scholarly journals The moving learner: Object manipulation in VR improves vocabulary learning

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orly Fuhrman ◽  
Anabel Eckerling ◽  
Naama Friedmann ◽  
Ricardo Tarrasch ◽  
Gal Raz

A challenging part of foreign language acquisition is learning new vocabulary. Research has demonstrated the benefits of motor action to vocabulary learning, though these findings are rarely translated into teaching and learning practices. In this work we present a novel paradigm for vocabulary learning in a virtual reality environment, capitalizing on the prominent advantages of this technology as an ‘embodied’ learning tool. Hebrew-speaking adults explored a virtual room and learned the Finnish names of 40 daily objects. Every participant learned the new object names under 3 conditions: (1) Watch-only: watching the object without performing any movement (2) performing an irrelevant movement, or (3) performing a manipulation movement that implied its habitual use. Participants completed a word-picture matching test after each training block, as well as additional word-picture matching and recall tests a week after the initial training session. The overall results demonstrate improved comprehension rates for items that were learned in the manipulation movement condition compared to the irrelevant movement condition, both in the initial learning session and one week following it. These initial findings suggest that VR technology may indeed hold the potential to offer a more authentic, multisensory and motor context to efficient foreign language learning.

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 2040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Özlem Tekin ◽  
Harun Göçerler

The aim of this study is to investigate the potential impact of smartboards on vocabulary learning of foreign language learners.For this, an empirical study was carried out at German preparatory classes of the Institute of German Language and Literature at Namık Kemal University. In this context the students were asked about their vocabulary work in foreign language learning by a questionnaire, which included 20 close-ended statements of a 5-point Likert scale. A pretest was held in the Summer Term 2013-2014 with a total of 78 subjects, whereas a posttest was conducted in the Winter Term 2014-2015 with a total of 86 subjects. The evaluation of the questionnaires was carried out with the statistical program SPSS PASW Statistics 18.0 NETWORK and the data was analyzed by the descriptive survey method.The results of the study show that vocabulary learning is affected by three basic factors: the role of testing, the need and importance of newly learned words in everyday use and the learner motivation. As the results of the study show furthermore, the last central factor, the motivation of the learners, can be supported by training different learning strategies, by providing and using material diversity and visuality, and by making the relationship between language and culture more understandable to the students. These fundamental desiderata can come to meet, by using technological tools such as smartboards, by which learners can be motivated and the vocabulary learning and teaching process can be made more effective. In this regard teachers play an important role, as they have to question themselves, the tools and materials used and the needs of learners in the process of vocabulary teaching, thus to optimize the teaching and learning process as a whole. ÖzetBu araştırmanın amacı, akıllı tahta kullanımının yabancı dil öğrenenlerin kelime bilgilerinin gelişimine olan muhtemel etkilerini incelemektir.Bu amaçla Namık Kemal Üniversitesi, Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi, Alman Dili ve Edebiyatı Bölümü hazırlık sınıflarını kapsayan deneysel bir çalışma yapılmıştır. Bu bağlamda öğrencilerin yabancı dil öğreniminde yaptıkları kelime çalışmalarına yönelik görüşleri, 20 kapalı ifadeden oluşan 5'li Likert tipi ölçekten meydana gelen bir anket formu kullanılarak alınmış ve değerlendirilmiştir. Anket süreci içerisinde 2013-2014 Öğretim Yılı Bahar Dönemi’nde 78 öğrenciye öntest, 2014-2015 Öğretim Yılı Güz Dönemi’nde ise 86 öğrenciye sontest uygulanmıştır. Anketlerden elde edilen veriler SPSS PASW STATISTICS 18.0 NETWORK istatistik programı kullanılarak betimleyici analiz yöntemi ile değerlendirilmiştir.Araştırmanın sonuçları göz önüne alındığında kelime öğreniminde sınavların rolü, öğrenilen yeni kelimelerin günlük kullanım için gerekliliği ve önemi, ve ayrıca öğrencilerin güdülenmesi gibi üç temel maddenin öne çıktığı görülmüştür. Öğrencilerin güdülenmesine destekleyici nitelikte sayılabilecek kelime öğrenmede strateji bilgisi, materyal çeşitliliği ve görsellik, dil ile kültür arasındaki bağın kavranması gibi unsurların da anket sonuçlarına göre kelime öğreniminde önemli bir yere sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bu temel ihtiyaçları giderebilmek için akıllı tahtalar gibi teknolojik araçlar kullanılarak öğrencilerin güdülenmesi sağlanabilir ve bu sayede kelime öğrenimi ve öğretimi daha verimli hale getirilebilir. Bu bağlamda kendilerini, kullanılan araç gereçleri ve öğrencilerinin ihtiyaçlarını sorgulayan öğretmenlerin kelime öğrenim ve öğretim sürecinde etkin bir rolü olduğu da vurgulanmalıdır, zira ancak bu şekilde öğrenim ve öğretim süreci bir bütün olarak daha verimli ve etkili hale getirilebilir.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-199
Author(s):  
Mahrus Asʾad ◽  
Ahmad Bukhori Muslim ◽  
Wagdi Rashad Ali Bin-Hady

