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Skype is one of the well known and most often used instant message programs worldwide. It is very easy to handle and offers a lot of opportunities to its users. One starts by creating an account. This is for free and takes just a few minutes. One does not have to use real data, a fake account can be made up without any problems. When finished, one can start to add other people to ones friendlist. All contacts to other users of Skype are for free.
Skype is one of the best programs for voice chats. One needs just a microphone and can talk to other Skype users in a very good quality. Using Skype in the EFL classroom, students can learn to have phonecalls in English. They can train their listening and skeaking skills at the same time and simulate telephone interviews or other telephone situations. These features are usefull for the students because they can use the skills they gained in their everyday life or even later when they apply for a job.

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In case the school provides webcams, the students could even talk to other people and see them at the same time. This could especially be useful when they communicate with people from other schools, cities or even countries. Skype could be a big advantage for EFL students. They could talk to native speakers and train their English skills in an interesting way. Prejudices of other countries could be reduced by that way. Partnerships between schools all over the world could be established easily and for free. Shy students can practice to talk in a foreign language and might notice that they are not as bad as they thought.
All in all, Skype offers a lot for students and could definately be included in every EFL classroom. The contact to native speakers is the best way to learn a language. The only problem is that the school has to have enough computers and headsets. Webcams would be good as well, but are not as important as microphones. The work a teacher has in preparing the conversations with other classes is nothing compared to the skills and experiences the students will have by talking to native speakers.