• Title/Summary/Keyword: Computer-assisted Language Learning

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The Effect of Using WhatsApp on EFL Students' Medical English Vocabulary Learning During the Covid-19 Pandemic

  • Saud Alenezi;Elias Bensalem
    • International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.143-149
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    • 2024
  • The role of social networking mobile applications such as WhatsApp in enhancing second language vocabulary learning among English language learners continues to be a subject of interest for many scholars. The current study aimed at examining medical English vocabulary learning among undergraduate students using WhatsApp compared to learning vocabulary via the Blackboard platform during the Covid-19 pandemic. To this end, 108 medical students (51 males, 57 females) enrolled in a first semester English for a specific English course participated in the study. A quasi-experimental design was adopted for two groups. Fifty-three students participated in the WhatsApp group and 55 students formed the Blackboard group. A pretest-posttest design was employed to collect data. Results of t-test scores did not show a significant difference between the WhatsApp and Blackboard groups on a vocabulary test. Results of a survey that measured students' opinion of the use of WhatsApp as a platform for learning new vocabulary showed positive perceptions since participants thought that WhatsApp enhanced their learning experience.

The effects of self-directed learning through homepage for English reading class (교사-학생간의 홈페이지를 활용한 자기주도적 학습의 효과)

  • Bang, Young-Joo
    • English Language & Literature Teaching
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.187-210
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    • 2006
  • This study aims to investigate the effects of the implementation of self-directed learning through the homepage between the teacher and the students for English reading classes. The study focuses on the questions of whether the self-directed learning through the homepage, compared to the teacher-centered learning, would enable a significantly positive change in the students' achievements and of what their responses to this new learning method are. 72 students were grouped into an experimental and a control group, and then each group was subdivided into three levels (high, medium, low) of proficiency. Findings demonstrate that the experimental group showed statistically more significant increases in their scores of reading proficiency test than the control group. For the question of students' responses to the learning experience, the three groups within the experimental group responded to a questionnaire survey with regard to the positive attitude of learning, the effectiveness of self-directed learning and its learning materials, and usability of the homepage. In general, the experimental group considered the experience satisfactory, although the degree of positive responses varied according to the proficiency level of the group. This suggests the importance and effectiveness of self-directed learning using the computer and internet as a supplementary learning tool.

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Application of the Podcasting in Korean Education -Aimed at Education for the Business School Students- (팟캐스팅의 한국어 교육 적용 사례 연구 -경영학 전공 학습자를 대상으로-)

  • Kim, Yu Mi;Park, Tong Kyu
    • Cross-Cultural Studies
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    • v.31
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    • pp.263-286
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    • 2013
  • The goal of this study is to explore the possibility of applying the podcasting in Korean education for foreign students. To achieve this goal, concepts and applicability of the podcasting is discussed. Previous studies on foreign language education are reviewed and the cases on Korean language education based on technology using mobile phones are investigated. Some of the outstanding merits of the podcasting are found to be its accessibility, mobility and variability along with its room for control by the learners. It also enables the learners to be motivated and to enhance their learning ability. In addition, the podcasting with the content-based instruction is applied for the foreign students majoring in business and its results and implications are discussed. Based on the above results of this study, more active discussions are expected on such issues as educational designs through the podcasting, related variables and the performance evaluation.

AI-based language tutoring systems with end-to-end automatic speech recognition and proficiency evaluation

  • Byung Ok Kang;Hyung-Bae Jeon;Yun Kyung Lee
    • ETRI Journal
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    • v.46 no.1
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    • pp.48-58
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    • 2024
  • This paper presents the development of language tutoring systems for nonnative speakers by leveraging advanced end-to-end automatic speech recognition (ASR) and proficiency evaluation. Given the frequent errors in non-native speech, high-performance spontaneous speech recognition must be applied. Our systems accurately evaluate pronunciation and speaking fluency and provide feedback on errors by relying on precise transcriptions. End-to-end ASR is implemented and enhanced by using diverse non-native speaker speech data for model training. For performance enhancement, we combine semisupervised and transfer learning techniques using labeled and unlabeled speech data. Automatic proficiency evaluation is performed by a model trained to maximize the statistical correlation between the fluency score manually determined by a human expert and a calculated fluency score. We developed an English tutoring system for Korean elementary students called EBS AI Peng-Talk and a Korean tutoring system for foreigners called KSI Korean AI Tutor. Both systems were deployed by South Korean government agencies.