Abstract Similar to other theistic texts, the Qurʾan has some figurative languages which require deep thought for good comprehension. However, how these rhetorical imageries can inspire the development of higher order thinking skills (HOTS) and religious tolerance among language learners, two necessary skills in the information-laden era, is still less known. This study explores how the Qurʾan’s figurative languages serve as an inspiring basis to develop Bloom’s revised taxonomy of analyzing and evaluating thinking skills in foreign language learning. Document analysis shows that many verses in Sura (Chapter) Joseph and other five chapters contain some simile, personification, and metaphor in recounting past prophetical and scientific events humans need to learn for life. Incorporated into learning materials, these figurative languages require the foreign language learners to use their skills of sensing, imagining, and making logical reasoning to discern the real meanings. The discussion of Sura Joseph in the Qurʾan which recounts some prophets of Abraham’s descendants can also increase religious tolerance among young followers of Abrahamic religions. The study recommends some strategies on how language teachers base their teaching and learning practices on these religious scriptures to develop students’ critical thinking and create a more harmonious global citizenship.


Author(s):  
Andrea Facchin

The neurological bimodality theory, espousing the principles of directionality and cerebral hemisphericity, has led to a series of expedients in the field of foreign language teaching, like the use of inductive strategies. Accordingly, this contribution focuses on a methodological proposal stemming from the aforementioned theoretical perspectives and tackles the question of reading in the early phase of Arabic as Foreign Language learning. In doing so it questions how to teach Modern Standard Arabic at beginner level and proposes solutions to it through the use of new technological tools in the service of languages. Specifically, the focus is set on Pre-A1 and A1 levels of the recently issued Companion Volume to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. As a result of theoretical reasoning, the ‘Whole-Part-Whole’ method teaching philosophy is presented, theorized and verified in relation to the study of Arabic by non-Arab beginner learners.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 02 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tutku Basöz ◽  
Dilek Tüfekci Can

Semiotics in foreign language learning has recently achieved some prominence as a theoretical foundation for language teaching and learning. Although there have been a number of research on the semiotics in foreign language learning, the practical use of semiotics in preschool classroom environment still remains unanswered. What is more, the effectiveness of computers on vocabulary learning among preschool children is still an obscure area, which attracts the attentions of researchers, scholars and practitioners. Thus, the present study aims to investigate whether there is a significant difference in preschool children’s vocabulary gain depending upon the computer assisted vocabulary instruction or the traditional vocabulary instruction both adopting a semiotic approach. The sample group of the study included 35 preschool children (5-years) who are studying at Balıkesir University Necatibey Faculty of Education Kindergarten. In this quasi-experimental study, the children were assigned to computer assisted vocabulary instruction group (16) or traditional vocabulary instruction group (19), which were the experimental and control groups. Before the experiment, the children were given a pre-test, which measured the number of target vocabulary the children had already known. While the experimental group learned the target vocabulary through computer-assisted instruction, the control group was taught the same target vocabulary via traditional vocabulary instruction. After the experiment, the same test was given to the children as the post-test. The results of the study showed that both instruction types were successful in teaching vocabulary and there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of their vocabulary gain. Keywords: Vocabulary learning; semiotic approach; computer assisted vocabulary instruction; preschool children; foreign language learning 


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 04005
Author(s):  
Al-Muslim Mustapa ◽  
Zulkifli Nawawi ◽  
Salamiah Ab. Ghani ◽  
Maryam Abdul Rahman ◽  
Zuraida Shaadon ◽  
...  

