Asynchronous Conversations

Using Flipgrid to increase comfortable communication may be something worth investment. One of the major issues with video conferencing is the lag and lack of visual features available to speakers. To limit deterrents to natural spoken conversation, it may be important to simply lean into the inorganic nature of online conversations.

Rather than waiting for wifi speeds to increase to the point of organic conversation, which Wordcounter.net claims is around 100-130 words per minute, why not just go asynchronous and embrace the change?

What makes conversations natural?

The Asynchronous conversations have overwhelmed our classrooms. By allowing the students premeditated responses in this second language, complete with full authority of their ability to control their image has created a completely different component to second/other language conversation.

The students seem to be taking complete advantage of this opportunity and have filled the silence of the Zoom classes, where a teacher seemingly needs to monologue or call directly on participants to participate. Some of the students have created over 400 views on their short introduction videos.

The wild nature of conversation is becoming restrained in the virtual format. Having involuntarily required to incorporate their device to collaborate in a second language classroom, we have found a niche.