Thesis (MPhil (Afrikaans and Dutch))—University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Computers play an influential role in our daily lives. Language teachers need to understand the importance of computers and the role computers can play in language learning and instruction. This study investigated the effect of an interactive computer application, Tjommie en Vriende, on foreign language students’ accuracy in their Afrikaans language proficiency. The application aimed to improve students’ overall communicative competence, but accentuated linguistic competence, in three of the four language skills namely speaking, listening and reading.

本論文提供了一個句子重組試題編製的環境，協助教師編製句子重組試題，同時學生也能夠在此編製環境中練習句子重組試題。 句子重組試題即是要求學生把試題給的一組詞彙組合成特定詞序的正確語句之題型，該試題類型可以檢驗學生對於句型和文法的知識。然而試題所給的詞彙集合往往除了可以組合成教師想要學生回答的正確語句之外，也可以組合成其它的合法語句。為了能辨識學生的回答，把這些合法語句以人工方式逐一建置為答案卻對出題教師造成了負擔。 我們建構了一個電腦輔助句子重組試題編製的環境來減輕出題教師的負擔。為了讓電腦可以恰當地判斷學生的回答，我們的編製環境限制了試題詞彙集的相對位置，藉此約束學生只能排出教師預設的特定答案。同時在出題教師建置試題答案時，我們的編製環境也試圖提供所有可能的合法詞序之語句，供出題教師參考。但本論文的研究經驗顯示要自動協助出題教師預示所有可能的合法詞序之語句卻是一件艱難的工作，而且這一研究問題與語法學有密切關係。 本論文以基礎詞組為主軸，透過合併詞組和史丹佛剖析器的操作建構出英文句子重組試題編製環境，供教師編輯與學生練習。同時，我們在論文中也提報了中文句子重組試題編製環境的初步探討。 / This thesis presents a computer assisted environment for authoring test items for sentence reconstruction. Not only the teacher can author the test items for sentence reconstruction, but also the student can practice the test items in this environment. A test item for sentence reconstruction asks the student to arrange the shuffled words in a correct order, and this type of tests can examine the knowledge of sentence patterns and grammars of the student. However, the rearranged sentence may match with not only the correct sentence that the teacher wants but also other sentences which are legal. But enumerating all possible legal and acceptable answers for judging the answer of the student manually makes the teacher taking a big load. We construct a computer assisted environment for authoring test items for sentence reconstruction to lighten the load of the teacher. For the purpose of judging the answer of the student by a computer easily, the relative locations of the words are restricted so that we can restrict the sentences that the student arranges. When the teacher provides the correct answers, we try to find and return all of the sentences which may be legal for the teacher's consideration. However, our experience shows that it is difficult to find all of the legal sentences for a given set of words, and this problem associates closely with a certain syntactic research work. This thesis depends on basic word groups to construct an environment of test item authoring for English sentence reconstruction by merging word groups and using the Stanford Parser, and report an initial study of an environment of test item preparation for Chinese sentence reconstruction.

Gegenstand der Arbeit ist zunächst eine Analyse der didaktischen Anforderungen an Sprachlernsysteme, die sich zum Teil aus dem Fremdsprachenunterricht ergeben. Daraus ergibt sich ein Übungstyp, der vom Lerner eine frei gestaltete Eingabe erfordert und damit insbesondere die kommunikative Kompetenz fördert, der aber auch mit Hilfe computerlinguistischer Methoden realisiert werden kann. Anschließend wird zur Auswahl einer geeigneten Grammatiktheorie insbesondere die Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG) näher betrachtet. Die Theorie muss sich aus computerlinguistischer Sicht für eine Implementierung im Rahmen eines Sprachlernprogramms eignen und es ist von zusätzlichem Vorteil, wenn die verwendeten Konzepte denen in Lernergrammatiken ähneln, um so die Generierung von Rückmeldungen zu vereinfachen. Im darauf folgenden Abschnitt wird kurz das eigentliche Programm PromisD (Projekt mediengestütztes interaktives Sprachenlernen - Deutsch) vorgestellt, wie es sich auch dem Nutzer präsentiert. Schließlich wird ein so genanntes antizipationsfreies Verfahren entwickelt, bei dem weder in der Grammatik noch im Lexikon Informationen zur Fehleridentifizierung enthalten sind. Die Fehlererkennung wird dabei auf die Bereiche eingeschränkt, in denen sich in einem Lernerkorpus häufig Fehler zeigen, um einerseits wesentliche Fehlertypen abzudecken und andererseits eine größere Effizienz bei der Analyse von realen Eingaben zu erreichen. Die Vorstellung des Verfahrens unterteilt sich entsprechend den grundlegenden Struktureinheiten der LFG in zwei Bereiche: die Konstituentenstruktur mit einer modifizierten Form des Earley-Algorithmus zur Integration von Fehlerhypothesen in die Chart und die Feature-Struktur mit einer veränderten Unifikationstrategie zur Behandlung und Speicherung von sich widersprechenden Werten in F-Strukturen. Zum Abschluss erfolgt die Evaluation und es werden die Möglichkeiten zur Gestaltung einer Rückmeldung an den Lerner