Visualization of Conversational Activities

-A Preliminary Study on Developing a “Dessin” Tool for Conversation-

Abstract

This preliminary study is to develop a tool for on-line conversation, which facilitates interactions for learning of foreign languages and cultures. Japanese college students at Future University-Hakodate and college students at East Tennessee State University, U.S.A., communicated each other in English, using our originally developed BBS tool from June to July 2002. This paper observes the communication activity and the follow-up reflective activity to explore better BBS functions. Students’ output during the reflective activities shows the importance of reconstructing their BBS-based conversations for learning of languages and cultures.