General FAQ's

Questions:

Answers:

How do I download IRC Français?

Go to www.cc.gatech.edu/elc/irc-francais/survey.html. Here you will fill out a research questionnaire requesting that you supply information such as your level in French, year in school, etc. Once submitted, you will continue on to a screen that will allow you to download the software.

What should I do the first time I log on?

There are several things to do the first time you use IRC Français. When you open the software, there will be a box that pops up asking for your name and your password. You picked these out online before downloading the software. Once these are filled in, you need to pick a server (See "Which server do I pick?" for more information). If you are a student and need log files of sessions you have attended, see "How do I get proof of my participation in the chat session?" on the Student FAQ page.

Which server do I pick?

In the first box you will also have to indicate which server you would like to be on. You can pick any server to chat with people from all over the country and world, but you MUST pick the "IRC Français Server" in order to receive class credit and participate in a hosted session. This is the research server, so this is where you can chat with other students.

Is this software only for classes?

No! The software was developed to allow online interaction with other people from all over the world who are learning or already speak French. It’s a great way to practice your French if you’re not in a class and also to meet other people who share similar interests as you.

Can I chat with hosted sessions if I'm not in a class?

Please feel free to join hosted sessions. We’ll have a calendar on the website that will provide the information on when the sessions take place and what the topics will be. Here you will be able to chat in a more structured environment, which can be enjoyable even if you’re not in the class.

Who should I contact if I still have questions?

Send an email to irc-francais-request@cc.gatech.edu.

What are the special commands that I can do?

  • <input> indicates something that you must enter
  • /action <action-to-perform>
    This command will cause you to "perform an action" in the channel you are on.  It must be entered in the channel window.  Ex:  If your name is "user" and you type "/action sings a song", everyone will see "user sings a song"
  • /msg <another-user> <message>
    This causes a message to be sent directly from you to another user privately.  You can enter this command from either a channel window or the main window.