversationhelp.com/blog/?p=81

http://www.eslincanada.com/englishconversationskills.html

http://www.stumblingglass.com/education-reference/article5412.htm

Lim Kiat Boey. 1975. An Introduction to Linguistics for the Language Teacher. Singapore: Singapore University Press.

Thornburry, Scott.2005. How to Teach Speaking. Edinburgh Gate: Pearson Education Limited.