diskutiert. / The dissertation starts with an analysis of the requirements for Intelligent Computer-Assisted Language Learning systems (ICALL), which partially depend on didactic aspects of foreign language teaching. Based on this a type of exercise can be identified, that on the one hand allows the learner to enter free formed input supporting the so called communicative competence as a major didactic goal and on the other hand may be realised with advanced computational linguistics'' methods. In the following chapter a look at grammar theories and especially Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG) is taken. The grammar theory needs to be tractable in an implementation and it is of a further advantage if the concepts of the theory are similar to the concepts in learner grammars in order to simplify the generation of feedback. Subsequently the user interface of the actual program is presented with a focus on error messages. The implementation is named PromisD, which stands for "Projekt mediengestütztes interaktives Sprachenlernen - Deutsch". Finally an anticipation-free parsing method is developed using neither information from the lexicon nor the grammar in order to identify grammar errors. The recognition is restricted to those areas where errors occur frequently in a learner corpus in order to allow for a greater efficiency parsing authentic data. Along the two structural levels in LFG the presentation of the algorithm follows: the constituent-structure with a modified Early-algorithm integrating error hypotheses into the chart and the feature-structure with a new unification-strategie storing information about clashing values in the f-structure. The dissertation closes with an evaluation and an outlook on the generation of error messages.

成語的使用有助高層次的語文認知學習和應用，無論在閱讀與寫作各方面都是重要的基礎訓練，然而目前台灣大部份的成語教學、學習平台或軟體多數提供靜態的資料查詢或教學資源，缺少以學生練習為主的環境。 　　本研究之目的為發展一個以本體論為基礎的中文成語練習系統。首先從文獻中分析成語多元訊息內容以建構成語知識本體、歸納學生運用成語造句時常見的病句偏誤原因並設計電腦可行之診斷機制，再以系統發展法建構一個以本體論為基礎的中文成語練習系統，系統可提供線上成語教材、可以自動產製是非、選擇、配合題型之測驗題目，並可以用情境式造句–在既定情境下實際利用成、詞語組合成一完整句子–的方式來練習成語，而系統可以判斷答題結果或造句是否合理，再針對成語使用盲點給予即時回饋，突破現有成語線上練習僅能從預先設定好的題庫中出題的限制，並提供情境式運用成語造句的環境。 　　系統效能及滿意度評估方面，本研究以準實驗設計進行，結果發現利用本研究之系統輔助教學的學生學習成效顯著高於使用傳統教學的學生，尤其對中、低能力程度學生具有顯著學習成效。在實際成語造句方面，以本研究之系統輔助教學之學生成語語法、語義使用正確性也較傳統教學學生顯著為高。學生也覺得本研究之系統是易用及有用的，並感到滿意。另外，在系統的可行性方面，受訪教師皆認為本研究之系統可以應用於學生自學成語。 / Using idioms would benefit a higher level of language perception, learning and application. It is also a kind of important but basic training in both reading and writing. However, presently, most platforms or software of Chinese idiom teaching and learning only offer static data inquiry or teaching resources, lack the environment of relying mainly on the fact that students practice. The purpose of this research is to develop the “ontology-based Chinese idiom practice system”. At first, we probed into the meta-data of Chinese idioms from any kind of studies and references to building and forming the ontology of the Chinese idiom, and summed up the wrong sentence with Chinese idioms to analyze the reasons of missing to design the feasible diagnosis mechanism of the computer. And then, we used above-mentioned ideas to develop the ontology-based Chinese idiom practice system. The system can offer the on-line teaching material of Chinese idioms, can automatically produce true-false, multiple-choice, and matching questions to examine, can offer a platform that users can actually practice sentence-making with Chinese idioms under a provided situation utilizing situational words and idioms. The system can also judge question sheet result or diagnose user-making sentences to be reasonable and can give feedback aiming at the blind spot immediately. This research can break through the restriction that the questions of existing on-line testing of Chinese idioms are always selected from the setting up question bank and can offer the situational environment that uses idioms to make sentences. Using quasi-experimental design, one class was assigned to experimental group using the system of this research assisted learning and the other class, the control group, using traditional teaching method. Related results demonstrated the performance of the experimental group was higher than the control group, especially it made better effect to the students of middle and low abilities in the experimental group. In making actual sentences with Chinese idiom, the number of correctness of Chinese idiom grammar and meaning using of the experimental group was higher than the control group. The students of the experimental group thought the system of this research is apt to use and useful, and feel satisfied. In addition, the teachers using the system actually thought the system of this research is practicable when the students study Chinese idiom by themselves.

