This talk will focus on how the web tool Skype can enhance integration, participation and speaking abilities. We will highlight how it can be put into use in order to get students practicing, and therefore, improve their speaking along with a powerful contextualization that technology can pipe into the classroom and help in terms of integration, motivation and participation. The Skype project took place with teenagers of Upper Intermediate level from Culturas Rio and Recife. Students undertook tasks on exchanging cultural experiences, which went beyond routine classroom skills and these enhanced their learning experience and comprehension of English. This project aimed at bridging the gap between two groups from different parts of Brazil through personalized activities and finding out common characteristics they share.

6. POINT TO CONSIDER Allow your students to choose what they want to work with!

7. POINT TO CONSIDER Substitute long- and mid-term motivation by creating in SS the immediate desire to do an activity.

10. POINT TO CONSIDER Teenagers are all about “ME”.

11. Session 1 Discuss other students’ answers - Trivial questions about Rio and Recife.

13. Session 2 - Use general questions created by the teachers as input - Talk using ready-made questions and their own questions

14. POINT TO CONSIDER Always assign something for your students to do!

20. One last thought: “ The greatest mistake (if oral ability is the aim) is for the learner not to speak at all.” Betteridge Wright and Buckby CUP

21. @brunoELT @ELTbakery www.eltbakery.com www.i-reflect.net