Computer Assisted Language Learning/Teaching

Development Of An Automated Tool For Detecting Errors In Tenses

by Saadiyah Darus

Tengku Nor Rizan Tengku Mohd Maasum, Siti Hamin Stapa, Nazlia Omar, Mohd Juzaiddin Ab Aziz, Saadiyah Darus. 2012. Development of an automated tool for detecting errors in tenses. GEMA Online™ Journal of Language Studies, Special Section, 12(2): 427-442.

The rapid growth of computer technologies creates a plethora of ways in which technology can be integrated into one of... more The rapid growth of computer technologies creates a plethora of ways in which technology can be integrated into one of the alternatives to facilitate essay marking.  Automated essay marking systems developed from the late 1960s have attempted to prove that computers can evaluate essays as competently as human expert. Several computer-based essay marking (CBEM) systems have been developed to mark students’ essays and they can be divided into semi-automated and automated systems. This paper illustrates the development of an Automated Tool for Detecting Errors in Tenses (ATDEiT™). The first phase analysed the errors found in 400 essays written by 112 English as second language (ESL) learners at tertiary level using Markin 3.1 software. The results showed that the most common errors were found in tenses. This finding led to the second phase of the research, which was the design of an automated marking tool. Consequently, the techniques and algorithm for error analysis marking tool for ESL learners were developed. An initial testing was conducted to evaluate the results of the marking tool using 50 essays. Findings showed that ATDEiT™ achieved a high level (93.5%) of recall and an average level (78.8%) of precision. This proves that ATDEiT™ has the potential to be used as an automated tool for detecting errors in tenses for ESL learners.

Ukrainian Journal of Computational Linguistics, 1998, Аспекты применеия информационной технологии при обучении иностранным языкам: случай перевода

by Patrick Corness

Original version in Russian

The Relevance of Variations in Auditory Perception for Second Language Teaching and Learning

by Kiran Pala

3. Η ΑΞΙΟΠΟΙΗΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΤΠΕ ΣΤΗ ΔΙΔΑΣΚΑΛΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΚΛΑΣΙΚΩΝ ΓΛΩΣΣΩΝ ΣΤΗ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟΒΑΘΜΙΑ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΑΣ

by Panos Seranis

Life in Mai Gdya: A Colonization Simulation Game

by Joshua Paiz

Draft Only--This paper was complete as part of MA course Requirements

This paper examines the creation and execution of pencil-and-paper based simulation game, which places the... more This paper examines the creation and execution of pencil-and-paper based simulation game, which places the participants in the roles of Ministers on the leadership board of one of two colonies (Mai Nyatum and Mai Latum). The purpose of this simulation is to teach advanced ESL students how to negotiate and co-operate using their L2. This is accomplished by placing participants in a simulated environment where their respective colonies begin the game with a great deal disparity in starting resources, available resources, and passive bonuses. This simulation also works to improve their L2 persuasive and summary writing abilities as all communication between the colonies in this simulation takes place in writing. This paper outlines the rationale behind the

Negotiation for Action: English Language Learning In Game‐Based Virtual Worlds

by Dongping Zheng

Koutsogiannis, D. (2011). ICTs and language teaching: the missing third circle

by Dimitrios Koutsogiannis

Published at Gerhard Stickel & Tamás Váradi (eds.): Language, Languages and New Technologies. ICT in the Service of Languages. Frankfurt am Main (and others): Peter Lang Verlag (p. 43-59).

More than thirty years have now passed since the first attempts to use computers in language teaching. These three... more More than thirty years have now passed since the first attempts to use computers in language teaching. These three decades have been so rich in academic questions and debate that there is justifiable confusion about exactly what change has occurred; it is particularly difficult to group and classify the various views expressed and, above all, to identify any areas that have been left uncovered. The purpose of this paper is to seek to classify the research and debate so far, and particularly to focus on areas which have received little or no attention from researchers. To make this clear, we use the metaphor of three concentric and interconnected circles.