Includes vita. / Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 130 pages. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effects of animation for a technology-assisted German grammar presentation on modal verbs. The premise was that many intangible concepts of dynamic grammar involve syntactic components that possess visuo-spatial characteristics. It was further speculated that these characteristics could be more effectively represented by animated versus static instructional presentations.The supposition that animation would lend pedagogical advantage was supported by dual coding theory (Paivio, 1971, 1990), which posits two functionally separate representational systems, the verbal and the nonverbal, with dynamic mental imagery residing solely in the nonverbal system. The strength of dually coded information is that it is represented in both subsystems and, due to referential associations that cross between the two, is more easily retained and recalled.Under two treatment conditions, 44 university students of beginning German (GER 101) received large-screen multimedia instruction concerning the meanings and conjugated forms of German modal auxiliary verbs, and the grammatical rules which govern sentence structure. The independent variable was the type of visualization: static or animated text. The dependent variables were participants' total test scores as well as their individual scores on each of two task types: conjugation and word order. In addition, a posttest survey asked participants for their opinions of the instructional treatments.Participants in both treatment groups achieved high scores on the posttest with no significant difference between them; however, the posttest survey showed that the groups did differ significantly in their opinions of the treatments, with those in the animated group reporting more positive reactions to the presentation. Detailed planning and lengthy preparation of both treatments may explain the high scores for both groups, and the elementary nature of the content may also account for the resulting ceiling effect. Animation should be studied further, especially with respect to more preliminary tasks, more complex tasks, as well as in concert with other aspects of multimedia, such as interactivity, user-control, practice, and feedback. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Educators who teach international students English as a second language (ESL) or English speakers teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in universities in non- English speaking countries in the Asia-Pacific region are often challenged to develop culturally appropriate curriculum for a diverse group of learners. Prompted by educational policy over the past two decades, the technological infrastructure in most universities throughout the world has advanced. Innovative tools for language learning have been developed for computer-assisted instruction. The purpose of the present study was to assess to what extent teachers use multimedia in EFL/ESL university classrooms in relation to the theoretical underpinnings of constructivism as well as Rogers' (1995) theory of diffusion of innovations and adopter categories. Further, the study aimed to ascertain what factors contribute to or discourage teachers' use of multimedia in tertiary level English language teaching classrooms. A mixed- method research design was used and both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. One hundred and seventy-nine English-language teachers from five universities in the Asia-Pacific region were interviewed and data were collected on their use of multimedia. Complex relationships were found among teacher-held educational and cultural values, teaching experience, formal computer professional learning, nationality, institution, region, age, gender, and collaboration with colleagues. Results showed that even with adequate access to hardware, software, technical support and computer professional learning, most teachers in the study made limited use of multimedia in the EFL/ESL classroom. As well, the results indicated that teachers in all three universities in Taiwan used multimedia in the EFL/ESL classroom less than teachers in Australia and in Thailand. Teachers who endorsed constructivist teaching methodologies tended to use multimedia more. Also, teachers with fewer than ten years teaching experience tended to use technology in teaching more. Data showed the use of integrated technology by teachers usually diminished as teachers got older. However, results showed that teachers who engaged in professional learning tended to use multimedia more regardless of age. Future directions in technology integration and recommendations for creating and sustaining a culture of technology at educational institutions are offered. Suggestions for professional development to encourage the integrated use of technology in English language teaching programs are outlined.

