TEFL Guide To Using Google Talk

First released on August 24, 2005, Google Talk is an easy and intuitive program for voice and instant text messaging.

The great advantage of Google Talk for online trainers is it's simplicity and ease of use. Another great feature of Google Talk is that it is also available in 13 different language interfaces: UK English, Korean, simplified and traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish and Dutch.

Google Talk Features

- Voice
- Text chat
- File transfer
- Voice mail

Google Talk only runs on Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 operating systems. Google Talk's file for downloading is a tiny 1.5MB, and downloading it takes only a matter of seconds on a broadband internet line. The setup is so fast and easy that you don't even realize it's finished.

Advantages
- Excellent voice quality.
- simple and intuitive to use.
- interoperability.

Using Google Talk is straight forward. You simply sign up for a Gmail account or use your existing Gmail account username and password (Gmail is Google's free E-mail software that is similar to MSN Hotmail, Yahoo or AOL email). You can sign up for a free Gmail account by clicking "don't have an account?" when you start up Google Talk. After you sign up for a Google account you will be given a username and password. You can than sign in and use both Gmail or Google Talk with your username and password. Once you sign into Google Talk you are presented with an empty contact list. To use the service simply (1) add contacts by clicking the +Add friend button or (2) search for contacts, and (3) set your status to availiable by clicking the drop down menu under your name. Once your contact comes online, a green dot will appear next to their name allowing you to initiate a call or text chat.

TEFL/ESL guide to Google Talk features - picture of voice and add a contact.

Google Talk is an open source protocol which is interoperability with other providers that offer VoIP and instant messaging services. This means that your contact can use a different service provider such as Trillian, Gaim, Adium, Miranda, Psi and IChat, and they can still still be configured to communicate with Google Talk. These providers communicate with Google Talk by using the XMPP/Jabber client specification to provide real-time communication on the internet.

Disadvantages
- No whiteboard
- No video
- No audio conferencing feature

For online trainers the lack of a whiteboard feature in Google Talk may or may not be a big issue. A whiteboard allows you to draw, highlight and add text. However, the addition of features such as whiteboards, video or audio and video conferencing features generally consumes a lot of bandwidth. This generally results in poorer voice quality or your line getting cut off when there are many other online users. The less the features, the smoother and more streamline your software application will run. Google Talk is intuitative and simple to use, and you will find that many participants will understand how to use the program by the time you finish your first online session. However if you need the added features mentioned, try NetMeeting or Skype.

Further References and Links

Website: Official Google Talk Website
Alternatives to Google Talk: Skype, NetMeeting