Teletandem vs. Face-to-Face in the L2 Classroom: The Effect of Type of Media on Complexity and Accuracy

In the past decades, foreign language classrooms at university level have witnessed an ever-growing presence of technology. Teletandem, a collaborative and virtual medium for learning (TELLES, 2009; BENEDETTI; CONSOLO; VIEIRA-ABRAHÃO, 2010), offers learners opportunities to receive modified input, negotiate meaning, corrective, produce output, all essential second (L2) development (LONG, 1996; GASS, 1997; GASS; MACKEY, 2007). However, assessment Teletandem empirical studies has revealed not only dearth evidence in regards effects this on L2 development, but, furthermore, lack research comparing face (FTF) contexts as effective media development. The present study investigates whether type (Teletandem vs. FTF) effect learners’ oral lexical accuracy global complexity. Participants were 40 advanced Spanish who randomly assigned either group or FTF over course two months. results that both Synchronous Computer-Mediated Communication (SCMC) interaction had positive impacts complexity, with no significant difference between groups. indicate there was advantage terms accuracy.