Here is a list of frequently asked questions about LVSC. Click on the questions to see the answers. Answers provided by Tim Murphey.

1. What is LVSC?
2. How do we record videos in the class?
3. How do I prepare for a conversation?
4. Who do I have to talk with?
5. What if I get nervous in front of video cameras?
6. Do you have any advice for the first recording?
7. What kinds of things will we talk about?
8. What do I have to do with my videotape?
9. What are transcriptions and self-evaluations?
10. What do we do in class with transcriptions and self-evaluations?
11. How are action logs and class newsletters related to video recording?
12. Will anyone else see my videotape?
13. What if I don't have a video machine at home?
14. How can I make videoing more interesting?
15. How can I find out other students' opinions about videoing?
16. How can I continue to improve my language ability using videoing?
17. Are there articles written about videoing?

1. What is LVSC? (click this link)
2. How do we record videos in the class? On video day, you bring in a new 60 minute video cassette with your name written on the spine. The teacher will match you with a partner for the video recording. Before recording you may have several partners to practice. Please do not speak to that day’s video partner so your conversation will be fresh on the video. While you are recording the other students will be talking to each other and not watching you. Right after the video you will get back your video cassette to watch for homework.
3. How do I prepare for a conversation? Your teacher will tell you ahead of time what the topic of conversation will be. You can prepare in several ways. Think about typical things that you want to say, new vocabulary and strategies you wish to use. You can practice in your own mind through self-talk. Some students like to write out short notes. Some students practice their target conversations with their friends and classmates outside of class.
4. Who do I have to talk with? Your partner will be randomly selected from the group of tapes and you and your partner’s names called out at the beginning of class. After each recording please write your partner’s name on the top of the cassette so that the teacher can see who your previous partners were and give you a new one.
5. What if I get nervous in front of video cameras? Everybody is a little nervous the first few times (even your teachers). The more you prepare, the more you can relax. It’s Ok to memorize the first few questions to get the conversation going. (No papers are allowed in front of the video, however.) We want you to look at your partner and concentrate on communicating with them. Your teachers don’t mind if you make a few mistakes. We just want you to practice speaking a lot so you can learn more. A good strategy to relax you is simply to repeat what your partner says a little bit (shadowing). It is easy and it gives you time to think about what to say next. It also helps to be fascinated by people and want to know more about them, because people are fascinating. (And the more questions you ask, the less you have to say!)
6. Do you have any advice for the first recording? Relax. Breathe deep. Enjoy. Typical comments after the first videos are “I should speak with a loud voice, closer to the microphone” and “I should smile more.”
7. What kinds of things will we talk about? Some things your teacher will tell you in advance (see link to topics) and some topics can come from you. Let your teacher know what topics you think would be fun, interesting, and useful to talk about.
8. What do I have to do with my videotape? There are lots of things you can do with your video tape. Some things your teacher will give you for homework and explain in more detail. Things such as: transcriptions of all or part of your conversations, answering a list of questions about what you liked and didn’t like, what you want to improve, etc. You can always watch your video and learn from your own performance and from your partners. You can notice how you are improving in certain ways and perhaps not in others and learn to focus on certain areas that you were not aware of before. Some students like showing their conversations to their family and friends and getting feedback from them. After 4 or 5 recordings, it’s nice to go back and look at them all and see how you have changed.
9. What are transcriptions and self-evaluations? Transcriptions are when you write down what you and your partner have said. You transcribe what is on the tape. Self evaluations are forms that are sometimes given by your teacher to help you to focus on what you did well and perhaps not so well, and to learn from your partner and plan for changes you want to make. (Click here to see examples. Warning: These are pictures and may take some time to download.)
10. What do we do in class with transcriptions and self-evaluations? When you take your video’s home and do transcriptions and self-evaluations, your teacher will often have you compare them in class with your video partners first so you can get different views about your conversations. You may also compare them other partners to get a further perspective.
11. How are action logs and class newsletters related to video recording? Sometimes you may comment in your action logs about the videoing and sometimes these may be placed in a newsletter for the whole class to read and think about. Action logs may be in notebooks, on SOCC cards, or on email. Your feedback is very valuable to your teachers. It allows you to have an influence on how the class operates. We count on you to help us form a better class and to help others and yourself learn more effectively.
12. Will anyone else see my videotape? Normally only you and your partner. Later the teacher may ask you to get a family member or friend’s comment. Occasionally the teacher watches the master tape in the camera to get an idea of how you and your classmates are doing and what things might be useful to learn.
13. What if I don't have a video machine at home? If you don’t have a video machine at your home, you can watch it at school at the audio-visual center or other student resource center. If you don’t know where these are, ask your teacher.
14. How can I make videoing more interesting? Prepare for the videoing by thinking about the topic and talking to others about it in English and Japanese. Think of some questions you would like to be asked and the answers you would give. Take notes of them. On the video-day, ask those questions of your partner. Make a list of target vocabulary and expressions concerning the topic that you would like to use. Imagine having the conversations in your head and having fun. Smile!
15. How can I find out other students' opinions about videoing? There is a place on the Internet to read and offer opinions on video recording: LVSC opinions.
16. How can I continue to improve my language ability using videoing? Watch your video conversation several times after each recording. Compare your previous recording with the more recent ones and see you your are improving and things you want to concentrate on. Exchange videos with classmates and learn from their conversations. They are probably about at your level but often saying slightly different things that you can learn. Some students continue to video themselves after they finish our classes. A few have used the conversations to write their senior theses and to analyze their progress.
17. Are there articles written about videoing? Check out this page: Academic papers.