The internet as a glocal discourse environment

Language Learning & Technology
September 2004, Volume 8, Number 3
pp. 83-89
THE INTERNET AS A GLOCAL DISCOURSE ENVIRONMENT
A Commentary on "Second Language Socialization in a Bilingual Chat Room" by Wan Shun Eva Lam and "Second Language Cyberhetoric: A Study of Chinese L2 Writers in an Online Usenet Group" by Joel Bloch
http://llt.msu.edu/vol8num3/koutsogiannis

Summary:
The big impact produced by the Internet to the society shows how to our communication changes everyday. First,it is important to point out that many local cultures are exposed to the globalization and obviously to a second language when they interact with other people. Some researches give us three important characteristics about this important tool:
Internet resources develop an informal learning environment for English as a L2.There is a sense of fluency and literacy practice where a new language is used very different from school.
It is created a discoursive space where people develop an identity and also negotiate their relationships according to their personalities.
Can be seen as a space where languages are mixed or considered as hybrid language varieties.

Comments:
As prospective teachers we need to know how useful could be Internet in the classroom,its benefits and drawbacks.Because of that, students can chat on the net fluently but in a new kind of language,shorter and with symbols. So, our function has to be guide our students to learn how to improve their language and discover new people using their L2 to get their ideas across. The most important aspect of this research is to understand that there are different cultures that want to say something to the world using their own language, however, English plays an important role because of its universality and usefulness.