Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Although the use of personal computers has proliferated into the workplace as well as in academe, there is a paucity of published research on computer-assisted language learning (CALL). Conrad (1996) reviewed several professional journals (Modern Language Journal; Foreign Language Annals; Unterrichtproxis; French Review; Hispania; and System) published from 1992-1995 and reports that only 1.4% of the articles published addressed empirical CALL studies. The majority of CALL articles are practical in nature and showcase a software program or suggest guidelines for the implementation of software. The few empirical CALL studies published have focused on topics such as feedback (Brandl, 1995; Nagata, 1993; Nagata & Swisher, 1995; Robinson, 1989, 1991); pronunciation and intonation training (Stenson et al., 1992); interactive reading (Svenconis & Kerst, 1995); computer-facilitated student interaction and talk (Beauvois, 1992; Chun, 1994; Cononelos and Olivia, 1993; Meunier, 1994); writing (Armstrong & Yetter-Vassot, 1994; Barnett, 1989; Greenia, 1992); and cognitive style (Liu & Reed, 1994; Raschio, 1990). Previous studies on technology and language learning have compared the effectiveness of a new technology with more traditional modes of learning. In general, these studies have examined learning over a short time period such as a few days. For example, Raschio (1990) explored the cognitive style (field dependent or field independent) of 62 first semester Spanish students. The goal of both the control and experimental groups was to learn how to form Spanish direct and indirect object pronouns over a two day period; day three was reserved for testing. The results did not reveal any statistically significant relationships between the level of field dependence, mode of instruction (printed vs. CALL), and student achievement. Although the study did unveil some interesting findings regarding student attitudes, Raschio suggests that the profession needs to modify its traditional research framework to include process variables, not just outcomes in second language learning. Besides a lack of research-oriented CALL articles, few published evaluations of second language (L2) programs have integrated CALL into the curriculum. Johnson (1985) conducted a study on computer-assisted learning to promote L2 acquisition, but her report focused primarily on such issues as equal access, software development, computers in composition, typical practices, and model programs. There appears to be no published article on language program evaluation intended to assess language skill development and the integration of technology into the curriculum.1 At the beginning of this decade, Garrett (1991) articulated a number of research questions regarding program development and technology, What
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In the 1980s, CALL software featured a behavioral or stimulus-response approach to language learning by stressing mastery of grammatical properties or discrete-point learning (Conrad, 1996; Johnson, 1992; Pusack & Otto, 1997). Much of the software was grounded in a transmission approach to learning. For example, Johnson (1992) reviewed the ESL software for language minority children and found that in general these programs focused on grammatical forms, many of which were not that particularly useful. Recently, tremendous progress has been made in technology, and the profession has broadened its interest in the role of technology to encompass a multimedia approach by including computers with CD-ROM drives, videodisc players, video players, and hypermedia capabilities. In this respect, the preferable use of multimedia has evolved from an add on component (CALL) to a fully integrated feature of the foreign language curriculum (TELL). Pusack and Otto (1997) advocate that the strength of multimedia is the synergy derived from presenting content using a variety of modalities (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) that are linked together in meaningful ways [italics added] to provide an in-depth experience. Multimedia also has the advantage of providing students with longer stretches of oral and written discourse embedded within a rich visual cultural context for communication (Garrett, 1991). Technological advances, such as the World Wide Web, connect our students to up-to-date authentic realia and to native speakers. Multimedia thus has the capability to stretch our curriculum beyond the traditional walls of the classroom and to integrate much needed sociolinguistic authenticity into our programs (Meunier, 1994). Besides expanding its orbit of interest to include a multimedia approach, the profession has also redefined the role of technology in L2 learning.