Today’s changing learning landscape urges the integration of mobile phone technology and Arabic learning as a foreign language. Learning through mobile phones is seen as a potential teaching aids which demonstrate effectiveness in teaching and learning activities. A QiraahBot prototype was built to aid the implementation of extensive Arabic reading activities. The user’s perspective on QiraahBot’s usability is essential for the effectiveness of learning through mobile phone applications. This study aims to identify the level of usability of the QiraahBot application prototype and to explore the deeper experience of users using the application. Therefore, a group of 30 student users was involved in the study. They were assigned tasks to be completed within the specified periods via the application, and then given an open-ended questionnaire adapted from the System Usability Scale. The findings show that the QiraahBot usability level is moderate. The study also revealed some of the advantages of QiraahBot as easy to use and the ability to help the learning process. In addition, there are weaknesses in applications, especially aspects of application usability, which needs to be improved in the next version. The researcher has provided some suggestions for further studies that are more comprehensive in the future.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Roche ◽  
Ferran Suñer

Abstract Despite the need for transparency and efficiency in explaining grammatical features to learners of a foreign language only very few systematic attempts have been undertaken to demonstrate the pedagogical added value of concept-based approaches to grammar instruction. The purpose of the paper is (1) to discuss the theoretical underpinnings of such an approach, to (2) present relevant theories of multimedia learning and (3) to summarize some empirical evidence on the efficiency of such an approach to language teaching and learning. The concept-based animated grammar, developed for German, uses a broad range of cognitive linguistic principles for foreign language learning in such areas as, for example, modal verbs or the passive voice.


2010 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Antón

Esta reseña presenta una visión general de los estudios sobre español como segunda lengua en contextos educativos. La temática y el ámbito geográfico es amplio a fin de captar la diversidad de alumnos y contextos de aprendizaje de español L2 a sólo dos décadas de que la enseñanza de este idioma adquiriera ímpetu a nivel global. Los alumnos tradicionales de segunda lengua o lengua extranjera, hablantes de herencia, inmigrantes y niños indígenas presentan una variedad de contextos de investigación que contribuye y expande las disciplinas de enseñanza y aprendizaje de segunda lengua/lengua extranjera, lingüística aplicada y sociolingüística. Siguiendo tendencias iniciadas en años anteriores en adquisición de segunda lengua, y en relación con investigaciones sobre otros idiomas, los temas principales en este periodo reciente han sido la adquisición y enseñanza del sistema lingüístico, procesos de aprendizaje y su contexto social. La reseña se organiza temáticamente según estas categorías principales.This review presents a broad picture of recent work on L2 Spanish1in educational contexts. The thematic and geographic scope of the review is wide, in order to capture the diversity of learners and learning contexts of L2 Spanish, just two decades after teaching and learning the language gained impetus worldwide. Traditional second or foreign language learners, heritage learners, immigrants and indigenous children provide a variety of contexts for research that builds on and expands the fields of second and foreign language learning and teaching, applied linguistics and sociolinguistics. Continuing the trend from previous years in SLA, and in connection with research on learners of other languages, main themes in this time period have been the acquisition and teaching of the language system, learning processes, and social contexts of learning. The review is organized thematically according to these main categories.


1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabet Service ◽  
Viljo Kohonen

ABSTRACTIn an earlier study, Service (1992) found that phonological short-term memory, reflected in the ability to repeat English-sounding pseudowords, was a good predictor of learning English as a foreign language over a period of three school years. This study attempts to find out to what extent foreign vocabulary learning is the critical learning process related to pseudoword repetition accuracy. Regression analyses on repetition data and learning measures revealed significant correlations between pseudoword repetition and foreign language learning, even after a measure of general academic achievement had been partialed out. In a fixed-order multiple regression analysis – with predictors entered in the order of general academic achievement, foreign language vocabulary, and pseudoword repetition – no additional variance in any foreign language measure studied could be accounted for by pseudoword repetition in the third step. When vocabulary in the second step was replaced by performance in foreign language essay writing or the correct reproduction of dictated discourse – both highly related to overall foreign language performance – repetition significantly increased the proportion of accounted variance, especially for two foreign language vocabulary tasks and a listening comprehension task. Phonological memory may, therefore, be specifically related to foreign vocabulary learning.


2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Boers ◽  
Stuart Webb

Perhaps the greatest challenge to creating a research timeline on teaching and learning collocation is deciding how wide to cast the net in the search for relevant publications. For one thing, the term ‘collocation’ does not have the same meaning for all (applied) linguists and practitioners (Barfield & Gyllstad 2009) (see timeline). For another, items that are labelled as collocations in one study may be called something else in another study (Wray 2000: 465).


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