Advantages and disadvantages of using skype for educational purposes

Abstract

Over the last decade, social networks have gained, gradually, considerable space and relevance not only concerning social interactions, but also concerning content transmission and knowledge generation, becoming a niche for propagation and research of various topics. This article aims to investigate the way the potential for interactivity present in Skype mechanisms of enunciation relate to the pedagogical nature of posts aimed at English teaching. For this, we base our reflections on social network studies by Recuero (2009, p.191), on teaching and technology reflections by Paiva (2001) and on virtual ethnography by Hine (2000). The purpose of this article is to provide knowledge about pros and cons connected with the usage of Skype during the process of study foreign languages among Russian people. Research in this sphere is not very developed as internet technologies are new method in education. Our task is to delight all sides of this research. A qualitative exploratory research method was applied to interviews and notes via Skype between students and their web teachers. The data were analysed using phenomenography. The findings are based on the pole in the Internet. The advantages were: being able to be at home; well-known being and convenience for the students; and attend ones possible regardless of geographical distance. Barriers were that the Internet connection works intermittently with audio or picture.