274 research outputs found

    Review of CALL Dimensions: Options and Issues in Computer-Assisted Language Learning

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    Review of Contemporary Computer-Assisted Language Learning

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    Book review published in the journal 'Language Learning and Technology'A review of the book 'Contemporary Computer-Assisted Language Learning' edited by M. Thomas, H. Reinders and M. Warschauer and published in 2013 by Bloomsbury

    Estoñol, a computer-assisted pronunciation training tool for Spanish L1 speakers to improve the pronunciation and perception of Estonian vowels

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    Over the past few years the number of online language teaching materials for non-native speakers of Estonian has increased. However, they focus mainly on vocabulary and pay little attention to pronunciation. In this study we introduce a computerassisted pronunciation training tool, Estoñol, developed to help native speakers of Spanish to train their perception and production of Estonian vowels. The tool’s training program involves seven vowel contrasts, /i-y/, /u-y/, /ɑ-o/, /ɑ-æ/, /e-æ/, /o-ø/, and /o-ɤ/, which have proven to be difficult for native speakers of Spanish. The training activities include theoretical videos and four training modes (exposure, discrimination, pronunciation, and mixed) in every lesson. The tool is integrated into a pre/post-test design experiment with native speakers of Spanish and Estonian to assess the language learners’ perception and production improvement. It is expected that the tool will have a positive effect on the results, as has been shown in previous studies using similar methodology. Kokkuvõte. Katrin Leppik ja Cristian Tejedor-García: Estoñol, mobiilirakendus hispaania emakeelega eesti keele õppijatele vokaalide häälduse ja taju treenimiseks. Eesti keele õppimiseks on loodud mitmeid e-kursusi ja mobiilirakendusi, kuid need keskenduvad peamiselt sõnavara ja gram matika õpetamisele ning pööravad väga vähe tähelepanu hääldusele. Eesti keele häälduse omandamise lihtsustamiseks töötati välja mobiilirakendus Estoñol, mis on mõeldud hispaania emakeelega eesti keele õppijatele. Varasemad uurimused on näidanud, et hispaania emakeelega eesti keele õppijatele valmistab raskusi vokaalide /ɑ, y, ø, æ, ɤ/ hääldamine. Mobiilirakenduse sisu on jagatud seitsmeks peatükiks, kus on võimalik harjutada vokaalipaaride /i-y/, /u-y/, /ɑ-o/, /ɑ-æ/, /e-æ/, /o-ø/, /o-ɤ/ tajumist ja hääldamist. Iga peatükk algab teoreetilise videoga, millele järgnevad taju- ja hääldusharjutused. Mobiilirakenduse mõju hindamiseks keeleõppija hääldusele ja tajule plaanitakse läbi viia eksperiment. Märksõnad: CAPT, eesti keel, hispaania keel, L2, hääldus, taju, vokaalid, Estoño

    Intelligent CALL

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    This chapter describes the provision of corrective feedback in Tutorial CALL, sketching the challenges in the research and development of computational parsers and grammars. The automatic evaluation and assessment of free-form learner texts paying attention to linguistic accuracy, rhetorical structures, textual complexity, and written fluency is at the centre of attention in the section on Automatic Writing Evaluation. Reading and Incidental Vocabulary Learning Aids looks at the advantages of lexical glosses, or look-up information in electronic dictionaries for reading material aimed at language learners. The conclusion looks at the role of ICALL in the context of general trends in CALL

    Translating Business Agility into Language for Specific Purposes Teaching

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    Prior to 2020, digital tools were considered an opportunity to enhance students’ learning experience. However, the Covid-19 pandemic turned them into a necessity to enable business continuity when face-to-face interaction was not possible. While 2020 exposed areas in which infrastructure and digital literacy could be improved and pushed institutions to find timely solutions, 2021 was a year of uncertainty that required flexibility to quickly adapt class content and assignments from in-class to online mode. This also required a change in syllabi to reflect the increasing need for agility in business, and therefore in communication, creating a gap between language for specific purposes and the application of knowledge in the workplace. In the post-pandemic world, digital tools are still part of teaching and learning activities; however, both teachers and students are renegotiating their use. This paper provides examples of technology being integrated into teaching activities to enhance students’ learning experience, with a focus on the adaptation of existing content to different teaching modes. The examples include the simultaneous use of different digital tools while conducting classes on Zoom and the adaptation of syllabi guidelines for virtual presentations. The Test-Teach-Test Paradigm was adopted to review the use of two new game-based learning tools aimed at anticipating the use of virtual worlds (e.g., the metaverse) for teaching purposes. The paper draws similarities between consumer and student behaviour in the adoption of technology and provides pedagogical implications for university teachers showcases new tools in an effort to increase student motivation and engagement

    BGSU Football Program November 16, 1985

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    Football program: Bowling Green State University vs. Toledo University, November 16, 1985.https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/football_programs/1202/thumbnail.jp

    A integração da tecnologia nos cursos de licenciatura em Letras do estado do Paraná a partir da perspectiva dos professores: um estudo de métodos mistos

