ISSN 0289-7938

¥950

the
Language
Teacher
MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF
THE JAPAN ASSOCIATION FOR LANGUAGE TEACHING
全国語学教育学会

4FQUFNCFS

r
7PMVNF

/VNCFS


IN THIS ISSUE
!" 'FBUVSF
"SUJDMF
+FOOJF
:HVJDP
,FSO
FYBNJOFT
TUSBUFHJFT
VTFE
CZ
TUVEFOUT
UP
HBJO
BOE
IPME
UIF

óPPS
JO
EJTDVTTJPOT

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

!" 3FBEFST
'PSVN
3JOUBSP
4BUP
EFGFOET
UIF
JNQPSUBODF
PG
DPOTJEFSJOH
UIF
+BQBOFTF
DPOUFYU
XIFO

DIPPTJOH
UFBDIJOH
NFUIPEPMPHJFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
+PIO
(VOOJOH
JOUFSWJFXT
.JLF
(VFTU
BCPVU
UFSUJBSZ
&'-
JO
+BQBO . . . . . . . 15

!" .Z
4IBSF

-FTTPO
JEFBT
CZ
,BPSJ
/BLBP
BOE
5IPNBT
"NVOESVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

!" #PPL
3FWJFX



,VSUJT
.D%POBME

SFWJFXT Our Unique Planet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

THE JAPAN ASSOCIATION FOR LANGUAGE TEACHING

全 国 語 学 教 育 学 会
 3&4063$&4
r
TLT
FEATURE ARTICLE
…with Paul Daniels
& Ted O'Neill
<tlt-wired@jalt-publications.org>
In this column, we explore the issue of
teachers and technology—not just as it
relates to CALL solutions, but also to In-
ternet, software, and hardware concerns
that all teachers face.
As well as our feature columns, we
would also like to answer reader que-
ries. If you have a question, problem,
or idea you would like discussed in this
column, please contact us.
We also invite readers to submit ar-
ticles on their areas of interest. Please
contact the editors before submitting.
Giving your
students an
online voice
Damon Brewster
Hans von Dietze
Simon Hunter
J. F. Oberlin University, Tokyo
V
GHIJKLMJNO"P;&+($,0.$!/3(&)Q"+#"!%"$!#-"
,&"*#$:"'.$$"6$9C0&#,$/",$(0%&7&5-"'&."(.$‐
!,+%5"%!..!,$/"#7+/$#0&6#"!%/"+#"!"2&6$.C
+#"!"2&6$.C
!"2&6$.‐
'*7"$/*(!,+&%!7",&&7",0!,"(!%"9$"$!#+7-"!//$/",&"!%-"
7!%5*!5$"2.&5.!)3"R,*/$%,#"(!%"(.$!,+;$7-"#0!.$"
#,&.+$#"!%/"$12$.+$%($#"60+7$"5!+%+%5";!7*!97$"
7!%5*!5$"!%/".$!7"6&.7/"#?+77#3"<0+#"#&',6!.$"+#"(*.C
<0+#"#&',6!.$"+#"(*.C
0+#"#&',6!.$"+#"(*.C
+#"(*.C
(*.‐
.$%,7-".!%?$/"9-",0$"S$%,.$"'&."T$!.%+%5"!%/"U$.C
9-",0$"S$%,.$"'&."T$!.%+%5"!%/"U$.C
,0$"S$%,.$"'&."T$!.%+%5"!%/"U$.‐
