Chapter 7: Electronic Message Boards in the Foreign Language Classroom:Linking Learners and Literacy

The goal of the present study is to investigate the use of the electronic message board and its potential for the foreign language classroom. This study finds its theoretical basis in sociocultural theory, which holds that learning occurs through meaningful interactions with one’s environment and the people within it (Wertsch, 1998).

The present study considers the research question: does the electronic message board provide a viable alternative to face-to-face conversation? Students from a third-semester French class discussed short stories in the L2 via the electronic message board as well as face-to-face. A comparison of recall protocol scores from both formats was used to ascertain the effectiveness of the board regarding the comprehension of foreign language literary text. The study then draws conclusions based on the scores and offers recommendations for the use of the electronic message board in the foreign language classroom.