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Second language acquisition through email interaction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2008

Farid Aitsiselmi
Affiliation:
University of Bradford, UK

Abstract

This paper deals with the analysis of a communicative activity involving English learners of French, its advantages and drawbacks as well as the outcome that teachers can expect of such an activity. The first part examines some reasons, both theoretical and practical for using communication technology, particularly electronic mail, for promoting language acquisition and developing learner autonomy. The second pan of the paper deals with the theoretical framework within which the activity was carried out, that Is, Stephen Krashen's language acquisition theory which establishes a distinction between language acquisition and language learning. Email interaction offers the possibility of addressing both processes.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning 1999

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