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Computer-Mediated Writing
The research concerning computer-assisted composing and the development of L2 writing has produced diverse results. While some studies indicate that students spend more time and write more at the computer (Hawisher, 1989; Roblyer et al., 1988), some writers tend to plan less and give less attention to their ideas or content (Haas, 1989; Theismeyer, 1989). Costanzo (1994) stresses that newer word-processing software incorporates a process-oriented approach to writing as a recursive process of discovery, elaboration, and revision. Bernhardt et al. (1989), Phinney (1988) and Rodrigues (1985) have stressed that many of the studies that report on computer-mediated writing have been short-term studies. Phinney (1991) argues that at least one semester is needed for positive improvement in students writing to occur. Phinney (1989) also notes the important role of the teacher to serve as a guide in assisting learners on how to use computers in the writing process, Without specific instruction in using the computer to facilitate the writing process, from prewriting to revision, the computer alone, appears to have little effect in changing the writing behavior of naive writers. Studies of student motivation and attitude toward writing have produced more positive results (Daiute 1984; Neu & Scarcella; 1991). For example, Phinney (1991) found that computer composing reduced blocking problems and improved the students overall attitude toward writing in English. Phinney noted, however, the importance of the teachers role in providing writing activities during regular class time which stressed brainstorming, drafting exercises, peer-commenting, and revising of drafts. Studies investigating computer networks used in L1 and L2 classes underscore that these networks encourage more written discussion and therefore more involvement on the part of the learner (Bump, 1990; DiMatteo, 1990; Kelm, 1992).
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Multimedia capabilities such as audio/videotapes, CD-ROMs, videodiscs, the World Wide Web, E-mail exchanges, and electronic conferencing, enable the profession to incorporate much needed sociolinguistic authenticity into the L2 classroom (Meunier, 1994). Lafford and Lafford (1997) explain that access to multimedia capabilities facilitates the learners understanding of the various social and psychological forces at work today in the target culture and provides a context in which students can interpret the behavior of the target culture inhabitants. These authentic materials can serve as the tools to frame meaningful, communicative classroom-based discussions. Furthermore, the use of video exposes students to native speakers using appropriate interactional communication strategies including nonverbal or kinesthetic behaviors.
Since language is a social phenomenon, language learning occurs through social interaction involving teachers and more capable peers (Tharp & Gallimore, 1988; Vygotsky, 1978; Wertsch, 1979). Similarly, multimedia is now seen as a tool to enhance communication and discovery-oriented learning, much of which can be accomplished by working cooperatively in small groups. In this way, multimedia is a tool which assists the learners as they work in their zones of proximal development (Vygotsky, 1978). Cooperation with a teacher, more capable peers, or with multimedia allows students to perform tasks that they would be incapable of performing on their own. Generally, these shared activities need to be followed by individual practice on a similar task until learners can perform the task independently (Cummins, 1991). Multimedia can thus assist learners to move from the interpsychological to the intrapsychological level (Vygotsky, 1978). Johnson (1991) found that integrating computers into the classroom can promote cooperative learning. Rather than isolating and promoting asocial behavior, as many had feared, there is a growing body of evidence that computer use can promote new ways of working together, productive peer teaching, as well as high quality social and academic task-based interaction, and that these kinds of interaction are related to higher levels of interest, motivation and achievement. The teacher, of course, plays a critical role in selecting computer software that will influence the sociocultural dynamic of cooperative group work (Johnson, 1992; Mydlarski, 1987; Piper, 1986).
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Brown (1989, 1995) defines language program evaluation as the systematic collection and analysis of information necessary to improve a curriculum, assess its effectiveness and efficiency, and determine participants attitudes within the context of a particular institution. Brown (1989) continues by saying that formative evaluation occurs during the development of a program; the purpose of gathering information is to improve the program. Summative evaluation occurs at the end of the program, and the purpose of gathering information is to determine whether the program was successful. Various evaluation models exist as well. A participatory model of evaluation can be preferable to an outside expert model because the latter often encourages adversarial roles between the expert and the teacher. Consequently, Alderson and Scott (1992) recommend a collaborative or participatory model which includes a consultant who provides expertise and guidance along with the teacher(s) of the program. A participatory evaluation model centers on insiders though benefitting from the advice of outsiders. Ross (1992) concurs with the notion of a collaborative or participatory model for it decreases the teachers anxiety of being watched and allows direct participation by the teacher as both practitioner and observer. In addition, Beretta (1986) summarizes the strengths of two frameworks, field research and laboratory research, and argues for more field research in language program evaluation. Beretta notes that field research is longterm, classroom-based inquiry into the effects of a program and that laboratory research is short-term and only involves the testing of individual components of a theory in an environment in which extraneous variables are artificially held constant. A further consideration is the timing of the evaluation: during or after the program or both and for how long? Brown (1995) examined language evaluation programs between 1988 and 1994. Thirteen of the 16 language evaluations were longitudinal in nature and ranged from two months to three and a half years. These evaluations were conducted during the programs. Evaluations can also occur at the end of a program. For example, Snow and Brintons (1988) evaluation used a retrospective format after students had completed a content-based program. Pitiyanuwat (1986) notes that the profession needs to gather data from students after they have finished a program and actually have to use the language. Brown (1995) suggests that the best framework would include evaluation during the program, immediately after, and later in a follow-up phase. With regard to data collection, Alderson and Scott (1992) point out that quantitative data are both easier to gather, and more amenable to analysis and summary. However, a number of researchers (Beretta, 1986;