'&.)!%($"<$(0%&7&5+$#"!#"VW./"+%"+,#",&2"XYY",&&7#"
'&."7$!.%+%53"4$"*#$"+,",&"$%.+(0"!"#,*/-"!9.&!/"
2.&5.!)"+%,.&/*($/"9-"&*."*%+;$.#+,-"+%"VYYZ3
Background
D!(0"-$!.:"&*."*%+;$.#+,-"#$%/#"*2",&"WYY"#,*/$%,#"
,&"&;$."V["*%+;$.#+,+$#"&%"!"&%$C#$)$#,$."#,*/-"
!9.&!/"2.&5.!)3"\&#,"#,*/$%,#"#,*/-"+%"DRT"2.&‐
5.!)#:"9*,"#&)$"#,*/$%,#"(0&&#$"R&*,0"]&.$!"&."
S0+%!"!#",0$+."/$#,+%!,+&%3"4$"6!%,$/"!"6!-"'&."#,*‐
/$%,#"(&)+%5"9!(?"'.&)",0+#"$12$.+$%($",&"2.&/*(‐
,+;$7-".$87$(,"&%",0$+.",+)$"!9.&!/"!%/",&"0$72"(.$!,$"
WIRED
KERN
2323
!"#$%#$"&'"(&))*%+,-"!.&*%/",0$+."$12$.+$%($#3"4$"
/$(+/$/",0!,"!"5&&/"6!-",&"0$72"#,*/$%,#".$87$(,"&%"
,0$+."$12$.+$%($#"6&*7/"9$",&"$%(&*.!5$",0$)",&"
#0!.$",0$+."'$$7+%5#"!%/",0&*50,#"6+,0"2$$.#:",0$"
6+/$."*%+;$.#+,-"(&))*%+,-"!%/"'!)+7-3"<0$"#0!.‐
+%5"2.&($##"6&*7/".$#*7,"+%",0$)"2.&/*(+%5"#&)$‐
,0+%5"(&%(.$,$"!%/"6&*7/"!7#&"#$.;$"!#"!"5&&/"6!-"
,&".$+%,$5.!,$",0$)"+%,&",0$+."%&.)!7"#,*/+$#=",0$"
,.!%#+,+&%"'.&)"!"#,*/-"!9.&!/"2$.+&/"!%/".$,*.%‐
+%5"0&)$"(!%"9$"/+'8+(*7,3">&+($,0.$!/"!77&6#"*#",&"
/&"!77",0$#$",0+%5#3
Figure 1. Voicethread main interface
How does it work?
<&")!?$"!%"!((&*%,"-&*"%$$/"!%"$)!+7"!//.$##"!%/"
!"2!##6&./"&'"-&*."(0&+($3"@*."#,*/$%,#"*#$",0$+."
*%+;$.#+,-"$)!+7"!//.$##$#",&")!?$",.&*97$#0&&,+%5"
$!#+$.:"9*,"!((&*%,#"!.$")!%!5$/"9-",0$"#,*/$%,#"
,0$)#$7;$#3"A+5+,!7"+)!5$#"!.$"$!#-",&"*27&!/"'.&)"
,0$"(&)2*,$."/$#?,&2:"87+(?."&."B!($9&&?"!((&*%,#:"
!%/"!*/+&".$(&./+%5"+#"/&%$"/+.$(,7-"+%,&",0$"#&',‐
6!.$";+!"!%-"!,,!(0$/"&."9*+7,C+%")+(.&20&%$3"<0+#"
9$+%5"!"6$9C0&#,$/".$#&*.($:"#,*/$%,#"(!%"6&.?"
+%/+;+/*!77-"&."+%"5.&*2#:"!#-%(0.&%&*#7-"'.&)"
0&)$:"(!)2*#:"&."$7#$60$.$3"@%($"(&)27$,$/:",0$"
!*/+&"#7+/$#0&6#"(!%"9$"#0!.$/";+!"7+%?#:"$)9$//$/"
+%"&,0$."2!5$#:"&."(.$!,&.#"(!%"+%;+,$"2$&27$",&";+$6"
,0$)"!,",0$">&+($,0.$!/"#+,$3"<0$.$'&.$:">&+($,0.$!/"
+#"$!#-",&"*#$"!%/"#0!.$:"!%/"!"5.$!,";$0+(7$"'&."#,*C
:"!%/"!"5.$!,";$0+(7$"'&."#,*C
"!%/"!"5.$!,";$0+(7$"'&."#,*‐
/$%,#",&"$127&.$",0$+.".$!(,+&%#",&",0$+.",+)$"!9.&!/3"
The task
<0$"#,*/$%,#"!.$"!#?$/",&"(.$!,$"!"#7+/$#0&6"+%"
D%57+#0"'&."#&)$&%$"!,"0&)$"+%"E!2!%"/$#(.+9+%5"
,0$+."#,*/-"!9.&!/"$12$.+$%($#3"<0+#"#7+/$#0&6"
