PalTalk
PalTalk (version 5 for Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP) exists in both free and paid (PalTalk Plus) subscriber modes. In its free version, PalTalk offers instant messaging, conferences and chat rooms and is capable of multiparty half-duplex audio and still-frame video with up to three other users. In its paid-subscriber mode (about $25 annually--not tested), PalTalk adds live-motion video with up to three other users. A user can create a permanent chat room for a charge starting at $49 a month.
PalTalks chat room environment is of particular interest to L2 learners and teachers. PalTalk provides both pre-existing and user-created chat groups (groups). In its free version, user-created chat groups are semi-permanent in that they exist only as long as the creator or the last user remains in the chat group. The chat room is re-established the next time the creator (administrator) enters a four-digit key that was used to create the room. The creator can make the chat room private (requiring a password) and he or she can silence anyone in the room or eject him or her from the chat. The creator can also share the rooms access code with another trusted user (who then becomes a co-administrator) who can then open and moderate the chat room (administrators and co-administrators IDs appear with a preceding @ in the list of the chat room participants).
PalTalk also provides some degree of adult (parental) control over childrens access to its rooms and features. By entering a password, one can limit users to General rooms which according to PalTalk policy are for a general audience . . . including minors, in which offensive language is not permitted. However, this does not provide minors protection from potential perverts and predators who may enter general rooms and cause problems before being blocked or banned by an PalTalk administrator. And a knowledgeable minor can circumvent the parental control by simply removing and reinstalling the program. There is currently no way to limit minors so that they have access to only certain rooms.
Of all the programs reviewed, PalTalk provides the best environment for group audio chat. This is because of the consistently good audio quality and because it includes a req talk button which a user can click to request permission to address the group (or any individual in the group). Clicking this button raises ones ID to a queue at the top of the list of users and adds a raised hand icon. In this way the moderator can see who has requested to talk and pass the microphone in an orderly fashion from one user to another. Of all the programs reviewed, PalTalk was the only one in which audio chat was almost always constantly used within chat rooms, with users of other programs tending to rely primarily on text chat.
In addition, of all the programs reviewed, PalTalk had what appeared to be the greatest number of interesting and educational chat rooms. With other software it was often difficult or impossible to find a chat room that was not pre-occupied with matters sexual, obscene, and defamatory. PalTalk has its share of these, too, but there are also more serious and educational chat rooms. Of particular interest were chat rooms created for practicing English and other languages (see under Distance Learning). Some of these were moderated discussions in the target language while others were actual language lessons offered by individual users wishing to help others learn the language. Many non-English-language chat rooms were also found in all of the worlds major languages as well as in many other languages.
PalTalk provides no user directory (other than a search of PalTalk nicknames), but as with the other programs reviewed, it is possible to find individuals in chat rooms and then request to establish private two-way communication with them. After using the program for a few days on the lookout for users with whom to practice Spanish, I (GC) was able to compile a list of Spanish-speaking PalTalk users who were interested in improving their English. Added to my buddy list, I could then see which of them were online at any given moment, allowing me to send an instant message invitation for a chat in Spanish and Englishan invitation that was often accepted.
PalTalk also has several help rooms running at any given time. Here users can find assistance for PalTalk problems from live helpers who appeared quite helpful and knowledgeable about the program.
To summarize, PalTalk provides an environment of considerable interest and use for L2 learners and teachers. Individual L2 learners can find chat rooms using the target language and then either observe and listen, participate, or attempt to connect to an individual in the chat room (perhaps after first participating in the chat room and announcing ones intention to set up a language exchange with any interested user). Teachers can set up private chat rooms for their classes and moderate and control user access and participation. Audio quality was generally very good and the ability to raise ones hand to speak allows an orderly group audio chat in contrast to the free-for-all chaos typically found in other group SCMAC environments. In addition to its unavailability for Macintosh users, the only serious drawback to PalTalk is the frequent rate of distracting pop-up ads promoting purchase of the paid version of PalTalk and other products and services.
Possibly revised as extracted from:
Cziko, G. A., & Park, S. (2003). Internet audio communication for second language learning: A comparative review of six programs. Language Learning and Technology, 7(1), 15–27. pdfhtml