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THE PROJECT
Project Rationale and History
We conducted a semester-long evaluation of the integration of TELL into a second semester French class. We chose to examine the impact of replacing one class per week with multimedia activities for four reasons: (a) the paucity of empirical research on the effects of TELL over time, (b) the mandate from our university to make learning remote in time and space, (c) the difficulty students had enrolling in four-day-a-week courses, and (d) the success we had had with computerized grammar and vocabulary exercises in our self-paced courses. Informal observation indicated that even though the self-paced students had minimal contact with a professor and other students, many of them excelled in their writing. Some students mentioned using Dasher2 exercises as a way to prepare for written portions of the course exams. Endeavoring to be thorough in our program evaluation, we drew on the strengths of multiple evaluative procedures. Although our evaluation was primarily summative in that we sought to establish whether the TELL curriculum was successful in meeting our goals, we also conducted formative evaluations in order to improve continually the TELL components. According to a participatory model, we did field research in a classroom context throughout the entire semester. We collected both quantitative and qualitative data in order to assess both the process and product of language learning.
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During our spring 1996 pilot study, students in one section of secondsemester French at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) participated in the following multimedia activities in lieu of the fourth contact hour: computerized grammar and vocabulary exercises using Dasher, instructional videos, and optional use of an on-line spell-checker and French-English glossary. A control group followed the traditional syllabus, meeting four times per week. Qualitative and quantitative data on student performance, anxiety, and motivation were gathered to determine whether segments of language courses could be reasonably expected to become remote in space and time and still ensure that students develop an appropriate level of proficiency in all skill areas. We found parity on the measures of anxiety, motivation, listening, reading, and writing. Although both groups showed significant improvement on the posttest of cultural understanding, the treatment group showed significantly more improvement than the control group (p = .019). Furthermore, there was a strong trend toward significance (p = .066) of the treatment group scoring better on the semester-end speaking test. Given these encouraging results, we revised the course and the study design to answer more research questions. Specifically, whereas Dasher exercises had been the primary focus of the pilot study, the study currently being reported incorporated a rotation of multimedia-based reading, grammar, vocabulary, and listening exercises with systematic speaking and writing follow-up activities.
Research Questions
The primary purpose of our study was to investigate the feasibility and desirability of replacing the fourth contact hour with multimedia activities outside the classroom. Our evaluation of this program was intended to answer the following questions: 1. Would the TELL experimental group students perform as well as the control group in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural understanding? 2. How would TELL affect student foreign language motivation and anxiety? 3. How would TELL affect students perception of meeting the language learning goals they set? 4. In what ways would TELL modify the roles of the teacher and students? 5. More generally, would the TELL course be an effective curricular design for achieving second language development in this context?
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We began the study by administering a demographic and language background questionnaire in order to determine whether the treatment group (n = 17) and control group (n = 16) were similar. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of sex, age, grade point average and year in college. There were 5 women and 12 men in the treatment group, and 7 women and 9 men in the control group. The students ranged in age from 19 to 33, but most were of traditional college age. Students had declared majors in five of the seven colleges at CMU, representing the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, technology, fine arts, and business. Despite CMUs reputation for technology, 21 of these 33 students were majoring in the humanities, social sciences, or fine arts. Every student was familiar with computers; 21 owned a computer, and only one student in the treatment group reported not being comfortable using a computer. Although the majority of the students in both groups were American by birth and native speakers of English, many students reported knowing other languages. Out of the total number of students, only two from the control group reported that most of their experience in French had been outside the classroom. Half of the students in each group had taken the first semester French course with the researcher/instructor the previous semester. This facilitated conversation among the students, since many already knew each other and were familiar with the teaching style and general course requirements.