Comparative Study on the Educational Use of Home Robots for Children

  • Han, Jeong-Hye;Jo, Mi-Heon;Jones, Vicki;Jo, Jun-H.
    • Journal of Information Processing Systems
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    • v.4 no.4
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    • pp.159-168
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    • 2008
  • Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), based on already well-researched Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), has been under vigorous scrutiny since recent developments in robot technology. Robots may be more successful in establishing common ground in project-based education or foreign language learning for children than in traditional media. Backed by its strong IT environment and advances in robot technology, Korea has developed the world's first available e-Learning home robot. This has demonstrated the potential for robots to be used as a new educational media - robot-learning, referred to as 'r-Learning'. Robot technology is expected to become more interactive and user-friendly than computers. Also, robots can exhibit various forms of communication such as gestures, motions and facial expressions. This study compared the effects of non-computer based (NCB) media (using a book with audiotape) and Web-Based Instruction (WBI), with the effects of Home Robot-Assisted Learning (HRL) for children. The robot gestured and spoke in English, and children could touch its monitor if it did not recognize their voice command. Compared to other learning programs, the HRL was superior in promoting and improving children's concentration, interest, and academic achievement. In addition, the children felt that a home robot was friendlier than other types of instructional media. The HRL group had longer concentration spans than the other groups, and the p-value demonstrated a significant difference in concentration among the groups. In regard to the children's interest in learning, the HRL group showed the highest level of interest, the NCB group and the WBI group came next in order. Also, academic achievement was the highest in the HRL group, followed by the WBI group and the NCB group respectively. However, a significant difference was also found in the children's academic achievement among the groups. These results suggest that home robots are more effective as regards children's learning concentration, learning interest and academic achievement than other types of instructional media (such as: books with audiotape and WBI) for English as a foreign language.

On Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) on English Grammar

  • Sung, Tae-Soo
    • Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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    • v.23 no.9
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    • pp.65-71
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    • 2018
  • Using mobile technology in educational and learning environments has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. In this mobile environment, mobile phones have been used to enhance the effectiveness of education in the field, which has been recognized through numerous experimental studies so far. The study was proposed and conducted to find out how much the use of mobile phones can have to improve the grammatical knowledge of EFL students. Introduction of 95 intermediate courses to Chungnam area The second grade students of 4-year college participated in this study. Everyone in the experimental and control groups was given the opportunity to review and recur to use the six grammar formats, including the current complete tense, simple past tense, direct and indirect question sentences, and comparative and superative-based methods. During the class discussion, the participants of the group record their voice on their cell phones, analyze the mistakes in the expressions recorded as a task after the class, and explain the results in the next session. However, in the class of the control group participants, this recording process is omitted. Participants benefited from mobile learning were much more positive in multidimensional grammar tests than those in control groups.

A Chatter Bot for a Task-Oriented Dialogue System (목적지향 대화 시스템을 위한 챗봇 연구)

  • Huang, Jin-Xia;Kwon, Oh-Woog;Lee, Kyung-Soon;Kim, Young-Kil
    • KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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    • v.6 no.11
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    • pp.499-506
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    • 2017
  • Chatter bots are normally used in task-oriented dialogue systems to support free conversations. However, there is not much research on how chatter bots as auxiliary system should be different from independent ones. In this paper, we have developed a chatter bot for a dialogue-based computer assisted language learning (DB-CALL) system. We compared the chatter bot in two different cases: as an independent bot, and as an auxiliary system. The results showed that, the chatter bot as an auxiliary system showed much lower satisfaction than the independent one. A discussion is held about the difference between an auxiliary chatter bot and an independent bot. In addition, we evaluated a search-based chatter bot and a deep learning based chatter bot. The advantages and disadvantages of both methods are discussed.

A study on the Elementary Science Curriculum and Computer Based Education (초등과학교육과정과 컴퓨터교육에 관한 연구)

  • Jeong, Jin-Woo
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.17-22
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    • 1988
  • Computer based instruction in the elementary science curriculum will be played an important role through the fifth curriculum reform from the 1989 school year. This is essential for the science instruction because the strategies on the problem-solvings and inquiry approaches can be utilized for the science classroom. Computer education can be thought as the education about the computer and the education using the computer. Of them the education using the computer means the computer assisted instruction(CAI) what is called all the possible activities using the computer in the classroom. Student achievement as the result of CAI depends on the learning activities of students and the instructional techniques and strategies of teachers using the computer. However, computer based education to enhance the student achievement is pointed out the lacks of the standardized Korean alphabet code and the compatibility of qualified software. These problems will be relieved according to the coding for the Korean alphabet of SUPER PILOT program language.

