The primary aim of this study is to determine whether it is possible to standardize written feedback on L2 student writing for use in a computerised marking environment. It forms part of a bigger project aimed at enhancing the feedback process as a whole The study attempts to establish "best practice" with regards to feedback on writing, by establishing from the literature what works and what should be avoided. Also, an empirical study was launched to establish what lecturers focus on and what marking techniques they use. A set of randomly selected essays from the Tswana Learner English Corpus and the Afrikaans Learner English Corpus were sent to the English departments of different tertiary institutions across the country. The essays were marked by the English lecturers at the relevant institutions. The conclusion was that lecturers typically focus on surface structures, and use ineffective marking techniques. The best practice (and data from the empirical study) was then used to create a set of standardised feedback comments (tag set) that can be used in a specially programmed software package in which students submit their texts electronically. Lecturers can then mark the student essays on the computer, hopefully speeding up the process, while at the same time giving much more detailed feedback. In later stages of the bigger project, students will get individualized exercises based on the feedback, and there are experiments currently being run to try and automate certain pans of the marking process in order to take some strain off the lecturers when marking. The immense archiving abilities of the computer will also be utilized in order to create opportunities for longitudinal studies. The effectiveness of the feedback tag set was tested in comparison to the marking techniques used by the lecturers in the empirical study and a self-correcting exercise. The conclusion was that the feedback tag set is more effective than the other two techniques. but students seem to perform weak overall when it gets to the revision of cohesive devices and supporting arguments. I argue that students are not used to revising these features, since lecturers seldom (if ever) comment on the structural elements of texts. However, the experiment proves that standardization of written feedback is possible to an extent. The implications of the findings are discussed, and recommendations for further research are made. / Thesis (M.A. (English))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006

This study aimed to explore the effect of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) on the sophomore undergraduate students&rsquo / success on the TOEFL exam. The study was designed as quasi-experimental research and two variables were focused on: Computer-assisted language learning and traditional instruction. Participants were 34 sophomore students in EFL department in Middle East Technical University. The participants were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups using a table of random numbers. Experimental (three males and fourteen females) and control groups (two males and fifteen females) consisted of 17 participants each since the language laboratory for experimental group could accommodate that number. Experimental group was taught using computer-assisted instruction in a language laboratory while the control group was taught using a traditional method of instruction in a traditional classroom setting. The sample consisted of 17 participants in each group. The training lasted for 8 weeks and the same instructor met the groups three hours each week. During the first week a pre-test was given to both groups and a post-test was given at the end of the study. The experimental group participants were also interviewed with regard to CALL. Pre and post-test gain scores were statistically analyzed and the interviews were subjected to content analysis. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the control and experimental groups in overall scores and on the structure section. However, statistically significant differences were found in the scores on the reading and listening sections. The interviews showed that the participants in the experimental group valued computer-assisted language learning. However, it was suggested by the participants that computer-assisted language learning should be incorporated into the regular classes, where especially listening skill is focused on.

Technology innovations have occurred in schools all over the world to accommodate Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL). In 2004, a national reform was initiated by the Ministry of Education in China which aimed to improve the teaching of College English curriculum by adopting modern technologies. Since then, Chinese College English teachers have been adapting to CALL. This research project presents a case study of one Chinese university, Huazhong Normal University (HZNU). It investigates how CALL is currently used by the College English teachers and the problems teachers are having in using CALL. This study focuses on teachers’ use of, and perspectives on, CALL. Data were collected by two means: a questionnaire involving 31 respondents, and five in-depth interviews concerning several aspects of the College English teachers’ use of CALL in HZNU. Results showed that even with a broad introduction of modern technologies in College English teaching, most of the teachers in HZNU were using computers in a limited way. Most of them lacked a clear understanding of what CALL is and what CALL can do. As well, the results indicated that the professional development in CALL for College English teachers has been insufficient both in terms of techniques and pedagogies in technology. The study indicates further obstacles to College English teachers’ use of CALL, such as insufficient technical support, heavy workloads and the difficulties adapting to the new teaching mode. The researcher recommends that these identified problems warrant immediate attention and she presents a model to guide the improvement of the use of CALL by College English teachers.