COURSE DESIGN
We conducted the research over the course of the spring 1997 semester in a second semester French course, which used chapters 6-10 of Allonsy (Bragger & Rice, 1996). The treatment group met three days a week from 10:30 to 11:20, and, in lieu of the fourth class period, students chose when and where to do the multimedia components. The control group met four days a week, from 12:30 to 1:20, and prepared the same multimedia components that were assigned to the treatment group, but in class, on paper, or by watching the video as a group. Both groups were assigned identical writing homework and follow-up speaking tasks. The control group completed these tasks in class and for homework. The treatment group prepared the assignments on their own time. For both groups, the speaking tasks were evaluated in class, and the writing tasks were collected and graded. The challenge was to incorporate systematically the four language skills and cultural understanding into the students work on a weekly basis. We developed a 12-week rotation of three TELL components that were familVolume 17 Number 2 277
In order to test our primary hypothesis that students using the TELL components in lieu of one class period per week would perform French tasks in all the skills as well as students meeting four times a week, we collected a variety of qualitative and quantitative data early, throughout, and near the end of the semester (see Table 1). Table 1 Overview of Data Collected from Treatment and Control Groups
Foreign Language Motivationa Foreign Language Anxietyb Goal Setting/Attainment & Affective Questionnairec Cultural Knowledge Listening Speaking Reading Writing Early-semester data 24-item measure 20-item measure open-ended questionnaire Quiz 5 achievement tests Paired Test 5 achievement tests Writing on first lab 5 achievement tests and on first weekly lab followachievement test d up activities 12 weekly labs (treatment group only) 12 weekly labs (treatment group only) Paired Test Writing on last lab and last achievement test During-semester data End-of-semester data 24-item measure 20-item measure open-ended questionnaire Quiz
Time on Task
Students Perspectives
The Foreign Language Motivation measure was adapted from Tremblay and Gardner (1995; personal communication, November 1995). b The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale was adapted from Horwitz and Young (1991). c The Goal Setting and Affective Questionnaire was adapted from Chamot (personal communication, November 1995). We also collected information about learning styles using Reids Perceptual Learning Style Preferences Questionnaire (1987), but these data were not conclusive. d Both groups had the same weekly homework writing assignments and test items. An independent rater used an adapted form of the ESL Composition Profile (Glisan, 1981) to rate early and late semester writing samples. Note that the first and last writing test items are also reported as part of the MANOVA analysis of the achievement tests from throughout the semester. e Students perceptions of improvement in listening, speaking, reading, writing, cultural knowledge and self-confidence were gathered on an end-of-semester open-ended questionnaire. (See end-of-semester questionnaire in Appendix D.)
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In addition to demographic background, we examined whether the groups differed on measures of foreign language motivation and anxiety. Both measures consisted of statements answered using a Likert scale ranging from 1 strongly agree to 5 strongly disagree. We adapted 18 items about students motivation to learn French from Tremblay and Gardners questionnaire designed for students of French in Canada (1995; personal communication, November 1995). These items reflected various aspects of their expanded construct of language learning motivation (e.g., desire to learn French, motivational intensity, persistence, and instrumental and integrative orientations). We then added six technology related questions such as The thought of using various types of technology to learn French sounds interesting, and I would rather spend my time on activities that do not require the use of technology, to determine whether there were differences between the two groups in their motivation to use technology as a means of learning French.
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Very much linked to students motivation to learn French and their language learning performance is the setting of specific goals (Tremblay & Gardner, 1995).4 Therefore, using a simple open-ended questionnaire, we asked students to state their personal goals for this course: Why are you taking elementary French II? Please state your projected goals for this course. Be as specific as possible. Near the end of the semester, we asked, This is the end of the semester in elementary French II. Do you believe that you have made progress toward your projected goals for the course? The goals students reported were similar for both groups. The majority (treatment group, 10 of 17 and control, 11 of 16) had linguistic goals such as gaining fluency, especially in spoken French. Only one or two in each group stated that they were taking French because it fulfilled a general education requirement. (There is no foreign language requirement at CMU.) Other goals included learning about French/Francophone culture, traveling, using French in their careers, and living abroad. At the end of the semester, 14 of the 17 students in the treatment group reported that they had met their goals, two said they almost had, and one said he or she had not met the projected goals. In the control group, 11 of the 15 students who filled out the final goals questionnaire stated they had made clear progress, and four students had made some progress, but not as much as they had hoped for. Treatment group students reported, I am more confident and not afraid to speak, Im on my way to being fluent, I have sharpened my French skills, I am more confident in my reading, writing, speaking skills, I have almost met my goals. Control
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We designed a culture quiz to diagnose knowledge of both general facts about the Francophone world, and specific facts about topics treated that semester (e.g., university studies, shopping, lodging). (See the culture quiz in Appendix B.) The treatment group significantly outperformed the control group on both the prequiz and postquiz, with average scores of 68.4% and 76.0% versus 57.0% and 61.9% respectively (see Table 2).