Cette recherche, qui relève du domaine de l'apprentissage des langues assisté par ordinateur, se penche sur diverses aides logicielles pouvant faciliter l'activité scripturale en Français Langue Étrangère. Le cadre théorique s'inspire de la linguistique textuelle (Adam, notamment), des travaux portant sur les processus rédactionnels des apprentis-scripteurs, particulièrement en L2 et de l'approche par tâches dans la didactique des langues. Le terrain est constitué d'étudiants thaïlandais de la Section de Français à l'Université de Chiang Maï en Thaïlande, dont le niveau en français se situe entre B1 et B2. Le dispositif d'écriture a été organisé à partir d'une plateforme d'apprentissage en ligne Moodle permettant, d'une part, la présentation de contenus et, d'autre part, la pratique du feedback entre pairs via le forum de la plateforme. Nous avons également expérimenté, dans notre recherche, une aide logicielle à la rédaction, ScribPlus. Cette application, version Internet de logiciels hors-ligne des années 1990 (Scrivere con Word Prof, Gammes d'écriture), vise à développer des compétences de production textuelle chez les apprentis scripteurs par une série d'incitations débouchant sur la génération d'une ébauche de texte. L'ensemble du dispositif (Moodle, ScribPlus, consignes, textes supports) a fait l'objet d'une première mise œuvre et d'un recueil de données; celles-ci ont été analysées dans le but d'améliorer le dispositif. Il a ainsi été possible de faire une seconde expérience en modifiant certains paramètres, notamment les incitations de ScribPlus et le lien lecture-écriture. Les analyses, de nature essentiellement qualitative, se sont fondées sur le système d'incitations de ScribPlus, sur des entretiens semi-directifs avec les étudiants, sur les productions écrites et les feedbacks laissés sur le forum de ces derniers. Leur but était de dégager les apports et les limites du dispositif d'écriture afin de proposer un certain nombre d'améliorations. Cette recherche relève donc de la recherche-action, voire de la recherche développement. / This study falls within the field of computer-assisted language learning and examines various software aids that can facilitate writing activities in French as a Foreign Language. The theoretical framework draws on both textual linguistics (in particular, Adam) and work focusing on learners' writing processes, particularly among second-year undergraduates, as well as on the task-based approach in language learning theory. The research field is composed of Thai students in the French Section at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, with a B1 to B2 level in French. The set of writing aids was organised using the online learning platform Moodle, allowing, on the one hand, the presentation of content and, on the other, peer feedback via the platform's forum. Within this study, the writing aid software Scribplus was also tested. This application, which is an Internet version of 1990s off-line software programs (Scrivere con Word Prof, Gammes d'écriture), aims to develop learners' competence in textual production by using a series of prompts that lead to the generation of a draft text. During an initial phase, the whole set of aids (Moodle, Scribplus, instructions, textual materials) was implemented and data was collected; these data were then analyzed with a view to improving the system. A second experiment was then possible, in which certain parameters were changed, in particular Scribplus's prompts and the reading-writing link. These analyses were mainly qualitative and based on Scribplus's prompting system and on semi-structured interviews with the students, as well as on their written productions and the feedback that they left on the forum. The aim was to identify the benefits and limitations of the set of writing aids in order to suggest a certain number of improvements. This research can therefore be qualified as action research, or even as development research.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Research in the field of computer assisted language learning and teaching has discussed the necessity of defining a research agenda in area. Because of this, some of these studies have focused on the analysis of research reports to identify the objectives of studies, the methodologies and the themes in order to identify the state of the art. By using a methodology of a research synthesis, this work describes the research practice of the Computer Assisted Language Learning and the discourses which come out this investigation field in relation to what researchers from this area conceive about language and about English as a foreign language teaching and learning. To do that, I collected 123 research articles from specific international journals in the field of Computer Assisted Language Learning and 14 reports from Brazilian journals in the same field which were published from 2005 to 2009. By analyzing the research articles, I have also analyzed the content of the selected articles, the methodology and the results. Then, after the textual analysis, I elaborated an interview through e-mail with the authors of the articles to confirm or deny