One way to connect second language students with native speakers and authentic materials is by using streaming audio and video technologies that virtually transport the target language environment to the classroom without wasting time downloading huge files. Students can hear live or prerecorded broadcasts of music, news, sports, and weather from countries around the world transmitted to their computers in real time. Although this technology is in its infancy, it is developing rapidly. An Internet search can keep foreign language teachers up to date on the latest free streaming media software that places target language audio and video files a click away. The defining element of the Web is its hypertext links, which allow words or icons on one Web page to link to words or icons on another page anywhere in the world with a simple click of the mouse.
Many Web pages focus on foreign language learning.
This is essential for the delivery of authentic materials in the form of texts, images, sound recordings, video clips, and even virtual reality worlds. New, more sophisticated programming functions, such as JavaScript, can turn a Web page into a multimedia environment. This allows students to interact in interesting ways with the authentic materials found, for example, on a target language Web page. Several electronic journals target foreign language professionals and their concerns. Generally, these journals have free subscriptions, are published quarterly, and do not exist in paper form.