This thesis examines the role of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) task analysis within the context of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) system design. It recognises and critically examines several carrefours that differentiate cognitive from sociocultural task analysis theories in Second Language Acquisition and Human-Computer Interaction. A study into the role of multimodal interaction and second language (L2) vocabulary acquisition revealed the need for an integrative approach to examining learner-computer interaction. In response, a conceptual, situated task analysis framework was developed that promotes (1) a common unit of analysis for principled theoretical investigation and methodological selection; and (2) a formative task analysis framework which considers both software engineering and human-computer interaction practices within CALL system design. / Understanding the extant relationships between learner, theory and practice has become increasingly important in light of recent criticisms of CALL software quality, and its influence on learning outcomes. To further develop our understanding of the role of HCI and Software Engineering in CALL, an empirical exploratory study was undertaken. The design of the study was influenced by research concerning (1) cognitive complexity and language learning; (2) social perspectives on learner-computer interaction; and (3) the intersection between system design, quality, and learner-computer interaction. / Computer-mediated activity in language learning environments can be categorised as a highly social process through its dependency upon a number of sociocultural and environmental contraints. As such, learner-computer interaction is likely to be highly fluid and dynamic. The distinction between static and dynamic environments is a critical determinant when selecting a particular HCI task analysis strategy. To evaluate competing task analysis approaches, a small qualitative study was established that considered the role of multimodal interaction in L2 vocabulary acquisition. Emerging trends from this study served to elucidate the appropriateness of existing HCI theories and their units of analysis within the context of CALL system design. / Participants for this study were selected from an undergraduate Computer Science degree at a major Australian university. Participants had little to no prior knowledge of the L2 used in the study. Participants conducted three sessions with a multimodal speech-enabled language learning tool. After each session, participants completed an immediate recall test and responded to a series of semi-structured interview questions. After an eight week period, participants were asked to take part in a delayed recall and recognition test. Findings from this study showed two distinct trends: (1) a relationship between the degree of multimodal interaction strategy and delayed L2 vocabulary recall and recognition; and (2) the limitations of existing HCI task analysis approaches with respect to analysing learner-computer interaction within the context of CALL system design. As such, this study provided key insights into the role of HCI in CALL, proposing several implications for further research. / Instructed by these findings, research was undertaken to develop an holistic, situated task analysis framework: C.A.S.E (Cognition, Activity, Social Organisation, Environment). Ontological, epistemological and methodological components of the framework are discussed in detail. C.A.S.E provides a conceptual framework for integrating cognitive and social theories on learning, interaction and system design. Consequently, C.A.S.E provides both theoretical and methodological support for bridging the divide between CALL, HCI and Software Engineering. Several applications of the framework relevant to CALL practitioners are described in this thesis. / The outcomes of this investigation establish an agenda for further research. The thesis concludes with a discussion related to CALL system design, specifically the role of Software Engineering in end-user developer CALL activities. To assist readers, additional discussions on Philosophy of Science and Software Engineering have been provided as appendix chapters.

This study investigated the effectiveness of two methods of instruction, Teacher-Based Instruction (TBI) versus Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL), in improving undergraduate Arab learners' English reading ability in the three aspects of speed, comprehension and vocabulary knowledge. The Experimental Pre-test/Post-test Treatment Group Design was implemented in both experiments carried out in this study. Two samples of 100 and 150 students for Experiments I & II, respectively, were randomly chosen from two higher education institutions in the Arab world. Each sample was divided into two groups depending on learners' pre-instruction preferences for TBI or CALL methods. After eight weeks of instruction using one method, the students of the two groups exchanged instructional methods for another period of eight weeks. In both cases the learners attended three 90- minute reading lectures per week. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis showed that CALL was significantly more effective than TBI for improving the learners' reading ability in the three aspects targeted. Results showed that CALL was more effective due to different reasons: learners were more motivated to read and they enjoyed reading; CALL made learners' reading progress visible to them through immediate feedback; it fostered learner autonomy and their desire to be in control of the program and it offered the learners a large number of different reading activities to work on. Learners' suggestions for improving CALL were mainly related to increasing the time they can use CALL programs in learning to read. Findings of the study should encourage higher education institutions especially in the Arab world to take considerable steps towards utilising computers in instruction. Even at school level this utilisation should be considered, but further research should be carried out with learners at different age levels and in different regions in the Arab world.