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End-of-semester data Mean SD 76.0 61.9 p < .005b 86.1 91.1 p < .05b 18.94 18.38 n.s. 17.93 16.92 n.s.d 12.9 13.3
68.4 57.0 p < .05 80.8 78.9 n.s. 17.41 17.31 n.s. 15.21 18.25 p < .05
13.5 11.0
7.8 13.8
6.2 7.2
2.06 2.36
2.03 2.09
3.29 2.74
2.30 4.10
We used t-tests to examine differences in mean scores between the treatment and control groups. b When change over time was taken into consideration, there was no significant difference between the treatment and control groups in cultural understanding and speaking. c Whereas all the students took the exams, several students did not turn in their homework. d There was a significant difference between the groups in the way they changed over time; the control groups homework writing scores decreased, and the treatment groups writing scores increased.
However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in average gain made over the semester (computed as postquiz score minus prequiz score).
EVALUATING SPEAKING
SKILLS
Early and late in the semester, students took an audio-recorded, paired speaking test administered by the instructor and then rated blindly by another member of our research team. The speaking test focused on functional use of language and meaning-making and consisted of three parts: picture description, a role play, and past narration cued by a series of pictures. (See the oral test in Appendix C.) The early and late tests were similar in format, but the tasks were somewhat altered such that students
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Throughout the semester, students took five achievement tests, each one testing listening, reading and writing, all at a paragraph length discourse level. These tests were designed and graded by the instructor.5 We used a Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to examine the difference between the groups performance on these tests in each skill. In listening, there was no significant difference between the two groups (see Table 3).
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Writingb Mean SD 80.5 88.6 80.0 88.4 79.9 77.3 73.5 62.3 82.6 79.4 7.8 5.1 6.7 5.8 8.0 12.1 10.0 10.0 7.3 8.3
Note: For all tests, Treatment Group (n = 17) and Control Group (n = 16).
a
We used MANOVA to examine differences between mean scores for the treatment and control groups in listening, reading and writing. For listening, there was no significant difference between the groups. The treatment group scored significantly better than the control group on reading (Wilks Lambda = .41; F(5,26) = 7.62, p < .001) and writing (Wilks Lambda = .24; F(5,26) = 16.18, p < .001). b The writing on the first and last test was also analyzed by an independent rater using a different scale. See Table 2.
In reading, the treatment group performed significantly better than the control group (Wilks Lambda = .41; F(5,26) = 7.62, p. < .001). Similarly, in writing, the treatment group outperformed the control group (Wilks Lambda = .24; F(5,26) = 16.18, p. < .001). In order to further investigate the difference between the groups in writing, we had an independent rater analyze the writing on the first and last achievement tests and the first and last homework writing assignment (follow-ups to labs 1 and 12 for the treatment group and the analogous homework done by the control group).6 There was no significant difference between the group means on the first test, on the final test, nor in the amount of improvement shown by each group over time. In the writing homework, however, the control groups mean on the first assignment was significantly higher than that of the treatment group (treatment group mean = 15.21; control group mean = 18.25, p < .05).
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For each of the twelve weeks of TELL labs, the treatment group filled out a lab assignment sheet. (See the Lab Assignment Sheet in Appendix A.) Table 4 portrays the systematic cycling of the Reader , Dasher exercises and Allons-y video for each of the five chapters.
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Note that the range of time spent decreased from over an hour in the first three chapters to a little over a half hour in the final two chapters. The reason for this trend is unclear; students possibly learned to use the technology more efficiently or simply felt they had less time to spend on the labs as the semester progressed. In addition, the dramatic decrease in time spent doing Dasher exercises between lab assignments 7 and 9 no doubt resulted from our decision to turn off Dashers triple repetition of items answered wrong before giving students the correct answer. This repetition had proved frustrating to students and thus seemed to hamper rather than enhance learning.
