Connecting informal and formal language teaching and learning has gained prominence as a way to understand language development among teenagers, but questions remain regarding its application in L2 contexts. This study investigates the significance of such connections in two L2 English classes taught by the same teacher, where students were…

This article looks at how specific developments in information and communication technologies (ICT) have impacted on ELT over the past three decades. Of particular interest is the effect on classroom practice, and on the types of materials available for teaching and learning. We take as our starting point Mark Warschauer's and Stephen Bax's…

Describes two approaches for uses with computer-assisted vocabulary learning (CAL): (1) uncontextualized CAL, requiring one-word answers and (2) contextualized forms of practice in which a text has to be unscrambled or rebuilt. Discusses some of the advantages of CAL and also some of the problems of using it effectively and integrating it into the…

This article discusses the use and value of text reconstruction (TR) programs in second-language instruction. TR involves the complete, on-screen replacement of a short text by dashes, with the learner restoring the original text by typing in missing letters and words. TR may assist learners gain language competence as part of a sequence of…

Roger Bowers talks to Numa Markee, Director of the Language Learning Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, about people, computers, and language teaching. (Author/VWL)

Not only the teachers but also the administrative boards of many educational institutions are keen on the idea of adopting technology for teaching purposes. However, the process of implementing new technologies and managing radical changes is far from being a straightforward operation. The successful implementation of new technologies requires…

Recounts how the author planned one computer-based language lesson, which she describes as a "disaster," and how she combined her own analysis with feedback from the students to plan a more successful second lesson. Discusses student failure, purpose and motivation, appropriateness of materials, process-oriented learning, and openness between…

The value of using a word processor and its features which help English as a second language students improve their writing are discussed, including student assessment, possible teaching methods, and possible learning activities. (CB)