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| Interactive Internet-Based Language Learning |
This page will help you find places on the internet to interact with other people for the purpose of language learning. There are several types of interaction possible on the internet.
MOOs (MUD's Object Oriented), MUDs(Multi-User Domains), MUSHes
A MU* is a (mostly) text based virtual reality. You enter by telnetting to a site and then you move around in defined "rooms" interacting with other characters. Public and private speech between characters is possible as well as the execution of simple programs. Besides other characters, users may interact with "objects", things defined by other users or the system to be fun to interact with.General info: General Education MOOs:
- Telnet to Diversity University or connect to IP: 192.101.98.8 port 8888
- Telnet to Donut or connect to IP: 199.218.192.2 port 7777 (a K-12 moo)
- Telnet to MundoHispanno or connect to IP: 128.230.1.200 port 8888
- Telnet to schMOOze University -"schMOOze U. was especially designed as a place where non-native speakers of English could meet and interact."
IRC -Internet Relay Chat
Text (and sound) interactive conversations with users around the world via "channels". Each channel is dedicated to a topic of discussion, although the topic may change. Servers are linked, so connecting with the closest server geographically still allows for communication between distant points. Rudimenatary capabilities for file transfer.- IRC Information -Start exploring here. An exhaustive guide to most everything IRC related.
- Index of IRC Chat nets -Guide to Undernet, EFN, IOAnet etc.
- IRC Channels with Web Pages
- IRC Channels with non-English speakers
- IRC Servers -A listing of IRC servers world-wide.
- IRC ftp site -ftp site for clients (Mac, PC, Unix, VMS, Sun, Next and more), Documents, pictures of users, network topology, and server code.
Real Audio
Real Audio is a new tool for audio downloading and compression. A large sound file (say an hour long interview) might take up almost 30Meg of space and require long download times to save and then play the file. With the Real Audio compression format, that same file would be approximately 3.5 Meg of space and you could listen to it as it was downloading, including fast-forwarding and rewinding in the sound file. Truly amazing.- Real Audio Homepage
- National Press Club -Luncheon interviews with the likes of Kirk Douglas, Thomas "Mack" McLarty, Garrison Keillor, Miss Manners, and Al Gore.
- NASA's Space Story -radio archives from NASA.
- NPR Morning Edition
- Deutsch Welle Radio -In german.
Maven
Macintosh Audio conferencing program that allows multiple users to conference call via their computer. Also allows users to connect to broadcasts of sites such as radio stations that brodcast over the Internet. Requires a 14.4Kbps modem or higher to run, and may encounter transmission difficulties during busy network times.Cu-SeeMe
Pretty much the only desktop video conferencing program available. The macintosh version supports audio and video, the other versions support only video. Due to high data loads, this is difficult to use over modems slower than 56Kbps although better compression algorithms are making rudimentary video transmission available to those with modem speeds down to 14.4Kbps.- Cu-SeeMe Homepage
- Cu-SeeMe Archives
- Cu-SeeMe Sites on the Web
- NASA Television -Live coverage of launches, mission updates, etc. (24 hour live feed)
- BirdCam (192.77.173.2)- "The NYSERNet birdcam is a bird mobile that we have the camera on all night when no one is here. It moves very slowly so is good for doing demos from low speed connections." It's also frequently used as a reflector site, so there's no telling what you'll tune into.
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This page is maintained by the Yamada Language Center at the University of Oregon.
Please send comments or questions to: ylchelp@darkwing.uoregon.edu