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. When verbal explanations are accompanied by illustrations depicting their content, it can provide external support for the learner's mental simulations of that content. 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 complex tasks, as well as in concert with other aspects of multimedia, such as interactivity, user-control, practice, and feedback.

The National Curriculum in Sweden states that students should be given the opportunity todevelop understanding of digital tools. However, based on previous international research onthe subject, teachers rarely find that they have enough digital competence and knowledge ofthe tools to implement them properly in their teaching practises. This study aims atdiscovering what active teachers’ experiences are with Computer Assisted LanguageLearning (CALL) and how well they implement it in Sweden. This paper provides anoverview of the previous research done on teachers’ beliefs and their tendencies to implementCALL. Directly accessed primary data was collected through a survey and semi-structuredinterviews with five teachers in years K-6. Analysis of this data showed that teachers doimplement CALL on a regular basis, however, some of them find it difficult to utilize fully. Itwas also found that the age of the teachers might play a part in how well they understand the CALL software. Furthermore, after analysing the policy documents from Skolverket, it wasfound that teachers in general feel they lack the necessary digital competence to teach digitalcompetence to their students. The main conclusions of this study are thus that (i) teachersimplement CALL on a regular basis, (ii) teachers feel that they lack basic digital knowledgeand thus struggle in using the digital tools efficiently in their teaching practises, somethingthat should be included in the teacher training programs, (iii), that the age of the teachersseem to play a part in how well the they implement CALL in their teaching practises, and(iiii), that whilst teachers find CALL useful and convenient, it can never replace the role of a teacher.

Digital technology has developed at a rapid pace, even in the second language learning classrooms. The Swedish Curriculum of English stresses the importance of learning digital technology in the school environment. This theoretical research and empirical study has been carried out to find out how computer assisted language learning (CALL) may influence motivation and student’s engagement and other learning outcomes, such as listening, speaking, and reading. It provides evidence that second language learning theories support the use of CALL for language education. The beliefs of four in-service teachers’ are that CALL makes the students more motivated and engaged in their English as a second language.

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Evaluation of Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) needs to be scrutinized according to the same standards of evaluation as other professional materials. Evaluation can be divided into two distinct, yet similar, categories: formal (following a prescribed evaluation model) and informal. The aim of this dissertation is two-fold. The first purpose is to benefit the field of CALL by situating CALL evaluation in the context of frameworks used formal evaluation. The second purpose is to discover informal evaluation practices of CALL practitioners. First, with regard to formal evaluation of CALL materials, practices and insights from the field of evaluation would help CALL researchers and practitioners to conduct systematic evaluations that report findings that other researchers and practitioners find useful. An evaluation framework is proposed that includes common evaluation tasks conducted by evaluators in the field of formal evaluation to produce a workflow model for designing and conducting evaluations in CALL. Second, regarding the informal evaluation of CALL materials, learning about the processes of teachers when evaluating CALL for classroom use will help direct developers of CALL materials, address user concerns, and may indirectly increase the quality of CALL materials. After looking at this two-fold question—formal and informal evaluation of CALL materials—we found that formal evaluation in CALL may benefit from the adoption of evaluation practices from formal evaluation literature. Regarding informal evaluation, we found that teachers consider pedagogy, accessibility, and authenticity when reviewing CALL resources and activities for consideration for use in the classroom. Based on this finding we provide implications for language program administrators, teacher trainers, CALL software developers, and language teachers.