REMINDER: Special Issue of Language Learning & Technology on LCTLs (Call for Papers deadline - June 1)

[National Foreign Language Resource Center]

Call for Papers for Special Issue of LLT

Theme: Technology and the Less Commonly Taught Languages

Special Issue Editor: Irene Thompson

This special issue of Language Learning & Technology will focus on the role
played by educational technologies in the learning and teaching of LCTLs
(i.e., languages other than the traditionally taught Western European
languages such as English, French, German, and Spanish). Currently, less
than ten percent of students enrolled in foreign language courses in the US
study languages such as Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Chinese, Japanese, Russian,
Hindi, Korean, Indonesian, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese, Swahili,
Yoruba, and other languages critically important to US national interests.
These languages are typologically different from English and are often
written in non-Roman scripts requiring extended seat time to attain a
working proficiency. With instruction often not offered at all, offered on
an irregular basis, or available only at the elementary levels, technology
presents a wide range of opportunities to develop and deliver instructional
materials and methodologies based on sound empirical research.

Please consult the LLT Website for general guidelines on submission
(http://llt.msu.edu/contrib.html) and research
(http://llt.msu.edu/resguide.html).

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

* empirical studies of the impact of CALL-based materials on the acquisition of 
speaking, listening, reading, writing, vocabulary, or grammar skills at various 
levels of proficiency in a range of LCTLs

* intergration of authentic Internet-based materials into LCTL courses,
particularly at the intermediate and advanced levels

* uses of CMC to promote interactive speaking and writing in a range of LCTLs

* studies of the effectiveness of various technological tools in improving 
pronunciation or listening in a range of LCTLs, particularly those with tonal 
systems

* studies of the uses of technology in the acquisition of non-Roman scripts or 
in reading non-Roman scripts (e.g., Arabic, Chinese, Hindi,
Korean, and Russian)

* uses of various types of media in LCTL teacher education

* uses of CMC to promote online intercultural exchanges

* evaluation of uses of technology in self-directed study of LCTLs

* uses of videoconferencing either for distance learning or for adding remote 
classes to live LCTL classes


Please send letter of intent and 250-word abstract by June 1, 2011
to llted at hawaii.edu.

Publication timeline:

* June 1, 2011: Submission deadline for abstracts
* June 15, 2011: Invitation to authors to submit a manuscript
* November 1, 2011: Submission deadline for manuscripts
* February 1, 2013: Publication of special issue