Blogs in English Language Teaching and Learning

by Brad F Blackstone

Co-authored with John Spiri and Naeko Naganuma

This paper reports on an innovative approach to the implementation of a cycle of blogging activities within different... more This paper reports on an innovative approach to the implementation of a cycle of blogging activities within different levels of courses in an English for academic purposes/composition program in an English medium university in Japan. Blogs, which are interactive homepages that are easy to set up and manage, enable students to engage in online exchanges, thereby expanding their language study and learning community beyond the physical classroom. Regular blogging also encourages more autonomous learning. When a student’s audience includes his or her classmates, the teacher and potentially anyone with an internet connection, motivation to engage in meaningful written communication appears to increase. At the same time, when a teacher utilizing blogs implements a “blogging buddy” system, which assigns each student a peer review partner to help with editing before a piece of writing (the blog post) is uploaded, the result can be an effective means of facilitating greater learner interaction and reflection on skills development. Findings from an attitudinal survey conducted over two semesters with eleven classes of 145 students demonstrate that they had extremely positive attitudes toward both blogging and the blogging buddy system.

Blogging for Pedagogical Purposes: A Transformational Methodology for Post-secondary Education

by Brad F Blackstone

co-authored with Mark Wilkinson

Ateş, A., Altunay, U. ve Altun, E. (2006).The effects of computer assisted English Instruction on high school preparatory students' attitudes towards computers and English. Eğitimde Kuram ve Uygulama, 2 (2): 97-112.

by Alev Ates Cobanoglu

It's Just a Game, Right? Types of Play in Foreign Language CMC

by Chantelle Warner

This study focuses on the various playful uses of language that occurred during a semester-long study of two German... more This study focuses on the various playful uses of language that occurred during a semester-long study of two German language courses using one type of synchronous network-based medium, the MOO. Research and use of synchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) have flourished in the study of second-language acquisition (SLA) since the late 1990s; however, the primary focus has been on the potential benefits of using CMC to increase the amount of communication (Beauvois, 1997; Kern, 1995; Warschauer, 1997), motivate students (Beauvois, 1997; Kern, 1995; Warschauer, 1997) and foster the exchange of ideas (Beauvois, 1997; Kern, 1995; von der Emde, Schneider, & Kotter, 2001; Warschauer, 1997). Only more recently has research within SLA begun to investigate the types of communication that occur online. (1) An analysis of the transcripts from a second-semester German course and an upper-level German communication course reveal that a large portion of the language use online cannot be described using standard referential definitions of communication, but rather is playful in nature. Using research from SLA and theories on social interaction, this article investigates the different types of play that occurred within the online discussions and the possible implications of the presence of play in online discourse.

A Review of SymbalooEDU

by Chris Harwood

Introduction
Created in 2010, SymbalooEDU is an educational version of the original Symbaloo application founded... more Introduction
Created in 2010, SymbalooEDU is an educational version of the original Symbaloo application founded in Holland in March 2007. It is a software application that enables learners to organize, integrate and share online content in one setting or Personal Learning Environment (PLE). The platform also allows educators to create mixes of tailored resources and share these mixes with students. Once the mixes (or webmixes) are shared, students can integrate them into their own SymbalooEDU PLE, where they are free to use, add and share content with their peers and tutors.

Il paradigma self-directed learning per i sistemi intelligenti di supporto all’apprendimento

by Patrick Boylan

 In: G. Casadei, F. Riguzzi & L. Saitta (Eds.), Intelligenza Artificiale e Didattica,  CLUEB,  Bologna,  1999,  pp. 90-99.

Constructivism and self-directed learning inspire the Tutoring System described; it represents a different way of... more Constructivism and self-directed learning inspire the Tutoring System described; it represents a different way of using computers to learn.

Ispirato al costruttivismo e al self-directed learning,  il Sistema descritto mostra un uso diverso del computer nella didattica.   

Metacognition In Epistolary Rhetoric: A Case-Based System for Writing Effective Business Letters In a Foreign Language

by Patrick Boylan

In: S. Lajoie & M. Vivet (eds.), Artificial Intelligence in Education, IOS Press, Amsterdam, 1999, pp. 305-312. [ISBN:9051994524]

Using case-based reasoning and metacognitive prompts, a Computer System leads students to write effective, culturally... more Using case-based reasoning and metacognitive prompts, a Computer System leads students to write effective, culturally targeted business letters.


Spronato da un PC a ragionare su casi tipici mediante suggerimenti metacognitivi, l'allievo impara a scrivere lettere commerciali efficaci e culturalmente mirate.

