Lang-8

In my CALL class, we're looking at different ways that computers and technology can be used in language learning. I went to my Professor's office today to introduce myself, and we began discussing some of the ways students can use online interaction for language practice. She showed me a new book that she had recently found about practical applications of CALL, and one of the heavily underlined sections on Grammar stood out to me. It mentioned that students learn grammar best when they have the opportunity to produce sentences including whatever grammar points are being taught. However, it is additionally helpful for this grammar production to take place in interaction with others, making online/computer based interactions specifically helpful.

This point reminded me of a post I had read a week or so ago at tofugu.com (A special thanks to Koichi, and his fantastic blog on Japanese language and culture.) In this post, Koichi describes Lang-8, a kind of social networking site with a focus on language learning.
I checked it out, and this site is really cool. Members sign up, specify which language is their native language, and which language(s) they are learning. As a member, you can write journal entries in the language you are learning, which can then be corrected by native speakers of that language. You can also edit others' journal entries, if they are writing in your own language. Lang-8 is a great way to practice grammar, because it allows authentic interactions between language learners and native speakers. It also breaks down the distance barrier, allowing people from different parts of the world to interact.

On the downside, Lang-8's site is only available in English, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Spanish, and Korean. For students who are not especially proficient in these languages, set-up might be a little difficult at first, but with some guidance, I think students would be able to figure out how to post journal entries and comments.

I like Lang-8 as a tool to practice my Japanese, but it would definitely be a great tool for EFL and ESOL classes. It expands the classroom to include people from all around the world, thus increasing interactions between students of English and native speakers.