the data obtained in the textual analysis. The textual and contextual analysis is theoretically based on Genre Analysis and on Critical Discourse Analysis, which helped to describe the theoretical-methodological procedures adopted in this investigation field. The results suggest a field oriented by the investigation of four main themes which are: language, participants, technologies and online pedagogy. The investigation discourses in CALL suggest the existence of an area interested in the analysis of practices such as teach, read and write, virtually speak and communicate, which are done through the Internet. However, the predominant discourse about language in the research has been conceived as a cognitive and social phenomenon. The description of the Research Agenda suggested in this dissertation describes the main themes investigated in CALL, the social and discursive practices which are realizable in the cyberspace and examples of researches oriented by different language concepts. / Pesquisas na área de ensino e aprendizagem de línguas mediados por computador têm discutido a necessidade do estabelecimento da agenda de pesquisa nessa área. Devido a isso, algumas pesquisas têm centralizado na análise de relatos de pesquisas para identificar os objetivos dos estudos, as metodologias e os temas de interesse nessa área de investigação com vistas a identificar o estado da arte. Usando a metodologia de pesquisa de síntese, este trabalho descreve a prática de pesquisa em Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) e os discursos que emergem dessa área de investigação com relação ao que os pesquisadores dessa área concebem por linguagem e pelos processos de ensino e aprendizagem de inglês como língua estrangeira. Para tanto, coletei 123 relatos de pesquisa em periódicos internacionais específicos da área e 14 relatos em periódicos brasileiros sobre a temática de ensino de inglês mediado por computador, os quais foram publicados entre os anos de 2005 a 2009. Na análise textual, analisei o conteúdo dos artigos acadêmicos selecionados, a metodologia e os resultados. Em seguida, elaborei entrevistas via correio eletrônico com os autores dos artigos, para confirmar ou refutar dados obtidos na análise textual. A análise textual e contextual está ancorada teoricamente pela Análise de Gêneros e pela Análise Crítica do Discurso, as quais ajudaram a descrever os procedimentos teórico-metodológicos adotados nessa área de investigação. Os resultados sugerem uma área orientada pela investigação de quatro eixos temáticos, os quais são: a linguagem, os participantes, as tecnologias e a pedagogia online. Os discursos de investigação em CALL sugerem a existência de uma área com interesse na análise de práticas tais como ensinar, ler e escrever, falar e se comunicar virtualmente, que são realizadas na Internet. Porém, o discurso predominante sobre linguagem nas pesquisas é como um fenômeno cognitivo e social. A descrição da Agenda de Pesquisa sugerida nesta tese descreve os temas principais investigados na área de CALL, as práticas sociais e discursivas realizáveis no ciberespaço e exemplos de pesquisas orientadas por diferentes concepções de linguagem.

The purpose of this project is to address the problems and improve English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning for the students of Korea by contrasting cultural similarities and differences and the same time utilizing computer-based instruction learning.

Depuis l’avènement de l’approche communicative, puis actionnelle, en enseignement des langues secondes (L2), des chercheurs comme Ellis (2003) ont relevé les différences individuelles entre apprenants, notamment concernant le désir de communiquer (DDC), défini comme « une disposition à entrer dans un discours à un moment spécifique avec une ou des personnes spécifiques, en utilisant la L2 » (MacIntyre et al., 1998, p. 547). Il a ainsi été suggéré de faire du développement du DDC de plus en plus une priorité en enseignement des L2. À cet égard, la recherche indique que la communication assistée par ordinateur peut permettre d’augmenter le DDC (Rankin et al., 2006; Gonzalez-Lloret, 2017), en influençant l’anxiété langagière et le sentiment de compétence communicative perçu (SCCP), qui sont les deux antécédents directs du DDC. L’émergence récente de la réalité virtuelle 360 (RV360), qui peut être définie comme un environnement immersif s’appuyant sur des photos ou vidéos reproduisant le monde réel et fournissant à l’utilisateur un fort sentiment de présence, ouvre un nouveau champ d’expérimentation en DdL. Nous proposons que la RV360 permettrait aux apprenants de L2 de prendre part à des simulations quasi authentiques diminuant leur anxiété et augmentant leur SCCP, améliorant ainsi leur DDC à l’extérieur de la salle de classe. Pour répondre à notre questionnement, nous avons créé puis mis en place trois courtes tâches de simulation RV360 présentant des situations communicatives similaires à celles de la vie quotidienne des apprenants, comme payer son épicerie en français. Ces tâches sont ancrées dans la réalité sociolinguistique de l’environnement d’apprentissage : dans cette étude, Montréal, une