--- Forwarded Message from David Weible <[log in to unmask]> ---

>To: [log in to unmask]
>From: David Weible <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: designing a language learning center from scratch
>Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 09:01:47 -0500

I know this topic has come up in the past -- repeatedly, if I'm not
mistaken. But that was then and this is now.
It seems to me that the proliferation of ancillary CD-ROMs accompanying
text books and web-based instructional materials, not to mention other
internet resources have all weakened certain aspects of traditional
language lab functions. Trying to project these trends into the future,
what do you see to be the strengths now (and tomorrow) of instructional
technology in foreign language learning. To put it another way, if you
were starting from scratch, what are the component elements of such a
unit which you would regard as essential and/or highly desirable.

In particular, what can and should be provided by such a unit which
would not already be available in a computer lab, or, for that matter,
on one's own home computer?

Among other possibilities, how do you feel about:
live foreign language audio, video
speech recognition
speech evaluation (programs which attempt to compare a learner's
pronunciation to a given model
on demand use by individual students
use by classes
locally developed CALL materials
use for second language acquisition research purposes (important to us)

Any and all feedback on this will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

David Weible
Associate Professor and Acting Head
Department of Germanic Studies (MC 189)
University of Illinois at Chicago
Room 1530, University Hall
601 S. Morgan St.
Chicago, IL  60607-7115
Tel: 312-996-3205, Fax 312-413-2377
www.german.uic.edu



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