The Hobart and William Smith chat room discussions are aiding the Colleges' students in their language skills. Through the new technology, the students are developing ease and spontaneity with the language while enhancing comprehension and written language skills. The chat rooms were set up by Stan Skrabut, instructional technologist for the HWS languages department. They were created with Active Server pages technologies using the Windows NT and Internet Information Server. The Colleges will soon expand chat room offerings by establishing Japanese and Russian rooms.
Faculty members are pleased.
They have noticed improvements in student written skills and an increase in their spontaneity as students become more comfortable with the technology and the language. The program heightens the Colleges already noteworthy study-abroad program as increased language preparation before travel abroad enhances the student's experience. Hobart and William Smith are noted for their ambitious emphasis on international study and are among the top 10 colleges in the nation in participation in off-campus programs. Hobart and William Smith are located in Geneva, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.