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Why A Multimedia Approach to English Education\ulcorner

  • Keem, Sung-uk
    • Proceedings of the KSPS conference
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    • 1997.07a
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    • pp.176-178
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    • 1997
  • To make a long story short I made up my mind to experiment with a multimedia approach to my classroom presentations two years ago because my ways of giving instructions bored the pants off me as well as my students. My favorite ways used to be sometimes referred to as classical or traditional ones, heavily dependent on the three elements: teacher's mouth, books, and chalk. Some call it the 'MBC method'. To top it off, I tried audio-visuals such as tape recorders, cassette players, VTR, pictures, and you name it, that could help improve my teaching method. And yet I have been unhappy about the results by a trial and error approach. I was determined to look for a better way that would ensure my satisfaction in the first place. What really turned me on was a multimedia CD ROM title, ELLIS (English Language Learning Instructional Systems) developed by Dr. Frank Otto. This is an integrated system of learning English based on advanced computer technology. Inspired by the utility and potential of such a multimedia system for regular classroom or lab instructions, I designed a simple but practical multimedia language learning laboratory in 1994 for the first time in Korea(perhaps for the first time in the world). It was high time that the conventional type of language laboratory(audio-passive) at Hahnnam be replaced because of wear and tear. Prior to this development, in 1991, I put a first CALL(Computer Assisted Language Learning) laboratory equipped with 35 personal computers(286), where students were encouraged to practise English typing, word processing and study English grammar, English vocabulary, and English composition. The first multimedia language learning laboratory was composed of 1) a multimedia personal computer(486DX2 then, now 586), 2) VGA multipliers that enable simultaneous viewing of the screen at control of the instructor, 3) an amplifIer, 4) loud speakers, 5)student monitors, 6) student tables to seat three students(a monitor for two students is more realistic, though), 7) student chairs, 8) an instructor table, and 9) cables. It was augmented later with an Internet hookup. The beauty of this type of multimedia language learning laboratory is the economy of furnishing and maintaining it. There is no need of darkening the facilities, which is a must when an LCD/beam projector is preferred in the laboratory. It is headset free, which proved to make students exasperated when worn more than- twenty minutes. In the previous semester I taught three different subjects: Freshman English Lab, English Phonetics, and Listening Comprehension Intermediate. I used CD ROM titles like ELLIS, Master Pronunciation, English Tripple Play Plus, English Arcade, Living Books, Q-Steps, English Discoveries, Compton's Encyclopedia. On the other hand, I managed to put all teaching materials into PowerPoint, where letters, photo, graphic, animation, audio, and video files are orderly stored in terms of slides. It takes time for me to prepare my teaching materials via PowerPoint, but it is a wonderful tool for the sake of presentations. And it is worth trying as long as I can entertain my students in such a way. Once everything is put into the computer, I feel relaxed and a bit excited watching my students enjoy my presentations. It appears to be great fun for students because they have never experienced this type of instruction. This is how I freed myself from having to manipulate a cassette tape player, VTR, and write on the board. The student monitors in front of them seem to help them concentrate on what they see, combined with what they hear. All I have to do is to simply click a mouse to give presentations and explanations, when necessary. I use a remote mouse, which prevents me from sitting at the instructor table. Instead, I can walk around in the room and enjoy freer interactions with students. Using this instrument, I can also have my students participate in the presentation. In particular, I invite my students to manipulate the computer using the remote mouse from the student's seat not from the instructor's seat. Every student appears to be fascinated with my multimedia approach to English teaching because of its unique nature as a new teaching tool as we face the 21st century. They all agree that the multimedia way is an interesting and fascinating way of learning to satisfy their needs. Above all, it helps lighten their drudgery in the classroom. They feel other subjects taught by other teachers should be treated in the same fashion. A multimedia approach to education is impossible without the advent of hi-tech computers, of which multi functions are integrated into a unified system, i.e., a personal computer. If you have computer-phobia, make quick friends with it; the sooner, the better. It can be a wonderful assistant to you. It is the Internet that I pay close attention to in conjunction with the multimedia approach to English education. Via e-mail system, I encourage my students to write to me in English. I encourage them to enjoy chatting with people all over the world. I also encourage them to visit the sites where they offer study courses in English conversation, vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, reading, and writing. I help them search any subject they want to via World Wide Web. Some day in the near future it will be the hub of learning for everybody. It will eventually free students from books, teachers, libraries, classrooms, and boredom. I will keep exploring better ways to give satisfying instructions to my students who deserve my entertainment.

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Suggesting an English Teaching Method by Utilizing the MMORPG: Focused on Goonzu Global (MMORPG를 활용한 영어교수 방법 제시: 군주 글로벌을 중심으로)

  • Jeong, Dong-Bin;Won, Eun-Sok;Kim, Hyun-Jung
    • Journal of Korea Game Society
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    • v.8 no.4
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    • pp.3-16
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    • 2008
  • This study tried to look into various linguistic elements of MMORPG and suggested teaching methods to be applied in teaching and learning English. To support this idea, diverse attributes of CALL applications were investigated and suggested suitable position of MMORPG in technological stream of CALL. After that, focusing on 'Goonzu Global', the linguistic environment of MMORPG was considered. Based on aforementioned results, this study proposed an effective method to utilize MMORPG in teaching English adopting three teaching methods; collaborative method, task-based learning and problem-based learning.

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