Using Skype © to connect a classroom to the world: Providing students an authentic language experience within the classroom

Most students in Japan have few opportunities to speak English outside their classrooms. Motivating those students to speak English inside the classroom is often difficult as well. English teachers have tried many things to provide students the opportunity to speak English in their class. The authors began having web conferences with a high school in the United States four years ago and they have found that these web conferences encouraged students to play more active roles in the classroom. Students began speaking more English during conference calls and preparing more eagerly for their lessons. Most importantly, the students clearly enjoyed speaking with American students through the Skype conferences. In this paper, the authors will discuss the students‘ enjoyment of the web conferences and learning English. They also will explore technical issues involved in setting up web conferences in a classroom.