Intersection of Technology and Second Language Acquisition

Migration and globalization have accelerated the need for a second language. Educational systems, as one of the most conservative systems of society, do not keep pace with scientific and technological progress and social changes, and do not have the capacity and resources to solve the problem of rapid training of a large number of adults in language, social and industrial skills. At the same time, the development of alternative ways of learning leads to the rapid growth of online learning. Such complex interdisciplinary developments require coordinated work of specialists in various fields of knowledge, using different terminology, methodology and models of the subject area. This makes it extremely difficult to work together and leads to the fact that the latest technical systems are implemented outdated techniques, teachers do not use the technical capabilities of modern systems, and methodologists cannot put into practice modern scientific discoveries and developments. To date, the objective prerequisites for the creation of a Learning Management System (LMS), which combines the most effective developments in the field of activity theory, psycholinguistics and information and communication technologies (ICT), have matured. The proposed LMS at the system level has already solved the problem of simultaneous interconnection of both the language system itself and the corresponding ICT tools that ensure the formation of foreign language thinking of adults in the development of professional skills. This approach, in which the set of criteria plays a decisive role, opens up new prospects for the acquisition of not only full professional and communicative competence, but above all, helps to apply new effective integration strategies of systematic and sustainable involvement of migrants, implementing the process of formation of professional skills for the specialty that is most in demand in a particular region. Moreover, training can be started even before arrival in the host country under special programs developed both on the basis of instructions of state bodies and recommendations of local communities

Techniques of new application for acquisition foreign languages: development stages and modern trend

In the conditions of scientific and technical progress and more developing international contacts in the field of science, technology, and culture, the practical knowledge of a foreign language becomes one of the most important characteristics of a highly qualified specialist of any profile. One of the important factors in the development of the system to accelerating learning is the demands of adults themselves. Therefore, we need to create an automated system fast and effective teaching another language that uses the mini-max criterion, which provides the maximum possible result to the minimum required amount of effort on the part of the student. The essence of the approach is to replace the description in our native language with visual objects using the latest technology for implementing this approach. This means that an intermediate language is introduced, not tied to any of the known languages. The Purpose of the research is to develop a methodology (technique) for applying the Visual Approach in the educational environment created on the basis of a distributed management system to accelerate the acquisition of foreign language skills by adults. The system provides the process of controlling the formation of speech skills to a threshold level, allowing the transition from language learning to its improvement and acceleration. On the basis of this new generation using continuous evaluation of the competency level of the trainee, visual models, and information technology, got them a new incarnation, opens a new direction in construction a new version of Learning Management System – e-AMS

Proposed System of New Generation LMS Using Visual Models to Accelerate Language Acquisition

Language skill is a rule-like operation, based on generalized connections. The main property of language skills is awareness. They are formed with conscious mastery of the language means of communication (phonetic, lexical and grammatical). Language acquisition is a complex process which includes a large number of different parameters. Therefore, the study and improvement of language learning and teaching require creative collaboration between experts from different domains. We propose to transfer knowledge about the structure of the language from the verbal to the visual form, thereby creating the opportunity to use them as an indicative basis for planning, managing, controlling and correcting the training of primary language skills both by the teacher and by the student himself. The proposed method allows to develop the ability to organize sentences to convey meaning by means of Visual Models and to describe the sequential steps to choose the most effective ways for working with audio to improve listening skills. The use of visual tools for the analysis of abstract systems and theories makes it possible to discover new patterns and simplify their understanding. The aim of our study is to put principles for building a new effective system using new methods for acquiring language skills

Thermoelectric transport in strained Si and Si/Ge heterostructures

The anisotropic thermoelectric transport properties of bulk silicon strained in [111]-direction were studied by detailed first-principles calculations focussing on a possible enhancement of the power factor. Electron as well as hole doping were examined in a broad doping and temperature range. At low temperature and low doping an enhancement of the power factor was obtained for compressive and tensile strain in the electron-doped case and for compressive strain in the hole-doped case. For the thermoelectrically more important high temperature and high doping regime a slight enhancement of the power factor was only found under small compressive strain with the power factor overall being robust against applied strain. To extend our findings the anisotropic thermoelectric transport of an [111]-oriented Si/Ge superlattice was investigated. Here, the cross-plane power factor under hole-doping was drastically suppressed due to quantum-well effects, while under electron-doping an enhanced power factor was found. With that, we state a figure of merit of ZT$=0.2$ and ZT$=1.4$ at T=\unit[300]{K} and T=\unit[900]{K} for the electron-doped [111]-oriented Si/Ge superlattice. All results are discussed in terms of band structure features

Fundamentals of New Effective System to Accelerate Language Acquisition Using Visual Approach

