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Topics Presented at CASL
SIG in 2006-7
September 29,
2006
Pathways to High-Level Success in Foreign Language Learning
Cathy Doughty reported on the qualitative analysis of a
set of semi-structured interviews conducted with Foreign and Civil Service
personnel who have attained Level 4/4 in at least one language. The emphasis was on the research
methodology and preliminary findings.
Next steps in the research were also discussed.
December 1, 2006
Technology-Mediated
Language Training
Susan Luce and Cathy Doughty reported on two studies of
technology-mediated language training (TMLT) effectiveness. In the
first study, CASL assessed two federally funded TMLT platforms - GLOSS and LangNet
- to examine their potential for advancing users from ILR
Level 2 to Level 3 in listening (targeting Arabic, Chinese, Korean, and
Russian). The second study, now being undertaken, is an empirical
investigation to document how much beginning language learners can achieve on their own via TMLT as an indication of their language
learning potential.
The presenters discussed the critical listening subskills identified, indicated how this information
was developed into a TMLT evaluation rubric, and showed the resultant
evaluation checklist that was developed. They also discussed the
research plans for the upcoming empirical study.
January 19, 2007
Linguistic
Correlates of Proficiency
Michael Long and Ilhan Cagri of the University
of Maryland
discussed how the project seeks to identify the linguistic accomplishments
and problems of adult English-speaking heritage and non-heritage learners
of Arabic, Korean, Persian, and Russian. The project focuses on listening
and speaking abilities at 2, 3, and 4 on the ILR scale, with detailed
analyses of learners' phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical and collocational abilities. The presenters illustrated
tasks from the computer-delivered Persian pilot test battery.
February 16,
2007
Summary
Translation Secrets Revealed: Assumptions and Experimental Findings
Erica Michael described a recent experiment in which
foreign language professionals were asked to write English summary
translations of Chinese and Korean texts under a variety of conditions. She
presented a list of seven common assumptions about summary translation and
asked the audience to participate by predicting which assumptions are
supported by experimental evidence.
March 23, 2007
The
Arabic Variant Identification Aid: Familiarization and Dialect
Identification
Jonathan Owens presented the
Arabic Variant Identification Aid (AVIA), which was developed to assist
Foreign Language Professionals in Arabic dialect identification and to
provide familiarization with other dialects. Using a standard format,
the AVIA provides a 'one-stop' overview of essential elements of
contrast between the dialects so that they can be readily identified. Thus
far, descriptions have been written of Palestinian, Yemeni, Emirati, Qatari, Kuwaiti and Hijazi
Arabic. Iraqi is being developed in FY 07. The presentation
included a demonstration of the HTML version of the product.
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