While formal research into the effect various technologies have on vocabulary acquisition is still in its infancy, it is clear that--intentionally or incidentally--students have used various electronic media to learn new words for some time now. Moreover, although it is still far from clear exactly how one acquires vocabulary in a second language…

In a project-based approach to teaching a foreign language at the university level, students are often required to participate in several task-based writing activities. In doing so, language learners not only write incorrect forms, but also correct forms of the same structures, both of which provide useful information on their strengths and…

In this article we examine how instructors make decisions about task design in telecollaboration and the factors that influence these decisions during the actual implementation of the tasks. We begin with a review of the recent literature of online intercultural exchanges to identify and describe a typology of 12 different types of tasks and task…

Describes a stand-alone course titled Using Computers in the Language Classroom that is offered in the master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program in an urban university in Southern California. This collaborative video project allows students to discover firsthand how computer technology can aid classroom learning.…

Gives a brief characterization of the ways second-language acquisition researchers use the computer to elicit second-language (L2) production data or to record how L2 learners process L2 input. Eight tasks and/or techniques are described. Discusses the use of computer technology in ongoing investigations that pertain to the acquisition of…

Discusses the application of digital technologies in education and questions the extent to which increases in the power of computing are reflected in the amount of progress made in using computers in the field of English-language teaching. Concludes by identifying a number of areas in digital education where research could be usefully undertaken.…

Examines the role of the language teacher in the age of computers, which appears radically minimized in the language classroom. Particular examples are drawn from the Stanford Swahili Project. (Author/VWL)

Discusses computer mediated communication (CMC) and how it is used in language learning. Focuses on new forms of discourse, new ways of learning, and multimedia and multi-modal CMC. (Author/VWL)

Posits a reciprocal relation between the popularization of computer-based technology and the democratization of Central/Eastern Europe. Discusses the introduction of the communicative approach to language teaching, the choice of languages in schools, and the potential of new technologies for improving global communication. Advocates coherent…

Examines the Internet's value for second-language learners, arguing for the establishment of a set of criteria with which teachers and students could more confidently optimize the Internet's value. The paper presents four case studies, drawn from experiences at the University of Limerick in Ireland, that illustrate some Internet applications (as a…

Corpus-based instruction, also referred to as corpus-based linguistics, is essentially the study of genre texts for the production of materials that fit a specific group of second language learners. For example, if a group of students is learning the language in order to read medical articles, a specific teaching program can be set up based on the…

Describes an initiative that enabled applied linguistics' students to collaborate on academic writing assignments outside the classroom using a network of wireless laptops to facilitate flexible meeting times and locations. (Author/VWL)

Brief reviews and descriptions cover USENET (for those interested in exploring language and culture on-line); expansion of MINITEL service through interconnection with services in Spain, England, Holland, Germany, and Italy; CTLINK, which allows access to many networks; and EUDORA, an Internet-compatible mail program for MacIntosh computers. (CNP)

Outlines recent concerns regarding a perceived decline in literacy standards in Australia, with reference to changing literacy abilities and standards in tertiary education. Summarizes and critiques current discussions on changes in literacy expectations and contemporary notions of literacy. Concludes with discussion of three important agents of…

Today's mobile computers, digital cameras, and digital camcorders have features that were unimaginable a few years ago. For the foreign-language professional interested in capturing and sharing authentic language materials in digitized form, these new tools offer exciting opportunities for enhanced presentations of target cultures and languages,…