Increased migration of individuals from one country to another poses the challenge of accelerating improved language acquisition while reducing the cost of language training. This work strives to find new ways to improve communication and understanding, including improved quality and a reduced cost of training, as well as new ways of learning and skills training, mainly for adult learners. The use of the visual approach and the visual model, which is based on this approach, and the use of the system analysis tools and instructional technology provide new and encouraging results. This research has led to the development of a training system that utilizes language formation processes and language skill building

Gold and silver diffusion in germanium: a thermodynamic approach

Diffusion properties are technologically important in the understanding of semiconductors for the efficent formation of defined nanoelectronic devices. In the present study we employ experimental data to show that bulk materials properties (elastic and expansivity data) can be used to describe gold and silver diffusion in germanium for a wide temperature range (702–1177 K). Here we show that the so-called cBΩ model thermodynamic model, which assumes that the defect Gibbs energy is proportional to the isothermal bulk modulus and the mean volume per atom, adequately metallic diffusion in germanium

A roadmap of strain in doped anatase TiO2

Anatase titanium oxide is important for its high chemical stability and photocatalytic properties, however, the latter are plagued by its large band gap that limits its activity to only a small percentage of the solar spectrum. In that respect, straining the material can reduce its band gap increasing the photocatalytic activity of titanium oxide. We apply density functional theory with the introduction of the Hubbard + U model, to investigate the impact of stress on the electronic structure of anatase in conjunction with defect engineering by intrinsic defects (oxygen/titanium vacancies and interstitials), metallic dopants (iron, chromium) and non-metallic dopants (carbon, nitrogen). Here we show that both biaxial and uniaxial strain can reduce the band gap of undoped anatase with the use of biaxial strain being marginally more beneficial reducing the band gap up to 2.96 eV at a tensile stress of 8 GPa. Biaxial tensile stress in parallel with doping results in reduction of the band gap but also in the introduction of states deep inside the band gap mainly for interstitially doped anatase. Dopants in substitutional positions show reduced deep level traps. Chromium-doped anatase at a tensile stress of 8 GPa shows the most significant reduction of the band gap as the band gap reaches 2.4 eV

The visual approach in educational projects

International complex projects in the field of education and training require the involvement of a number of experts from different countries, different branches of science and technology. Differences in terminology, methods and languages lead to significant difficulties in collaboration and mutual understanding. The main idea of the article is finding new ways to improve communication and mutual understanding, finding new ways of learning and teaching. The new results were obtained by using a visual approach and visual models and tools of systems analysis and information technologies. The text gives a detailed analysis of some basic scientific theories and provides visual models resulting from this analysis. These models formed the basis for the practical application of the visual approach for learning foreign languages for adult, and helped to create some computer applications, simulators and control systems of the learning process. The proposed visual approach to the display of the structure of scientific theories, a study of the general laws, previously hidden behind the words and terminology, and the application of these laws in the education and training systems is of considerable interest. The practical application of this approach in the experimental groups of adult learners showed very encouraging results and the prospect of further research and development in this direction

Oxygen Electrocatalysis at Mn^III–O_x–C Hybrid Heterojunction: An Electronic Synergy or Cooperative Catalysis?

The interface at the metal oxide−carbon hybrid heterojunction is the source to the well-known “synergistic effect” in catalysis. Understanding the structure−function properties is key for designing more advanced catalyst−support systems. Using a model MnIII−Ox single-layer catalyst on carbon, we herein report a full elucidation to the catalytic synergism at the hybrid heterojunction in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The successful fabrication of the single-layer catalyst from bottom-up is fully characterized by the X-ray absorption fine structure and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. For oxygen electrocatalysis over this model hybrid heterostructure, our results, from both theory and experiment, show that the synergistic ORR truly undergoes a cooperated two-step electrocatalysis with catalytic promotion (ΔEonset= 60 mV) near the heterojunction and over the single-layer catalyst through an interfacial electronic interplay, rather than an abstruse transition towards a one-step dissociative pathway. Finally, we report a superior peroxide-reducing activity of 432.5 mA cm−2mg(M)−1 over the MnIII−Ox single-layer

Vacancy-oxygen defects in silicon: the impact of isovalent doping

Silicon is the mainstream material for many nanoelectronic and photovoltaic applications. The understanding of oxygen related defects at a fundamental level is essential to further improve devices, as vacancy-oxygen defects can have a negative impact on the properties of silicon. In the present review we mainly focus on the influence of isovalent doping on the properties of A-centers in silicon. Wherever possible, we make comparisons with related materials such as silicon germanium alloys and germanium. Recent advanced density functional theory studies that provide further insights on the charge state of the A-centers and the impact of isovalent doping are also discussed in detail