#0&*7/".$2.$#$%,",0$+."#,*/-"!9.&!/"$12$.+$%($"!%/"
#0&*7/"+%(7*/$",0$+.".$87$(,+&%#"&%",0$+."$12$.+‐
$%($#3"
<&"!##+#,"6+,0"27!%%+%5"!%/",&"5+;$"#,*/$%,#"!"
(7$!."+/$!"&'"!"/+.$(,+&%",&",!?$:"6$")!/$"!"#,!.,‐
+%5"#7+/$"6+,0"!"/+#,+%(,",0$)$3"F77"#7+/$#0&6#"#,!.,"
6+,0",0+#"#!)$"#7+/$. 
THE LANGUAGE TEACHER 33.9 t
SEPTEMBER 2009
 24 BREWSTER,
KERN VON DIETZE, & HUNTER
FEATURE ARTICLE
3&4063$&4
r
5-5
8*3&%
4$"5+;$"(7$!."5*+/$7+%$#"'&.",0.$$"&,0$."+)2&.,!%,"
(&%#+/$.!,+&%#3"B+.#,7-:",0$"#7+/$#0&6"#0&*7/"%&,"9$"
)&.$",0!%"^")+%*,$#3"_,")!-"9$"!"/!*%,+%5",!#?"!,"
8+.#,:"#&"7+)+,+%5",0$"7$%5,0")!/$",0$",!#?"#$$)")&.$"
)!%!5$!97$3"F7#&:";+$6$.#",$%/",&"7&#$"+%,$.$#,"+'",0$"
#7+/$#0&6"+#"7&%5$.",0!%"^")+%*,$#3"R$(&%/7-:",0$.$"
#0&*7/"9$"%&")&.$",0!%"XV"20&,&#3"B+%!77-:"#,*/$%,#"
(!%"6&.?"!7&%$"&."+%"5.&*2#"&'",6&"&.",0.$$3
F#"!%"$1!)27$:",0$"#,*/$%,#"0!;$"!(($##",&"&*."
/$)&%#,.!,+&%"#7+/$#0&6#,"60+(0"!/0$.$",&",0$#$"
5*+/$7+%$#3
Three stage process
Before departure`"4$"(&%/*(,"!"6&.?#0&2"'&."
#,*/$%,#"+%"60+(0",0$-"!.$"+%,.&/*($/",&",0$"&%7+%$"
#&',6!.$:"&2$%"!((&*%,#:"!%/"7$!.%"0&6",&"*27&!/"
!%/")!%!5$"20&,&#3"<0$-"!7#&"2.!(,+($"#&)$"&'",0$"
'$!,*.$#:"+%(7*/+%5",0$".$(&./+%5"!%/:"+)2&.,!%,7-:"
,0$"/$7$,$"'$!,*.$3"F#"#,*/$%,#"!.$"&',$%"%$.;&*#"
!9&*,".$(&./+%5",0$+."&6%";&+($#:"+,"+#"+)2&.,!%,",&"
#0&6"0&6"$!#-",0$"#&',6!.$"+#",&"*#$3"A*.+%5",0+#"
6&.?#0&2",0$",!#?"+#"!7#&"&*,7+%$/3
Whilst overseas`"F"'&77&6"*2"$)!+7"+#"#$%,".$)+%/‐
+%5"#,*/$%,#"&'",0$",!#?"!%/"$%(&*.!5+%5",0$)",&"
#$$?"!##+#,!%($"6+,0"7!%5*!5$"a*$#,+&%#:"2.&%*%‐
(+!,+&%:"!%/";&(!9*7!.-3
On return to Japan`"R,*/$%,#"#*9)+,",0$+."#7+/$‐
#0&6#"!22.&1+)!,$7-"W"6$$?#"!',$.",0$+.".$,*.%",&"
E!2!%3"A*.+%5",0+#",+)$:"#,*/$%,#"0!;$"!(($##",&",0$"
*%+;$.#+,-b#"(&)2*,$."'!(+7+,+$#"!%/"!.$"!97$",&"#$$?"
!##+#,!%($"'.&)",$!(0$.#"+%"&./$.",&"(&)27$,$",0$"
,!#?3"B+%!77-:"#,*/$%,#"$)!+7",0$"$)9$/"(&/$",&",0$+."
,$!(0$."#&",0!,",0$"#7+/$#0&6"(!%"9$")!/$"2*97+("
&%"!"6$9#+,$3"
Figure 2. Completed project gathering
embedded slideshows
THE LANGUAGE TEACHER 33.9 t
SEPTEMBER 2009
Encouraging results
R7+/$#0&6#",0!,"#,*/$%,#"0!;$"#*9)+,,$/"0!;$"9$$%"
