crosspost from CALICO list --- Forwarded Message from CS Ang <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 09:03:06 +0000 >Reply-To: Calico discussion list <[log in to unmask]> >Sender: Calico discussion list <[log in to unmask]> >From: CS Ang <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: the compilation of replies on language learning aspects >Comments: To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] >To: [log in to unmask] Dear All this is the compilation of the replies I got about language learning aspects. ******************************************************************** Dear All Using games in language learning and teaching goes back a long way, pre-dating the introduction of computers in schools. I used to teach numbers by playing Bingo in the classroom back in the 1960s. We also played the board game Monopoly in German, using a version of the game purchased in Germany. An early article by Glyn Jones appeared in System 14, 2 (1986): "Computer simulations in language teaching - the Kingdom experiment". "Yellow River Kingdom", to give the program its full name, was a variant of the old Hamurabi game and came free with the BBC Microcomputer Welcome Pack. Glyn Jones describes how he exploited the program to stimulate conversation among a group of students whose task was to govern the "Kingdom". Around the same time The British Council produced a "survival" game for EFL students entitled "London Adventure". Barry Jones (Homerton College, Cambridge) then came up with the idea of the more elaborate "Granville" simulation for young learners of French. "London Adventure" and "Granville" were published by Cambridge University Press and were bestsellers up until the early 1990s. More recently, we have seen "Who is Oscar Lake?" which is designed for language learners. Other teachers have exploited "Sim City" in much the same way as Glyn Jones exploited "Kingdom". Other game-like programs include TaskMagic" by mdlsoft - very popular in schools in the UK - and the AVP Computing "10 Games" series: "Dix Jeux Fran$E7ais", "Zehn deutsche Spiele" and "Diez Juegos Espanoles" - also very popular in schools in the UK. See: http://www.mdlsoft.co.uk http://www.avp.co.uk Keri Facer, who is a researcher at NESTA FutureLab, is into games and simulations (including geeky stuff such as Anarchy Online - http://www.anarchy-online.com) and she has written at least one report for NESTA FutureLab on ICT and Modern Foreign Languages: Future Directions in Language Teaching and Learning, Seminar Report (May 2002) by Keri Facer, Head of Learning Research, NESTA FutureLab: http://www.nestafuturelab.org/viewpoint/learn04.htm There is a brief mention of games in the above document. Keri may be worth contacting via NESTA FutureLab Regards Graham Davies Emeritus Professor of Computer Assisted Language Learning http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/cvgd.htm ******************************************************************** Dear All Most of the literature concentrates on the four discrete skills: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. You could start with the Council of Europe's Common European Framework document: Council of Europe (2001) Common European Framework of reference: learning, teaching, assessment, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN: Hardback 0521803136, Paperback: 0521005310. See the following website for further information on the Common European Framework (CEF): http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-operation/education/Languages/Language_P olicy The complete text of the Common European Framework (CEF) document can be downloaded from: http://culture2.coe.int/portfolio/documents_intro/common_framework.html See also the DfES Languages Ladder page at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/languages/DSP_languagesladder.cfm See also the MFL pages of the National Curriculum (England) website: http://www.nc.uk.net - especially the Key Stage 3 and Attainment Targets sections. DIALANG offers diagnostic tests in Listening, Reading and Writing in 14 languages. Assessment is geared to the 6-point Common European Framework scale: http://www.dialang.org Regards Graham Davies Emeritus Professor of Computer Assisted Language Learning http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/cvgd.htm ******************************************************************** There is a useful bibliography on second language writing at: <http://clear.msu.edu/research/biblio/> and one on reading at: <http://coe.sdsu.edu/people/jmora/L2Bibliography.htm> Regards Angela Chambers Professor Angela Chambers Director, Centre for Applied Language Studies, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland Tel. + 353 61 202251 Fax: + 353 61 202556 Email: [log in to unmask] ******************************************************************** If you're interested in categories of language learners, consider having a look at my online bibliography of modern foreign languages and special educational needs at: http://www.tomwilson.com/david/mfl/biblio.doc It contains well over 1300 references, covering the teaching of languages to those with cognition, learning, emtional, social, behavioural, communication, interaction, sensory or physical difficulties. You will find a description of the bibliography in the recent European Commission publication "Insights & Innovation Special Educational Needs in Europe. The Teaching and Learning of Languages" at http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/policies/lang/doc/special_en.pdf Hope this helps. David Wilson Harton School, South Shields http://www.specialeducationalneeds.com/ ******************************************************************** Thank you for collating all the replies.Very useful. I suggest you also look at the work of Brenda Laurel and non-CALL games such as THE SIMS since they offer enourmous potential for CALL. Good luck with your work. UF ******************************************************************** Dear Uschi / Colleagues Uschi writes: "I suggest you also look at the work of Brenda Laurel and non-CALL games such as THE SIMS since they offer enourmous potential for CALL." See this website: http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa112198.htm CALL Use in the ESL/EFL Classroom It contains a short section on strategy games (extract below). I remember my colleague Peter Skehan using Sim City at Thames Valley University (TVU) with ESL/ESL students many years ago. Sadly, the once thriving Englsih Language Education school at TVU has now closed. I demonstrated the games Myst and Riven, which are mentioned in the folowing extract, in my WorldCALL 1998 keynote: http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/worldgd1.htm Exercise 2 Strategy Games For younger learners of English, strategy games can be one of the most effective ways to get students to communicate, agree and disagree, ask for opinions and generally use their English in an authentic setting. Students are asked to focus on the successful completion of a task such as solving riddles (Myst, Riven) and developing strategies (SIM City). $B7 Choose a strategy game such as a SIM or mystery $B7 Have students divide into teams $B7 Create a specific task in the game itself, such as the completion of a certain level, the creation of a certain type of environment, the solving of a specific riddle. This is important for providing a framework and specific language needs/goals for a common ground in the classroom. $B7 Have students complete the task. $B7 Have students come together in the classroom and compare strategies. Regards Graham Davies Emeritus Professor of Computer Assisted Language Learning http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/cvgd.htm Email checked with Norton AntiVirus ******************************************************************** Best wishes Chee Siang Ang Research Student Room E548 Centre of Human-computer Interaction Design City University London EC1V 0HB Phone: +44 (0)20 7040 8166 Fax: +44 (0)20 7040 8859