The use of technology in the language classroom is chronicled from early phonograph use through the emergence of the language laboratory, and computer technology. The role of appropriate materials and the importance of interaction and communication, even with technological aids, are stressed. (21 references) (Author/MSE)

The conventional language lab, though it motivates few students, lingers on at many institutions. While poor study habits contribute to the lab's low impact on language acquisition, an equally credible possibility is that the traditional language lab's "audio-only" technology is ill-suited to the primary cognitive styles of today's video-oriented…

Discusses how computers have fundamentally changed the nature of the college language laboratory, examining specific computer programs and computer-based tools and systems. Computer-based language instruction will allow more individualized instruction, give students more control over what and how they learn, and expand the study of foreign…

Compares past methods of teaching languages with the current emphasis on teaching oral/aural skills. The use of technology is then discussed, in particular the language laboratory, the videotape recorder, the videodisk, and the computer. Suggestions are offered on how to adapt each for educational purposes. (23 references) (CFM)

Examines the benefits of language laboratories for learning Japanese. After reviewing related literature and selected issues on educational technology, the article presents results from a survey of Australian college students using a language laboratory. Overall, students appreciated and were positive about the language laboratory, though some had…

This collection of articles offers advice on concerns and decisions in planning or remodeling a language learning center, incorporation of satellite reception in the language lab, coping with different television standards and technologies in the language lab, testing language skills, and the role of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in language…

The handbook presents a variety of second language teaching techniques, some old and some new, for use with technological equipment. Each chapter focuses on a specific piece of equipment or technology, or in some cases, two technologies that share some characteristics and can be used similarly. Each chapter begins with a brief description of the…

Discussion of computer-assisted language learning highlights a British study with elementary, secondary and university Spanish language students that incorporated speech synthesis and interactive video. The Multifacet Language Laboratory is described, software used is explained, student and teacher reactions are discussed, and a sample of the…

A project undertaken at the Gene A. Whiddon Adult Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida sought to prepare teachers, laboratory aides, and students for the introduction of new computer technology in a language laboratory, specifically for instruction in English as a Second Language. The project had three phases: (1) computer literacy instruction for…

The theme of this conference, "New Directions in Foreign Language Teaching," is introduced by Theodore Buebener and is expanded in the five papers comprising this volume. The papers included are "New Directions in the Teaching of Foreign Languages--An Evaluation" by Peter M. Boyd-Bowman, "An Appraisal of Audio-Lingualism in Historical Perspective"…

Different theories of programed instruction are compared and contrasted, and their application in the language laboratory is discussed. Chapters on programing theories include: (1) Skinner and linear programing, (2) Crowder and intrinsic programing, (3) Pressey and complementary programing, (4) Gilbert and mathetics, and (5) computer assisted…

Discusses the abundance of electronic equipment available for use in second-language instruction in contrast to the shortage of courseware available. The lack of courseware is attributed to teacher resistance to and fear of technology and the lack of institutional support for teachers to design courseware. (LMO)

Increasingly, technology is incorporated into second language teaching and learning both in and out of classroom situations. The computer alone has many capabilities for enhancing language learning, but when combined with other technologies, the possibilities multiply for information retrieval, interactive audio- and video-assisted learning, use…

This analysis of the state of the art of computer programs and programming for language teaching has two parts. In the first part, an overview of the theory and practice of language teaching, Noam Chomsky's view of language, and the implications and problems of generative theory are presented. The theory behind the input model of language…

This paper consists of three parts. Section 1 considers how difficult it is to analyze natural languages by computer, and, therefore how difficult it is to evaluate automatically the student's responses to some types of questions in computer-aided instruction systems for language teaching. Section 2 discusses drawbacks of conventional computer…