27$!#+%53"c&,"&%7-"/&",0$-"2.&;+/$"!"/&(*)$%,!.-"&'"
,0$")!%-"+%#,+,*,+&%#",0!,",0$-";+#+,$/"!%/"#,*/+$/"!,:"
9*,"!7#&",0$-"2.&;+/$"#,*/$%,#"6+,0"!"#$%#$"&'"!(0+$;$‐
)$%,"!%/"!"2&#+,+;$"(7&#*.$",&",0$+."#,*/-"!9.&!/"
$12$.+$%($3"B.&)"!".$,*.%$$"2&+%,"&'";+$6:",0$#$"#7+/$‐
#0&6#"5&"#&)$"6!-",&"!##+#,+%5"#,*/$%,#"6+,0".$;$.#$"
(*7,*.$"#0&(?"!#",0$-".$!/d*#,",&",0$+."E!2!%$#$"#*.‐
.&*%/+%5#"!%/"2.&($##",0$+."$12$.+$%($#3"<$!(0$.#"!#"
)$%,&.#"!7#&"&2$%"7+%$#"&'"(&))*%+(!,+&%:"!77&6+%5"
#,*/$%,#",&"#0!.$",0$+."$12$.+$%($#:"60+7$"$%(&*.!5‐
+%5"'*.,0$."7!%5*!5$"#,*/-3"4$"'&*%/",0!,"2.$2!.+%5"
#(.+2,#:"$/+,+%5",$1,:"!%/"2.!(,+(+%5"2.&%*%(+!,+&%"
5+;$#"#,*/$%,#";!7*!97$"7!%5*!5$"2.!(,+($3
<&".&*%/"&''",0$"2.&($##:"6+%%+%5"#*9)+##+&%#"
!.$"2.$#$%,$/",&",0$"5.$!,$."'!(*7,-"!%/"#,*/$%,#"
!,"!"8+%!7"2!.,-"60$.$"&%$"$%,.-"+#"#$7$(,$/"!#"!%"
&;$.!77"6+%%$.3
Further uses
_%"&*."#$,,+%5:"!6!.$%$##"&'">&+($,0.$!/"0!#"7$/",&"
#$;$.!7"2&#+,+;$"/$;$7&2)$%,#`
e" F%&,0$."'!(*7,-")$)9$."+#"%&6"(&%/*(,+%5"
!"20&,&5.!20-"6&.?#0&2",&"!##+#,"#,*/$%,#"
6+,0",0$+."20&,&5.!20+("#?+77#"!%/"20&,&"
#$7$(,+&%3
e" F"6+/$.".!%5$"&'"'!(*7,-")$)9$.#"!.$"5+;$%"!"
.$!7"/$)&%#,.!,+&%"&'"#,*/$%,#b"D%57+#0"!9+7‐
+,-:"!%/",0$.$"+#"!"5.$!,$."!6!.$%$##"&'",0$"
(0!77$%5$#"!%/"d&-#"&'"#,*/-"!9.&!/3
e" R,*/$%,#"!.$"!97$",&"#0!.$",0$#$"#7+/$#0&6#"
6+,0"'!)+7-"!%/"'.+$%/#:"!#",0$-"&6%",0$"!(‐
(&*%,#"!%/",0$"&%7+%$"(&%,$%,3
e" R&)$"(7!##$#"!.$"*#+%5">&+($,0.$!/"!,",0$"$%/"
&'",0$"-$!."!#"!"(7!##"20&,&"'!.$6$77"!79*)3
>&+($,0.$!/"+#"2&6$.'*7"#&',6!.$"6+,0")!%-"*#$#:"
!%/"#0&*7/"9$"!%"$%d&-!97$"!//+,+&%",&"!%-"7!%‐
5*!5$"2.&5.!)3
References
S$%,.$"'&."T$!.%+%5"!%/"U$.'&.)!%($"<$(0%&7&5+$#"
fS^TU<g"fVYYhg3"Top 100 Tools for Learning 20093"
i$,.+$;$/"E*7-"XZ:"VYYh:"'.&)"P6663(^72,3(&3*?j
.$(&))$%/$/jQ3
Damon Brewster P9.$6#,$.k&9+.+%3!(3d2Q:"Hans 
von Dietze P0C/+$,l$k&9+.+%3!(3d2Q:"!%/"Simon 
Hunter P#+)&%0k&9+.+%3!(3d2Q"!.$")$)9$.#"&'",0$"
'!(*7,-"+%",0$"D%57+#0"T!%5*!5$"U.&5.!)"!,"E3"B3"@9$.7+%"
m%+;$.#+,-:"<&?-&3"<0$-"(&)9+%$",0$+."6+/$".!%5$"&'"
,$!(0+%5"$12$.+$%($"6+,0"!"2!##+&%"'&."$%5!5+%5")$‐
/+!",&"(.$!,$"7$!.%+%5"$12$.+$%($#"'&.",0$+."#,*/$%,#3