Chapter 5

How to use email

The benefits of email

--email in personal and professional lives

--mailing lists and discussion lists

--email inside/outside class ……more exposure to the target language ……”real” interaction

Communications skills

Basic skills Technical skills

Communication skills

(1) Levels of formalities in email writing Informal: abbreviations, emoticons, lower-case letters

Formal: no abbreviations, no emoticons no lower-case letters

(2) Basic netiquette

*Not using only capital letters (‘shouting’ online)

*Being sure to respect others’ opinions

*Avoid personalized ongoing arguments ‘flaming’ (possibly public)

*Not sending files as attachments which are too large

Technical skills

* ”Goodle Mail currently requires you to receive an invitation from an already registered Google Mail user for you to be able to open an account.” (p. 63) …..Is this true or not now?

* Know how to protect themselves from spam or unsolicited junk mail

*A questionnaire to gauge their level of skill in using email -----See page 64

Using email with learners out of class

(Learners)*Submitting classwork/homework by email*Working together with classmates to prepare for class*Asking questions to teachers *Writing a composition collaboratively with other students

(Teachers)*Sending corrected homework, class materials, class newsletters

(Learners and teachers)*Establishing a class mailing list for general discussions and sharing information out of class time

Using email with learners during class

A data collection project: (1) Learners send emails to real companies, individuals, organizations, or websites to solicit information

(2) The information is collated (=gathered and analyzed).

(3) A presentation or written report is prepared.

Two examples on pages 65 – 67.

Keypal projects

Keypals: pen pals who use email to communicate.

Look at the example on pages 67-69.

Keypal projects issues *Set clear deadlines and time frames for email exchange. *Decide the method: individual, pair, group, class exchange. *Decide which languages are used. *Be sure that all learners are familiar with the basic skills and netiquette. *Keep the keypal project short and focused. *Discuss with the partner teacher the extent of teacher involvement *Discuss with your learners possible misunderstandings across cultures: concept of time, level of formality and friendliness *Remain polite with keypals--learners.

FINDING A PARTER CLASS: ePals