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    The objective of this study was to analyze the integration of technology, or rather CALL – Computer Assisted Language Learning – in the classroom of Modern Languages courses in the state of Paraná. The Diffusion of Innovations Theory and the Spherical Model of L2 Teachers’ Integration of CALL Technology into the Classroom were the theoretical and analytical models that respectively guided the research. This is a mixed methods study that adopted a sequential explanatory design that consisted of two distinct phases: a first phase with a quantitative approach and a second phase with a qualitative approach. The final inferences were made from the results of both phases of the study. Analytically, the use of technology in the classroom was not considered a unitary construct, but rather multifaceted. Contextually, different higher educational institutions, not just one or two universities were investigated. The purpose was to avoid methodological, analytical and contextual constraints commonly found in studies on the integration of CALL. For the first quantitative phase a questionnaire was developed to collect data. The instrument was validated by a panel of experts, tested in a pilot study and, finally, applied to a sample of 152 teachers from 33 Modern Languages courses from public and private institutions throughout the state of Paraná. Statistical analyzes were performed to examine the relationship between the three sets of factors from the Spherical Model and the multifaceted uses of technology by the teachers of undergraduate language courses in the state of Paraná. The results identified four different uses and also the influences of individual factors, contextual factors and prior CALL/ICTs education on the uses of technology, showing that individual factors and contextual factors are important predictors of CALL/ICTs integration. Participants were selected for the qualitative phase according to the results of the quantitative phase and to Rogers’ Individual Innovativeness Theory. Sixteen semi-structured individual interviews were conducted. The qualitative phase deepened the quantitative results and explained the unexpected results and the results that could not be answered in the quantitative phase. The integration of the results showed that in addition to individual and contextual factors, apparently prior CALL/ICTs education should not be dismissed as a predictor of CALL/ICTs integration. It was also possible to provide a clearer picture of CALL in the Modern Languages courses in the state of Paraná. CALL is far from normalization. Additional findings were obtained in the two phases of the study. In international and Brazilian contexts, despite extensive research on CALL, there are still significant gaps in some areas. There is the need for more studies to further investigate the issue of integration and help elucidate the relationship between the factors that lead to CALL integration or not. This research on the integration of CALL in the Brazilian context sought to contribute to a broader understanding of CALL and to show ways for integration to take place in other contexts.O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar como se dá a integração da tecnologia, ou melhor, CALL – Computer Assisted Language Learning – na sala de aula dos cursos de licenciatura em Letras do estado do Paraná. A Teoria da Difusão de Inovações e o Modelo Esférico de Integração de CALL foram os modelos teórico e analítico que respectivamente nortearam a pesquisa. Este estudo é uma pesquisa de métodos mistos e foi adotado um delineamento explanatório sequencial composto de duas fases distintas: uma primeira fase com abordagem quantitativa e uma segunda fase com abordagem qualitativa. As inferências finais foram feitas a partir dos resultados de ambas as fases do estudo. Analiticamente, o uso da tecnologia na sala de aula não foi considerado um construto unitário, mas sim multifacetado. Com relação ao contexto foram estudadas diferentes instituições de ensino superior, e não apenas uma ou duas universidades. Buscou-se evitar, assim, as limitações metodológicas, analíticas e contextuais comumente encontradas em estudos sobre a integração de CALL. Para a primeira fase quantitativa foi desenvolvido um questionário para coleta de dados. O instrumento foi validado por um painel de especialistas, testado em um estudo-piloto e, por fim, administrado a uma amostra constituída de 152 professores de 33 cursos de Letras de instituições públicas e privadas de todo o estado do Paraná. Análises estatísticas foram feitas para examinar a relação entre os três conjuntos de fatores do Modelo Esférico de Integração de CALL e os usos multifacetados da tecnologia pelos professores dos cursos de licenciatura em línguas do estado do Paraná. Os resultados identificaram quatro usos diferentes e também a influência sobre eles dos fatores individuais, contextuais e da formação prévia em CALL/TICs, mostrando que os fatores individuais e os fatores contextuais são importantes preditores da integração de CALL/TICs. Com base nos resultados da fase quantitativa e fazendo uso da Teoria da Inovação Individual foram selecionados os participantes para a segunda fase. Foram conduzidas 16 entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas. A fase qualitativa aprofundou os resultados quantitativos e explicou os resultados inesperados e sem resposta da fase quantitativa. A integração dos resultados mostrou que além dos fatores individuais e contextuais, aparentemente a formação prévia dos professores em CALL/TICs não deve ser descartada como preditor da integração de CALL/TICs. Foi possível também traçar o panorama atual de CALL nos cursos de Letras do estado do Paraná. CALL ainda está distante da normalização. Descobertas adicionais foram obtidas nas duas fases do estudo. No contexto internacional, assim como no contexto brasileiro, apesar das inúmeras pesquisas sobre CALL, ainda existem lacunas significativas em algumas áreas e percebe-se a necessidade de mais estudos que aprofundem o tema da integração e ajudem a elucidar a relação entre os fatores que levam ou não a integração de CALL. Esta pesquisa sobre a integração de CALL no contexto brasileiro buscou contribuir para que se tenha uma compreensão mais ampla de como lidar com CALL e mostrar caminhos para que a integração ocorra em outros contextos
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