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Over the semester, the average student ranking of the lab assignments by chapter was fairly constant, from 3.5 to 3.9 on a Likert scale of 1 poor to 5 great (see Table 5). The range in students assessments of lab assignments, however, decreased slightly. The waning novelty of the TELL components as well as the general semester-end anxiety college students experience was perhaps counterbalanced by their familiarity with and enjoyment of the lab components. Of the three component types, students preferred the video (4.2 ranking) to the Reader and Dasher (3.5 and 3.4 respectively). This preference was evident in the weekly lab reports, the semester-end questionnaire (see the final questionnaire in Appendix D), as well as the five follow-up interviews we conducted with treatment group students. In addition to spending the least amount of time on the video, students reported that they often viewed the tapes with a classmate. The students explained how their collaboration was beneficial, Yes, we collaborated, because we are both strong in different areas. Working together increased how much we got out of the lab assignments. Another student stated, With the videos, if I couldnt understand a part, then I was able to ask the other student if she knew. Between the both of us, we could work it out together. This spontaneous pair work increased their ability to understand these videos. Students also found the videos to be the richest source of cultural information. In spite of some students being annoyed by the precision required by Dasher, seven students reported that they liked Dasher. On the final questionnaire, they said, for example, that Dasher gave an opportunity to focus on the finer details of grammar, and that Dasher gave good practice by example. A few students critiqued Dashers identical treatment of all errors (e.g., grammar, spelling, accents). On the final questionnaire, students were most critical of the Reader. One or two students praised the readings for giving them first-hand experience in French and for being informative, but others found them tedious. The most substantial critique made by a few students on the semester-end questionnaire and in the follow-up interviews was that the current design of the Reader did not need to be electronic. It worked equally well with pencil and paper. If, however, the students chose to print out the Reader assignment, they were unable to access the glossary and the cultural and grammatical notes intended to inform their reading and help them develop their reading strategies. Worthy of note is the fact that the Reader was the one multimedia component that had not been piloted in second semester French, so it follows that changes in its design and implementation would be required.8 We asked the treatment group students to indicate whether they felt the
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THE CHANGING
Given the results of this study and its supporting academic research base, it would seem appropriate to institute some form of TELL-based curriculum for foreign language courses. However, implementing a TELLbased curriculum may be a challenging task for teachers, administrators,
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Discussion
Let us summarize the findings by answering our research questions. 1. Will the TELL experimental group students perform as well as the control group in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural understanding? Treatment group students performed as well as control group students in listening, and they outperformed them in reading and writing overall on the achievement tests (see Table 3). In writing homework, there was a significant difference between the groups in the way they changed over time; the control groups homework writing scores decreased, and the treatment groups writing scores increased (see Table 2). More treatment students than control group students indicated that they felt the TELL components (or analogous in-class activities) had helped them develop their writing skills. Fewer treatment group students perceived the labs as having helped them in their speaking, and they performed somewhat more poorly than the control group on the final speaking test. There was, however, no statistically significant difference between the groups when change over time on the pre- and postspeaking test was taken into consideration. On both the pre- and postquiz of cultural knowledge, the experimental group did better than the control group; they continued to score significantly higher, even though both groups improved considerably on this measure.
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Fill out this checklist for each assignment you do using multimedia or language software.
Task Where? How long? Assessment Scale: 1 (poor) to 5 (great)
Check tools used Fre Glossary (elec.) Paper Dictionary Netscape Dasher ModLang Server LLRC computers Spellchecker Grammar reference Allons-y textbook Verb book Other? (please list)
1-2-3-4-5
Additional information (you may be brief): 1. Please comment on why you chose the assessment (1-5) above.
2. How did you feel during this assignment? (upset, nervous, enthusiastic, interested, bored...)
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b. A loral: Prparez un dialogue entre vous et le vendeur ou la vendeuse chez la librairie. Achetez tout ce quil vous faut pour la rentre.