métropole bilingue français-anglais ayant une variété régionale de français distincte. Les 19 participants à cette recherche exploratoire sont des étudiants universitaires internationaux de FLS au niveau débutant. Une méthodologie mixte (prétest et posttest quantitatifs, journaux de bord et entrevues de groupe semi-dirigées) a été adoptée pour suivre l’évolution de leur SCCP, anxiété langagière et DDC, ainsi que pour cerner leurs défis quant à la pratique du français à Montréal et leur perception des tâches RV360 en tant qu’outil d’apprentissage préparant à la communication authentique en L2. L’analyse des données indique que les défis à la communication en FLS dans le monde réel proviennent principalement d’une perception négative de son vocabulaire et de sa prononciation, combinée à l’anxiété liée à l’anticipation de ruptures de communication avec des locuteurs francophones. Face à cet écueil, les participants estiment globalement que les tâches RV360 sont un bon outil pour créer un pont entre la salle de classe et le monde réel et ainsi préparer aux interactions en L2 dans le monde réel, même si leur faible degré de difficulté et leur manque de flexibilité nuisent à leur authenticité. Les tâches RV360 ont ainsi contribué positivement (mais à degré variable selon les apprenants) à l’amélioration du DDC, principalement via le renforcement du SCCP. La discussion des résultats fournit un nouvel éclairage sur les bonnes pratiques d’enseignement et sur l’élaboration de séquences didactiques intégrant la RV360 pour favoriser le DDC au niveau débutant. Ces séquences devraient en priorité intégrer l’enseignement stratégique et mettre l’accent sur la complexification progressive des tâches et la rétroaction, tout en doublant la réalisation des tâches RV360 d’une interaction humain-humain. / Since communicative approach and task-based language teaching have placed communication at the centre of second language (L2), researchers such as Ellis (2003) have underlined the importance of individual differences between L2 learners, regarding their willingness to communicate (WTC), which is defined as "readiness to enter into discourse at a particular time with a specific person using the L2" (MacIntyre et al., 1998, p. 547). These researchers have suggested that the development of L2 WTC be made a priority of L2 teaching. In this respect, the literature shows that computer-mediated communication has a positive effect on increasing L2 learners' WTC (Rankin et al., 2006; Gonzalez-Lloret, 2017), by lowering language anxiety and increasing self-perceived communicative competence (SPCC), which are the two main antecedents of L2 WTC. One avenue for research that has not received much attention is the pedagogical use of 360 virtual reality (VR360), a promising medium for teachers hoping to increase their L2 students' WTC. VR360 can be defined as an immersive digital environment relying on 360 photos/videos from the real world and providing the user with a strong feeling of presence in “real life” situations. We propose that VR360 has the potential to provide learners with semi authentic simulations designed to lower their anxiety and increase their SPCC, leading to increased WTC. To assess this potential, we designed and implemented three short communicative VR360 tasks presenting learners with communicative situations similar to the ones they could encounter in their daily life, such as paying for groceries using L2 French. The tasks are anchored in the reality of the learning environment: in this case, Montreal, a French-English bilingual metropolis with a distinct regional variety of French. The 19 participants to this exploratory study are international university students learning L2 French at a beginner level. Mixed methodology (quantitative pre/post tests, reflective journals and semi-structured focus groups) was used to measure and probe their level of SPCC, anxiety and WTC, and to shed light on the challenges they face while trying to interact in French in Montreal and their perception of the RV360 tasks as a learning tool preparing for real-life L2 use. The data analysis indicates that the challenges to communication in L2 French in the real world mainly come from a negative perception of one’s vocabulary and pronunciation, combined with anxiety due to the anticipation of breakdowns in communication with native French speakers. Faced with this pitfall, participants generally argued that RV360 tasks are a good learning tool to bridge the classroom and the real world and thus prepare them for L2 interaction in the real world, even if the low level of difficulty and the lack of flexibility limit task authenticity. The RV360 tasks thus contributed positively (albeit to varying degrees among learners) to the improvement of their WTC, mainly via the strengthening of their SCCP. The discussion provides new insights into good teaching practices and the development of learning scenarios incorporating the RV360 to promote WTC at a beginner level. These scenarios should focus on strategic instruction, task complexity and feedback, while relying on a human-human interaction in addition to the completion of the RV360 tasks.