CAL Resource Guides Online |
Introduction
Digests
Online Journals and Magazines
Listservs
Web sites
Other Online Resources
ERIC Documents
The Internet offers a wealth of information for students and teachers seeking English as a second language (ESL) resources. Dozens of Digests (short information syntheses) are available online on a wide range of topics related to ESL. The Web sites of the ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics and the National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education offer newsletters, bibliographies, FAQs, and resource guides on many topics of interest to ESL teachers. Other organizations in the field also maintain extensive, informative Web sites. Publications and curriculum materials abound, including a number of electronic journals and magazines. Numerous listservs are available to facilitate discussions among ESL teachers and other ESL professionals. Some of these lists have a specialized focus; others hold discussions of general interest to those working in the field of ESL.
One of the most extensive resources available on the Internet is the ERIC database of educational materials. You can search the database yourself for materials on a particular topic, or you can contact our User Services staff for assistance.
ERIC/CLL is grateful to Jean LeLoup (SUNY Cortland) and Deborah Short (Center for Applied Linguistics) for their valuable assistance in compiling this Resource Guide Online.
Digests are brief overviews of topics in education. ERIC/CLL and its adjunct, the National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education (NCLE), have prepared many timely digests on topic related to teaching English as a second language. Selected ERIC/CLL titles follow.
Official English and English Plus
Practical Ideas on Alternative Assessment for ESL Students
Promoting Secondary School Transitions for Immigrant Adolescents
Reforming Mathematics Instruction for ESL Literacy Students
Be sure to see adult ESL digests from NCLE.
English as a Foreign Language Magazine includes articles, answers to frequently asked questions, a list of upcoming events and conferences, links to other EFL Web sites, a virtual bookshop and software store, product reviews, a notice board, a list of accrediting organizations, and more.
The Internet TESL Journal is a monthly Web journal that includes articles, research papers, lesson plans, classroom handouts, teaching ideas, links, and other information of interest.
iT's-Magazine is the online version of an international magazine for teachers and students of English around the world. The Internet edition includes practical teaching material, teaching activities related to breaking news stories, an archive of teaching material, and a penpal service.
Language Learning and Technology (LL&T) is a a refereed journal that seeks to disseminate research to foreign and second language educators in the United States and around the world on issues related to technology and language education.
TESL-EJ, Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language Electronic Journal, is an internationally recognized source of ESL and EFL information for people in scores of countries, from researchers to classroom teachers.
English for Science and Technology is a listserv for learners of English for scientific and technology applications. To join this listserv, send a message to EST-SLlistserv@asuvm.inrc.asu.edu.
MIDDLE-L is an electronic discussion group for secondary teachers (not necessarily ESL teachers). Join by sending a message to listserv@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu. In the body of the message type the following:
NIFL-ESL is an e-mail forum with an adult ESL literacy focus, sponsored by the National Institute for Literacy and moderated by the National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education (NCLE).
TESL-L is an electronic discussion group for ESL teachers. Join by sending a message to listserv@cunyvm.cuny.edu. In the body of the message type the following:
TESLK–12 is an electronic discussion group for K–12 ESL teachers. Join by sending a message to listserv@cunyvm.cuny.edu. In the body of the message type the following:
Breaking News English Daily offers free world news and current affairs lessons for English language teachers and students. A new, free lesson is posted every day, and there are twenty or more communicative ideas per lesson.
The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) is a private nonprofit organization which seeks to improve communication through better understanding of language and culture. CAL is the host organization for the ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics. ESL information and resources from projects such as the Center for Research on Education, Diversity, and Excellence (CREDE) are available at CAL's Web site.
Dave's ESL Café offers an online bookstore, a discussion center, answers to frequently asked questions, an ESL Help Center, job announcements, a message exchange, and other resources for ESL teachers and learners.
English as a Second Language Home Page provides links to various Web sites of interest to ESL teachers and learners. For example, teachers can link to sites that provide lesson plans, job announcements, and discussion forums.
English Language Links provides links to a variety of ESL Web sites. ESL students and teachers can find resources and activities, online classes, dictionaries, and more.
English Now! offers lesson plans, teaching ideas, and news about jobs and conferences.
The ESL on the Web page from the DEIL/IEI LinguaCenter at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign has links to resources and exercises for grammar, reading, listening, speaking/pronunciation, writing, and vocabulary.
The Foreign Language Teaching Forum (FLTEACH) includes resources on teaching English as a second language. The site also provides information on subscribing to the FLTEACH listserv.
Free Instant Lessons from Reuters offers ESL lesson plans with articles from Reuters.
Interesting Things for ESL Students is a free online textbook and fun study site for students of English as a second language. Activities include vocabulary quizzes, anagrams, word games, and puzzles.
its-online is a free Internet service for teachers and students of ESL that offers a weekly e-zine with material for self-study and classroom use; an archive with a collection of teaching and self-study material; teaching notes explaining how all the material can be used by teachers in classroom situations; penpal and talk sections; and links to other sites.
Linguistic Funland-TESL has resources for ESL students and teachers, including job opportunities, FAQs, and games.
Multilingual Education Technology Consulting offers software reviews, staff development materials, and links to other technology resources. A software guide will feature a listing of software available in multiple languages that can be used for bilingual, ESL, and foreign language instruction.
Our Adjunct clearinghouse, the National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education (NCLE), offers many publications and resources on ESL education for adults, including full text of more than 60 Digests.
The National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Web site provides information about legislation and public policies concerning the education of language minority students in the United States and includes links to NABE press releases and articles about bilingual education and language minority Americans from local and national media.
