Use of Video-enabled Web based CMC to Facilitate Oral Conversation Drill

This study investigates how video-enabled Web-based Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) system can be effectively used in a local dialect learning course to enhance students´ learning. Eighteen students enrolled in the course used the system to complete course related activities. Students´ in class oral conversation drills were videotaped and made available for viewing on a CMC system. After each class, students and course instructor can give both textual and audio feedback to each student´s in class oral conversation drill on the CMC system to foster interactions, which were fewer in the classroom due to limited class time. Furthermore, students can access the video to self-evaluate their oral conversations as often as necessary and monitor their personal growth. It was found that this video-enabled CMC system is valuable in improving quality of feedback and in increasing students´ reflection. The audio feedback given by instructor was especially useful for correcting their pronunciation and utterance. It also gave students more opportunities to interact with instructor and peers after class.