Computer-assisted language learning: activities and techniques?

[Slava Paperno]

The only class time my students spend using technology is the one weekly advanced writing class where I talk to each of them and also the group as they are revising their essays in the lab. They write the essays online (from home) the night before, then I read and annotate these drafts before the class, and during the class I discuss the trickier problems with each, and address common problems in a general discussion as they work on their revisions. Like Robin, I also use this time to show them how to use the online resources (including the Национальный корпус русского языка at http://ruscorpora.ru/) to find many of the answers. Other than that, technology is used, one way or another, in practically every homework assignment.

Slava Paperno

> -----Original Message-----
> From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list
> [mailto:SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Richard Robin
> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 8:54 AM
> To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
> Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Computer-assisted language learning: activities
> and techniques?
> 
> I second Tom Beyer’s notion that in most cases, it's best to keep the
> technology at home for homework and out of the classroom — unless, of
> course, were talking about distance learning.
> 
> After all, the students have access to the technology at any time. They
> have
> access to the teacher for a few hours a week in most teaching
> situations in
> college. So every moment of face time in class is precious.
> 
> There are, of course, exceptions. I have a tech classroom one hour a
> week in
> a normal 8-hour/week intensive teaching schedule for first year
> Russian. I
> actually use the technology for only about 15-20 minutes of the
> allotted
> hour to things like these:
> 
> 1. Show videos with targeted captions
> 
> 2. Make pre-arranged group Skype calls to people in Russia.
> 
> 3. Do group work on reading/listening, using the Internet.
> 
> 4. Demonstrate how to use technology at home (Google as the world’s
> greatest
> phraseological dictionary, where to go for “easy” authentic material,
> how to
> use “Katya,” the Russian TTS voice, etc.
> 
> I might be leaving out some activities, but basically, I want students
> to
> make heavy use of the technology at home: working with online
> audio/video,
> exploring various Russian sites, recording themselves in various
> activities
> using audio drop-boxes, etc.
> 
> None of this is to say that I denigrate the use of technology in FL
> teaching. I spent no small amount of time creating the technological
> scaffolding that students will use — but at home.
> 
> On Wed, Oct 20, 2010 at 7:16 AM, Beyer, Tom <beyer at middlebury.edu>
> wrote:
> 
> > One interesting social network application is livemocha.
> Www.livemocha.com
> > .
> > It may appeal to beginning students. In general I try to use
> technology
> > outside of class. Most students have access to PCs and classroom time
> is at
> > a premium. At best use the lab to show students what is available.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 8/21/10 12:42 AM, "Olga Livshin" <afol at UAA.ALASKA.EDU> wrote:
> >
> > > Dear All,
> > >
> > > I am wondering if anyone can suggest resources on (and/or
> successful
> > examples
> > > of) specific techniques and sample activities for teaching
> languages with
> > the
> > > student use of computers in the classroom. I will be able to teach
> with
> > the
> > > use of a language lab at my university this fall, and I'd like to
> make
> > this
> > > aspect of learning effective for my students.
> > >
> > > I am aware of a few different forms of computer-assisted language
> > learning, as
> > > well as some activities (e.g., collaborative writing, "shopping"
> online,
> > > e-mail pen-pals, talking and chat through Skype or similar
> software). I
> > would
> > > be interested in knowing how successful these or other activities
> have
> > been
> > > for others. Small-group activities with the use of commonly used
> software
> > (a
> > > Web browser, Microsoft Word, and/or Skype) are especially of
> interest.
> > >
> > > Many thanks for your time!
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Olga Livshin
> > > University of Alaska Anchorage
> > >
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> 
> 
> --
> Richard M. Robin
> Director Russian Language Program
> The George Washington University
> Washington, DC 20052
> 202-994-7081
> 
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