Answer the questions in English, or give the French expression where asked. 1. Define Francophone. 2. Name five Francophone countries (not France). 3. Name five cities in France. 4. Name denominations of French and Canadian currency. 5. Name as many forms of public transportation in Paris as you can. 6. What can you use, besides coins, to make a phone call in France, and where would you go to get one? 7. a. Name a French political figure. b. Name a French film star. c. Name a French scientist.
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8. a.
b. How do you say youre feeling fine? 9. What are some things that French people typically have for breakfast? 10. What is a croque-monsieur? a. a drink b. an opera c. a sandwich d. a type of building 11. Label the order in which the following items are typically served during a French dinner: salad cheese coffee main dish dessert 12. What would you purchase at a charcuterie? 13. Which best describes a traditional French university. a. a complex of classroom buildings and sports facilities b. a sprawling suburban campus c. an urban campus, no green areas 14. Which field of study does lettres refer to? a. education b. fine arts c. humanities d. sciences 15. Where do most French university students live? a. in rented rooms in town b. in university dorms c. with their families 16. How are floors of a building numbered in France? 17. Whats a deux-pices? a. a coin b. an apartment c. a theater d. a vehicle 18. What does a green cross refer to? a. a church b. a pharmacy c. a political party 19. What are the following (city, region, country) and where are they located? What do you associate with each one? What? Where? Association? a. Guadeloupe b. Morocco c. Louisiana d. Normandy e. Bordeaux 20. How would you describe French people to someone from your country? What stereotypes do you have of French people? Why?
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5 5 5
4 4 4
3 3 3
2 2 2
1 1 1
0 0 0
/15
5 5 3 5
4 4
3 3 2 3
2 2
1 1 1 1
0 0 0 0 /18
5 5 5
4 4 4
3 3 3
2 2 2
1 1 1
0 0 0
/15
/6
/54
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Nieves (1994) did a pilot study exploring the use of a multimedia program in Spanish entitled Exito. The project included the development of a first-semester Spanish course using multimedia, classroom-based activities based on the multimedia materials and assessment of the students language development. The research project highlighted that students could develop a beginning level of proficiency in Spanish by interacting with the multimedia program and by meeting with a professor in small groups one period per week.
2
We used the Dasher authoring system to create vocabulary and grammar exercises (Pusack & Otto, 1992).
3
It is not our intent to promote any particular software, video, or textbook materials. Since we were working at Carnegie Mellon University, we chose materials already adopted and tested by the Department of Modern Languages.
4
Following Chamot, (personal communication, November 1995), we also collected information about students affect at the beginning and end of the semester. It is beyond the scope of this article to report those findings.
5
We would have preferred to administer externally rated pre- and posttests on all skills but this would have taken too much class time and would thus have been unfair to the students. Therefore, we chose to use data from classroom tests.
6
The writing was analyzed using an adapted form of the ESL Composition Profile (Glisan, 1981).
7
Given the wide range of time students reported, we wonder if some students may have mistakenly included the time they spent preparing the follow-up writing and speaking assignments in the early weeks.
8
We chose to use the Reader because the courseware had been used successfully and repeatedly in fourth semester French classes at Carnegie Mellon University. However, neither the courseware nor the readings themselves had been piloted in second semester classes.
9
Appendix D contains the final open-ended questionnaire administered to the treatment group. Control group students filled out an adapted questionnaire.
10
At Carnegie Mellon University, the Department of Modern Languages offers instructors the option of capping classes at 18 students.
11
In 1998-1999, CMU does not use the Reader in the first year French curriculum but instead requires students to work with documents on the web. These documents afford even greater authenticity and provide completely up-to-date information (e.g., weather reports, news).
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AUTHORS ADDRESSES Bonnie Adair-Hauck University of Pittsburgh Department of Instruction and Learning 4M20 Forbes Quad Pittsburgh, Pa 15260 Phone: 724/935-8275 Fax: 724/934-8832 E-mail: adairhauck@mindspring.com Laurel Willingham-McLain, Associate Director Center for Teaching Excellence 312 Administration Bldg Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA 15282 Phone: 412/396-1760 Fax: 412/396-6577 E-mail: willingham@duq.edu Bonnie Earnest Youngs Department of Modern Languages Carnegie Mellon University Baker Hall 160 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 Phone: 412/268-8050 (office); 412/621-2517 (home) Fax: 412/268-1328 E-mail: byoungs@andrew.cmu.edu
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CALICO Journal