PhD Toryanik L. A., PhD Karasyova Ye.V.

National University of Pharmacy, Ukraine

Skype usage for teaching foreign languages.

Nowadays the main idea of the Ukrainian education is to create conditions for personal development and creative self-realization of the Ukrainian citizen. At the present day stage of the state development the training of the highly qualified specialists foresees, first of all, preparation of the students for the self-education and usage their knowledge in the real life, activization of students’ self-dependent work. Skype technologies give educators an opportunity to fulfill all the tasks.

When teaching students at the classroom we can use Skype in the following ways: giving presentations and workshops; the Skype incorporation into the practice; using more sophisticated technologies in the classroom. Skype is the best way to minimize the risk of things going wrong, to improve the teachers’ technology literacy and confidence at the lesson.

The analyses of the investigation showed that Skype is considered to be the most effective method of teaching which offers extensive ways of education in the world. Every day, teachers from nearly every country in the world speaking 66 different languages are actively collaborating on over 2,500 Skype lessons. Skype is an online service that allows you to make free audio and video calls over the Internet to people (even internationally) through the computer using webcams. Skype like an incorporating technology is an effective way for ESL/EFL teachers to update their teaching techniques at their own pace, building confidence and skills as they progress.

The analyses of the methodological resources [1, 2, 3] showed that modern Skype technologies help teachers build technology skills. It also happens to be a progressive tool to teach languages, as it incorporates high levels of verbal interaction between teachers and students. As users become comfortable with more advanced features, they can engage in higher level uses. This may lead them to being open to trying more sophisticated technologies in the future. There are many advantages of Skype, for example: Skype can be used to make conference calls with a number of users. Up to six users may be on the line at one time. At the time of writing, the conference calling feature included audio only. Video calls can only be made between two parties.

The analyses of the articles devoted to the Skype online training videos showed that educators are now using the videoconferencing tool to connect foreign-language students to native speakers, hold virtual field trips and host conversations with scientists and other experts. There is an undeniable novelty to Skype videoconferencing software that allows students to meet—virtually—with someone anywhere in the world, in real time, and at no cost. Skype technologies, the tool’s developer, is in the first stages of developing a social-media Web destination for “Skyping” educators, but as of press time, it was available only to 300 selected applicants on a pilot basis. Skype appears to be the more common method of video communication among educators. [6].

Using Skype users may chat while in a real-time audio or video call. This is useful if the connection breaks up. Users may indicate that they are unable to see or hear well using the chat function. The chat function helps to smooth out online communications, allowing users to briefly acknowledge one another or explain a situation, rather than simply terminating a call. This is useful for ESL/EFL students who may find writing easier than speaking.[4,5] The analyses of the articles by Waters S showed that Skype users can send files almost of any kind such as a .pdf, a Word document. The party on the other end can open it as soon as they receive it, allowing users to discuss it during their call. Teachers can use this feature to share activities or resources with students during a lesson.[7]

Also, screen sharing is a powerful feature for learning. This feature allows users to share a portion of their screen or their entire screen, with others on the call. This is particularly useful for giving presentations. Teachers can use the screen sharing option to give slide presentations to students during a lesson.

The teachers of our foreign languages department conduct video-course of the English language lessons for the students and the teaching staff of our University using Skype technologies. We give the students a wonderful chance to listen to the native speakers, the real English speech, to practice and to develop their communicative, grammar, reading skills and pronunciation. Using Skype technologies at our lessons has risen the results of students’ knowledge in foreign languages, their motivation of studies, their creativity, and, course, activated their classroom self-dependent work.

So, using Skype technology is an effective method of language learning for ESL/EFL educators who try to use more sophisticated learning technologies. This method of teaching is actual nowadays. Skype can be used to provide a variety of authentic learning experiences to students. It has great importance for training future specialists.

References:

1. Davis V.A. Using Skype in the classroom (or just learning how to use it!) 2006, August, from http// coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/10/using-skype-in-classroom-or-just.html.

2. Eaton S.A. Global trends in language learning in the twenty-first century. Calgary: Onata Press, 2010.

3. Mirtschin A. Using Skype in the classroom, 2008, from http: //murcha.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/using-skype-in-education/

4. Smethurst L. Student Inter-school. Debating with Skype, August 6, 2009, from http: // loisath. edublogs. org/2009/08/29/student-inter-school-debating-with-skype/

5. Smith K. From the Coal Face-Skype in the classroom, August 6, 2009, from # 2.http: // blogs.educationau. edu. au/ksmith/2009/11/25/ from the coal-face-skype-in-the-classroom-2/

6. Teacher Training Videos. Skype Online Training Videos. Retrieved. August 6, 2010, from http: // www. teachertrainingvideos.Com/skype/index.html

7. Waters S).Quick start tips for new Skype users, August 6, 2008, from http: //theedublogger.com/2008/12/16/quick-start-tips-for-new-skype-users/