WHAT?
You will have the opportunity this semester to "chat" on-line weekly—bilingually! Often you will have a specific task or a set of questions you will need to ask, but you will also be able to discuss topics that are of interest to you. The purpose of the chat is to give you additional practice using the language and developing communication strategies you've been learning in class.

WHO?
Your chat partners other language students – learners from your own language class (at NC State University or the University of Puerto Rico) as well as native speaking learners of your native language from the opposite university.

WHEN?
You will sign up for a day and time (one hour) each week when you can log onto your computer to talk to your chat partner. We will begin the chat project on Monday, February 10, 2003.

WHERE?
Obviously since this is virtual chat, you can chat wherever you have access to a computer: in the library, in your room… and in your pajamas if you like!

HOW…
…will this affect my grade? This is considered a weekly MANDATORY class assignment and will be worth 15-20% of your final grade.

WHY?
Why chat? Because:

? Chat is an exciting medium that is similar to face-to-face communication in that it takes place in real time, but unique in that you have the advantage of "seeing" the words being
"uttered" on your screen; at the same time the slight time lag allows you to reflect or monitor while you compose your responses.

• According to ACTFL* proficiency guidelines, to be rated an intermediate-level speaker you must be able to: initiate a conversation (ask questions), sustain a conversation (ask for clarification, restate an idea, talk around ideas that are difficult to express) and close a conversation. Practice negotiating a conversation with another speaker in Spanish via chat can help you achieve these goals.

*ACTFL = American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages