Introduction to Technology Aided Language Learning

Get an idea of how to learn language and teach language using technology.

Multimedia Presentation: Technology Aided Language Learning

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You can learn language and teach language with the help of technology. To do this we need to understand how we learn a language and how we can teach a language. We also need to know how to use technology to learn a language and how to use technology to teach a language.

How do we learn a language?

Exposure and Interaction are two important factors which help us learn a language. To be able to learn a new language we need to listen to the language in natural contexts and have opportunities to genuinely interact with somebody in that language.

What more do we need?

To learn a language we need

• a tension free environment to use the language
• feedback on our performance
• opportunities to correct our own mistakes

What are the Conditions for learning a language?

To be able to learn a language the experience must be

• Meaningful
• Challenging
• personally satisfying
• necessary for some real purpose

How can computers help us?

Using the computers we can

• get natural exposure
• participate in genuine interaction
• work at our own pace in a tension free environment
• get immediate feedback
• repeat exercises and correct our own mistakes
• enjoy the experience of learning

Computers and Learning Language

Computers provide opportunities for

• correcting spelling errors during the writing process
• learning new words as and when they are needed
• correcting grammatical errors and learning grammar
• selecting materials suitable to our learning styles
• choosing such activities which are relevant to us

Computers and Teaching Language

Computers can

• bring the whole world into classrooms
• provide visual, verbal and kinesthetic experience
• store the information
• repeat the information ‘n’ number of times
• provide individual feedback
• offer specific need based help
• engage the learners’ attention and motivate them to do more

Aids to Facilitate Language Learning

Teacher can use the following aids to teach language:

• blackboard/greenboard/whiteboard/flannel board
• Objects/actions
• pictures/charts/posters/photographs
• Audio system
• Video system
• Computers/Multimedia/Internet

Advantages of Computers over other Aids

Computers can serve as any and all of these aids. The teachers and learners can benefit from the advantages of each one of these aids by using a PC in the classroom. With an LCD projector and Internet connections the teacher can actually extend the walls of the classroom to encompass the world and bring the whole world within the boundaries of the classroom.

To Teach about Active Volcanoes

You could

• write the word Volcano on the blackboard
• prepare a chart
• pin up some pictures on a flannel board
• show photographs
• make them listen to a tape
• make them watch video clippings

But if you use a Computer…..

You can make the students experience a volcanic explosion using an CD like the Encarta. In this way you provide an experience within the classroom, which the students cannot have without endangering their lives.

We can use computers to

• correct spelling mistakes

and

• learn new words

Correcting spelling: Microsoft Word

As you type in Microsoft Word the spelling mistakes are underlined in red.

Look at the example given below:

Research has prooved that when studetns get help while they are actually writing, they are able to corect their mistaks more easily and remeber the correction for a longer time.

The spellings of the words underlined in red are not correct. To correct them you can click on the word with the right mouse button and get the correct spelling.

Learning New Words: Microsoft Word

As you type a report in Microsoft Word if you do not want to repeat the same word a number of times you can use the thesaurus and find a number of words to choose from.

For example you want to say, "She was happy, I was happy, he was happy, they were happy and you were happy".

But you do not want to use happy so many times.

With your mouse select the word happy and press SHIFT and F7 together. And you will get………..

Thesaurus: Microsoft Word

The following are the words available for happy in Microsoft Office:

happy (adj.)

satisfied

contented

pleased

comfortable

at ease

unhappy (Antonym)

Learning Grammar: Microsoft Word

As you type in Microsoft Word, all the grammatical mistakes you make will be underlined in green.

I goes to market everyday.

When you ask for grammar check it will explain to you what the mistake is and how it should be corrected.

In some cases you may not agree with the suggested change (for example change the passive construction to active voice). You can just clikc on ignore to keep the original sentence.

Using the Internet

The following are available on the Internet

Learn a new word everyday

• Word a day through email
• Word puzzles
• Activities and exercises for words
• Mnemonic help for remembering words

Specially Prepared Materials For

Vocabulary

Grammar

LSRW skills

Interactive Exercises

• Multiple choice questions
• Cross word puzzles
• Picture based exercises

Focus: Grammar

Where is the baby elephant standing?

Focus: Speaking Skill

What is the baby elephant saying?

CDs for Language Learning

• Interactive Dictionaries
• CDs for LSRW skills
• CDs for Vocabulary

CDs: Interactive Dictionaries

• Facility to search for words
• Visual Presentation
• Pronunciation
• Meaning
• Use in contexts
• Exercises for practice

CDs : Vocabulary Games

In a number of CDs like the Reading Blaster there are games for Readig and Vocabulary practice.

Focus: Reading Skill

• Disc books
• CDs                             
• Samples from these CDs             Reading Blaster             

                                           Adventures in Speaking English

                                                      Learn to Express Emotions in Speech

                                          Learn to Speak English

                                                      Learn American English

                                          Ultimate Writing and Creativity Centre

                                                      Ideas for Writing Projects

Encyclopaedia CDs

You can use the encyclopaedia CDs for a variety of activities.

• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• LSRW Skills

Useful CDs

• Reading Blaster
• Adventures in Speaking English
• Learn to Speak English
• Encarta Encyclopaedia
• Brittanica Concise Encyclopedia
• World Book Millennium

Useful Websites

www.coursesuseek.com

www.want2learn.com

www.teachingstylesonline.com

www.unleashenergy.com

Enjoy using Technology!