--- Forwarded Message from "Lizz Caplan-Carbin, Ph.D." <[log in to unmask]>
---

>Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 17:04:10 -0500
>From: "Lizz Caplan-Carbin, Ph.D." <[log in to unmask]>
>User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.4)
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>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
<[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #7634 Computer-assisted language learning
>References: <[log in to unmask]>
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>

Computer assisted language learning is not designed to replace human
interaction. Its best promise is in providing multi-modal input to
remote learners, and in offering self-paced, self-controlled instruction.

I can stare at a text page of vocabulary for hours and not feel
confident that I have learned anything. But if I play a set of Quia
exercises, for example, I am 100% certain that I know what I've learned.
Its fast and enjoyable and lays a fine foundation for communication.

The greatest thing about Hot Potatoes, Makers, Discovery, and other quiz
engines, is that the learner can create their own exercises as a way of
processing the material.

Hot Potatoes is best for teachers to create customized exercises really
fast. A lot of the exercises you find on the web are tailored to
someone's class curriculum as a supplement.

My latest Hot Potato:
http://webgerman.com/german/wortschatz/Begriffe/match1.htm


LLTI-Editor wrote:

>Everyone I have talked to have been saying some wonderful things about
>computer-assisted language learning. The schools here (in Malaysia) are also
>being equipped with computers so that language learning is more effective.
>However, I am a little sceptical about this. If language learning is a social
>activity and so it is most effective if there is interaction between people.
>However, lessons on the web allow limited interaction for the learners. For
>example, lessons using the Hotpotatoes programme only allow the learners to
>carry out activities and limited feedback is given. There is no genuine
>interaction. How can this promote language learning? I hope those who have used
>this programme or others can respond to this. Thank you.
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