How can instant messaging help in learning a foreign language?

Throughout time, the strategies and tools for studying a foreign language improved and enriched a lot: from the conventional learning of a foreign language at school based on books, reading, writing and translation, to employing audio CDs and watching videos. The immersion into a community speaking the targeted language was, for a long time, observed as a privilege that not everyone had the opportunity to take.

Even if nowadays there is freedom of movement, let’s not forget that traveling abroad and living for a while in a foreign country is still a privilege for many inhabitants of this planet. But fortunately technologies evolved offering us with a second world, the World Wide Internet, where immersion into a foreign culture and understanding a foreign language from native speakers is no longer a dream.

There are four dimensions of understanding a foreign language: speaking, understanding, reading and writing. And there are couple of tools that provide a total approach, permitting learners to develop the four skills at the identical time. Instant messaging is one of these few tools.

Who does not chat with his buddies via a Skype, Yahoo Messenger or MSN? I believe instant message is a component of everyone’s every day life. Then, why not use instant messaging to discover a foreign language?

Instant messaging has the benefit of allowing also video and audio communication, which turns it into a multifaceted tool of studying a foreign language. Utilizing the simple function of instant messaging (typing), you develop written and reading skills, by employing the audio function you develop understanding skills, by making use of the video component you develop both speaking and understanding skills. The media functions (audio and video) facilitate the observation of pronunciation, therefore they permit the “teacher” to give appropriate feedback. What is even best about employing instant messaging as a foreign language learning tool is that it is a way of communicating in real-time. Unlike e-mailing which gives you the possibility to construct your messages thoroughly, instant message is a mirror of your abilities to use the language you are learning “right here, correct now”. It allows you to continually assess your capability of managing in real situations. Last, but not least, instant messaging is a fast way of finding an insight on the targeted language’s slang and even of studying cultural aspects linked with that language.

On the other hand, when going for the use of instant messaging as a tool of learning a foreign language, you should keep in mind that what you get may possibly not be precisely the standardized form of that language, nor the most accurate from grammar point of view. Instant messaging is not a grammar or correctitude driven tool, but rather a excellent way of acquiring the needed abilities to manage real-time communication with a speaker of the targeted language. For accuracy and grammar proficiency, often combine instant messaging with lessons and study on the standard-language.

Expertise the effectiveness of instant messaging as a foreign language understanding tool by joining Fluent Future. Discover a language for free of charge, meeting native speakers of the language you are looking for to learn, or pay rated teachers for individual lessons.