Journal #5 Voicethread, Week 5

Voicethread has a global perspective in that it is available internationally. In terms of learning strategies for listening on line per Chapelle and Jamieson, it would adhere to their suggestions of need for motivation, modeling by other students, and a consistency or familiarity with the site. The fact that L2 can click on icons representing other students not only preserves the anonymity of the responders, but it makes it fun and kind of mysterious. These are engaging factors. Being able to 'point' to the items being discussed -as if on a white board- makes the visual component outstanding, easy to follow, and will certainly ease the anxiety factor that listening often causes. It might or might not be helpful to hear the other accents/grammar inaccuracies from the accuracy perspective, but it certainly would aid in improving fluency. That should be the aim of Voicethread.