Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, particularly chatbots with speech-recognition, are gaining attention as tools for ELT. However, this frontline development in contemporary ELT seems to stand in stark contrast to the multilingual effort, another innovative trend, as chatbots' speech recognition capabilities are primarily attuned to native…

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…

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…

Describes a project begun as an attempt to see if it was possible to exchange meaningful messages in natural English with a machine and whether this could aid acquisition. The result is a group of dialog-stimulator programs which generate guestions, find answers to questions, obey commands, and assimilate new knowledge. (SED)

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)

Probes reasons why many teachers remain uncommitted to computer-assisted language learning (CALL) and proposes some remedies. In particular, it is argued that CALL should not be too closely associated with self-access or autonomy, and that teachers are needed to drive the CALL process. (Author/VWL)

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…

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)

Presents the results of a study carried out in Sweden to investigate the promotion of self assessment and reflection in the adult second language classroom. Proposes a method in which the computer is used to record a writing session and later to replay the entire text production in retrospective peer sessions. After using the method, all writers…

This paper reports on a small-scale study of the outcomes generated by 15 underachieving English-as-a-Foreign-Language university writers copying text displayed on a computer monitor under pressure of time. Analysis of student's copied texts showed that various inaccuracies that were not in the original had passed into the copied version,…

Details the design of a hypertext decision-making activity located on the Internet for business English students wishing to review techniques and vocabulary for conducting business meetings (World Wide Web address is given). Provides statistical data on students using the activity worldwide, and makes recommendations for further development of…