Reports on the exploratory phase of a computer assisted language learning project designed to provide a package enabling students of German as a second language to develop their reading and writing skills, learn new vocabulary and syntactical structure, and enhance their competence in the production of text commentary. (Six references) (Author/CK)

Examines the effect annotation type has on second language incidental vocabulary retention in a multimedia reading setting. Compared three annotation types: text-only, picture-only, and a combination of the two. Indicates the combination group outperformed the text-only and picture-only groups on the immediate tests. There was significant…

Describes the development of an online course that aims to help tertiary students improve their English oral presentation skills. The course aims to allow learners to prepare their presentations out of class and then practice these skills in class with peer and teacher feedback. (Author/VWL)

Describes computer-assisted group project activities, including the creation of a Web site and a poster, employed in a beginners' Japanese language course. Claims that the activities were positively received by students and suggests that three factors such as self-directed learning, group dynamics, and computer-related skills should be taken into…

Presents a multimedia software package for teaching Indonesian listening comprehension and culture and reports the findings of an evaluative study of learner use of the software package. Asserts that there was a clear increase in comfort and confidence levels among learners using technology and high proficiency learners showed higher awareness of…

Explores the types of annotations intermediate and advanced English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learners preferred to use while they were engaged in reading a hypermedia text. Also investigated learners' attitudes towards reading in a hypermedia environment. Participants were 84 adult ESL learners. Participants indicated the hypermedia environment…

The properties of German as a special language of mechanical engineering are examined on the basis of a newly compiled corpus including samples from all important disciplines and discourse styles. The syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic aspects of passive voice are the chief research goal. (Contains five references.) (Author/LB)

The introduction of computer technologies into the regular school system has not been very successful, probably because of the lack of sound curricular integration. Proposals are offered for courseware development that will better fit into the modern languages curriculum. (Contains three references.) (Author/LB)

Argues that the reason computer-based foreign language (FL) materials lack key elements of proficiency-oriented teaching is because FL professionals were excluded from their development. These professionals continue to be excluded because they lack the necessary computer skills; however, computer-oriented training workshops can equip FL…

In a study of language anxiety, a video camera was introduced at various points in a vocabulary learning task. Observations of first-year university students of French revealed significant increases in anxiety when the camera was introduced, along with concomitant deficits in vocabulary acquisition. Implications for remedial action are discussed.…

Compares and evaluates problems encountered when designing hypermedia applications for second-language instruction using Guide 3.1 and ToolBook 1.5. The strengths and limitations of both authoring facilities are discussed and domain-specific recommendations for the optimum delivery of pedagogically-sound practice are provided. (six references)…

This study investigated whether level of achievement and difficulty of task influenced preferences for feedback when doing computerized grammar exercises among high- and low-achievement college students in a third-semester German course. It found that achievement and difficulty of task had no significant impact. (63 references) (MDM)

Data analysis using the Macintosh SoundEdit software showed that the signal contains the exact reverse of what the phonological rules of assimilation predict, i.e., the rules are not based on actual differences in the acoustic signal. Possible applications of SoundEdit in helping second-language learners improve their pronunciation are discussed.…

A book entitled "Interactive French Language Curricula of the Future: A Study of Computer and Video Potential" by Lydie Meunier-Cinko is summarized. Some examples of current computer and video use are outlined, with language skill applications discussed, and future design of interactive language curricula is examined. (MSE)

Describes projects at the University of Central Florida to test new training technologies under controlled but realistic settings. Original plans for an "Experimental Prototyping Classroom" are discussed; and current developments in language training research, gaming technology, and virtual environments are described. (EAM)