Foreign-Language Tutoring Systems Today: Old-Fashioned Teaching With Newfangled Gadgets

by Patrick Boylan

In: Cognitive Systems 5/1 (Oct. 1997) pp.37-56 [ISSN: 0256-663X]

Analyzing recent trends in language teaching methodology makes it possible to distinguish effective from ineffective... more Analyzing recent trends in language teaching methodology makes it possible to distinguish effective from ineffective computer programs for learning languages.


Saranno validi i programmi PC per imparare le lingue attualmente in fase di sviluppo? Per rispondere, basta analizzare la storia recente della didattica delle lingue.

Teaching Through Case-Based Reasoning: An ITS Engine Applied to Business Communication

by Patrick Boylan

In B. du Boulay & R. Mizoguchi (Eds.) (1997), Artificial Intelligence in Education, Amsterdam: IOS Press, pp.111-118 (Proceedings of the 8th World Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education AI-ED 97, Kobe, Japan, pp. 111-118).

This paper presents a case-based system for training and educational applications currently under development in JAVA,... more This paper presents a case-based system for training and educational applications currently under development in JAVA, which can plan lessons independently from the application domain.

Viene presentato un sistema case-based per la creazione di applicazioni educativi e di addestramento. Scritto in JAVA e in corso di sviluppo, il sistema consentirà di progettare una serie di lezioni correlate in qualsiasi campo.

Conversation Rebuilding: From the Foreign Language Classroom to Implementation In An Intelligent Tutoring System

by Patrick Boylan

In: Computers & Education 29/4 (Dec. 1997) pp.163-180.

A foreign language teaching “best practice”, called “conversation rebuilding”, is explained; the paper then describes... more A foreign language teaching “best practice”, called “conversation rebuilding”, is explained; the paper then describes how it has been adapted to current Intelligent Tutoring System technology.

L'articolo descrive la tecnica d'insegnamento denominata “ricostruzione conversazionale”, usata nei corsi di lingua straniera, e poi mostra come può essere adattata all'attuale tecnologia ITS (Sistemi Intelligenti di Tutoraggio).

Learning Languages As 'Culture' With CALL

by Patrick Boylan

In: L. Calvi e W. Geerts (Eds.), CALL, Culture and the Language Curriculum, London, Springer, 1998, pp.60-72.

Computer programs can help learners acquire languages authentically only if based on culturally-dense simulations. more Computer programs can help learners acquire languages authentically only if based on culturally-dense simulations.


Per essere efficace, l'apprendimento delle lingue assistito dal computer richiede l'uso di simulazioni culturalmente densi.

What does it mean to 'learn a language' in today's world? What role can present-day computer technology play?

by Patrick Boylan

In: G.C. Cecioni & C. Cheselka (Eds.). Proceedings of the Symposium on Language and Technology, Florence, 11-13 December 1991. Firenze: Editrice CUSL, 1995, pp. 92-114.

A radical proposal for creating educational software together with a proposal (equally radical at the time) for... more A radical proposal for creating educational software together with a proposal (equally radical at the time) for teaching language as intercultural communication.


Una proposta radicale per la creazione di software didattico, insieme ad una proposta (ugualmente radicale all'epoca) per l'insegnamento delle lingue come comunicazione interculturale.

Pedagogical blogging for university courses

by Chris Harwood

Co-authored with B, Blackstone (National University of Singapore.

Published in Conference Proceedings CELC Symposium 2010, National University of Singapore.

Various forms of computer-mediated communication have resulted in the formation of multifarious online communities.... more Various forms of computer-mediated communication have resulted in the formation of multifarious online communities. Blogging is one such form that is now used widely within the university for educational purposes. This paper gives an overview of pedagogical blogging and discusses the way it was implemented in two university courses. It also proposes that because students and their teacher facilitators develop and share common interests and goals, they evolve into what Lave and Wenger (1991) have termed a “community of practice” (CoP). Following that, the paper explains how blogging in these two course CoPs extended teaching and learning out of the classroom into a class-centered “blogosphere.” A theoretical justification for utilizing blogging is also provided as is a description of the manner by which a systematic approach to blogging can broaden learner-learner and learner-teacher interaction. Finally, the paper shows how students following a strict blogging regime positively view blogging as an opportunity to refine various writing skills within the context of their "real world" writing tasks.