Reading A           The role of oral proficiency among students of foreign languages is regarded as highlyimportant. In order to address certain limitations of classroom-based instruction, there has been anincrease in the adoption of technologies and related strategies utilizing computer-mediatedcommunication. The importance of authenticity and structure in synchronous computer mediatedcommunication (SCMC) via online discussions has been established by previous research. As such,scaffolding and facilitation are necessary for SCMC technologies, such as teleconferencing, toeffectively enhance oral proficiency. Empirical research has confirmed the effectiveness of facilitatedonline discussions using structured, authentic, and scaffolded activities. However, while participantsreported positive results in terms of oral proficiency, disadvantages were discovered. Based oncontent analysis of stakeholder feedback, four key themes have emerged from the data.
          The lack of a video component to SCMC sessions was noted as a disadvantage, at leastcompared to traditional face-to-face conversations. Body language and facial expressions areimportant components of communication. In addition to important visual cues from body languageand facial expressions, which are missing in voice-based SCMC activities, multimedia componentsimpact the degree to which participants are able to express and explain their points of view.
          Attendance was raised as another important issue, as it was often difficult to reach acompromise on a time that was acceptable for all participants. One solution may be the use of anasynchronous voice-based platform for supporting interactions using audio posts. Whilesynchronous activities have many potential advantages for learning, some studies have noted thatattendance and convenience are factors highly valued in asynchronous contexts.
         Related to insufficient visual cues and face-to-face interaction was a resulting lack of a sense ofconnection or community among group members. Although there was the opportunity to discussthematic materials online, there was less personal interaction and, as a result, poor group cohesion.One solution lies in the integration of social networking elements, which can be incorporated intoonline platforms that support the use of various tools for sharing, connecting, and providingfeedback. Recent research has also confirmed that social networking tools have an impact onsupportive interaction, emotion, perceived support, and sense of community.
         Finally, lack of preparation was another factor impacting the efficacy of technologies forenhancing oral proficiency. While students were provided with the materials and instructionsnecessary to prepare for online discussions, some students had difficulties responding to unexpectedquestions or “free talk” scenarios in synchronous discussions. Sufficient time to develop a response,seek out supporting information, and rehearse their response or feedback to peers may provideparticipants with a distinct advantage by scaffolding them in participating in authentic synchronousdiscussions.
【題組】11. Which of the following is the main idea of the article?
(A) Technology solves students’ oral proficiency issues.
(B) Despite several benefits, there are certain disadvantages to SCMC.
(C) Students should practice more before joining online chats.
(D) Video and multimedia functions are fundamental for effective online interaction.