Language Learning and Social Communication Using Chat Rooms

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become an inevitable part of adolescents’ daily life and have caused macro and micro changes that are shaping the societies in which adolescents of the future will live. As a two-way real time communication tool, chat rooms are one of the most popular forms of ICT in adolescents’ daily life. Adolescents use ICT for meaningful communication and social interaction with their peers and relatives. Following are some of the purposes for interacting through chat rooms: staying current in what matters to them, shopping, entertainment, creating personal web pages, and, yes, completing homework assignments. These activities can promote opportunities for purposeful communication that leads to increased language production and social interaction as well as promotes higher order thinking skills. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight issues on chat rooms as a two-way real time communication tools frequently used by adolescents with an emphasis on the effects of chat rooms on adolescents’ second language development with a comprehensive review of literature.