The National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education (NCBE) Web site provides answers to frequently asked questions; an online library with hundreds of full-text articles and documents; links to national, regional, and state educational resources; a bibliographic database; lesson plans; and a wide range of additional resources.
The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (Comprehensive Center Region X) includes many resources of interest to teachers of students with limited English proficiency.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is an international professional association for teachers of English around the world. Benefits of membership include publications, an annual convention, and job placement and career services.
TESL/TEFL/TESOL/ESL/EFL/ESOL Links offers an extensive list of links for teachers and students of English as a second language.
Additional resources and links of interest to teachers of English to speakers of other languages may be found in our Resource Guide Online, Preparing to Teach English Abroad.
Clip Art Collection for Foreign Languages contains a growing collection of clip art (simple line-drawings) to be used by language instructors. Drawings are designed to be culturally and linguistically neutral as much as possible.
CNN Newsroom and Worldview for ESL features grammar and vocabulary exercises for ESL students. It is based upon a weekly Newsroom or WorldView Broadcast by Turner Educational Services Inc.
EF Englishtown offers online language instruction, English learning activities, a penpal club, chat rooms, and online shops with language learning and teching materials.
The World of Reading offers a large online catalogue that features foreign language and ESL software, films, books, and audiotapes.
To find out where to search the ERIC database in your community, call (1-800-276-9834) or email our User Services staff.
You may wish to search the ERIC database on the World Wide Web.
Information on retrieving documents from the database follows this section.
The search results below were retrieved by using the following combination of Descriptors:
English (Second Language) (as a major descriptor)
and
Internet or World Wide Web or Web Sites or
Online
User Groups or Electronic Mail or Electronic Libraries or
Electronic
Journals or Electronic Magazines or
Electronic Media or Electronic
Newspapers or
Electronic Testing (all as major descriptors)
EJ561185
The Impact of WWW Texts on EFL Learning.
Liou, Hsien-Chin
Computer Assisted Language Learning, v10 n5 p455-78 Nov 1997
Document Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE (080); RESEARCH REPORT (143)
A study investigated effectiveness of use of World Wide Web texts in a college
English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) writing class, finding that the reading comprehension
and writing skills of 15 students using the Web-based materials improved more
than those of students not using the materials. Ethnographic observation also
focused on four students. (Author/MSE)
Descriptors: *Computer Assisted Instruction; *English (Second Language);
Ethnography; Higher Education; Instructional Materials; *Reading Comprehension;
Second Language Instruction; Skill Development; *World Wide Web; *Writing Instruction;
Writing Skills
EJ558341
The Design and Use of an Internet Resource for Business English Learners.
Vallance, Michael
ELT Journal, v52 n1 p38-42 Jan 1998
Document Type: TEACHING GUIDE (052); JOURNAL ARTICLE (080); RESEARCH
REPORT (143)
Target Audience: Teachers; Practitioners
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 Internet resources for language learners. (Author/MSE)
Descriptors: *Business Communication; Class Activities; Computer Assisted
Instruction; *Decision Making; *English (Second Language); Instructional Materials;
*Internet; *Languages for Special Purposes; Meetings; Second Language Instruction;
Second Language Learning; Vocabulary Development; World Wide Web
EJ554243
Using the Internet To Teach U.S. Business Research to Students of English as
a Second Language.
Welch, Jeanie M.; King, William E.
Reference Librarian, n58 p5-12 1997
Document Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE (080); PROJECT DESCRIPTION (141)
The English-as-a-Second-Language program at the American Graduate School of
International Management (Glendale, AZ) includes a research project on a U.S.
company.
This article discusses course structure, collaboration between the course instructor
and a business librarian, creation of a corporation information Web site,
and Web
site effects on student research. (PEN)
Descriptors: Course Descriptions; *English (Second Language); *Graduate
Students; Higher Education; Instructional Effectiveness; *Internet; Librarian
Teacher
Cooperation; *Student Projects
Identifiers: American Graduate School International Management; Arizona
(Glendale);
Business Research; Home Pages
EJ554233
Academic Skills and Cultural Awareness through GlobaLearn.
Ritchey, Anne C.
TechTrends, v42 n6 p41-44 Nov-Dec 1997
Document Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE (080); PROJECT DESCRIPTION (141)
Describes how a sixth grade teacher of an ESOL (English for speakers of other
languages) resource class used the GlobaLearn online program to promote cultural
awareness and academic skills in social studies/geography. Discusses online
communication with international host children, educational benefits, and
other
programs. (AEF)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement; *Computer Assisted Instruction; *Computer
Mediated Communication; *Cultural Awareness; Elementary Secondary Education;
*English
(Second Language); Geography; Global Education; Grade 6; Instructional Innovation;
Intermediate Grades; Online Systems; Second Language Learning; Skill Development;
Social Studies
Identifiers: *Web Sites
EJ544568
Computer Conferencing: Taking the Loneliness Out of Independent Learning.
Marsh, Debra
Language Learning Journal, n15 p21-25 Mar 1997
Document Type: PROJECT DESCRIPTION (141); JOURNAL ARTICLE (080)
Describes how a project in Great Britain designed to promote learner independence
in English-as-a-foreign-language students clarified issues regarding the need
to
provide guidance in any student training program. Notes how e-mail and computer
conferencing were used to encourage learners to work together, independent
of the
tutor, to learn English. (25 references) (CK)
Descriptors: Course Content; *Electronic Mail; *English (Second Language);
Foreign Countries; Guidelines; *Independent Study; *Learning Strategies; *Peer
Teaching;
Second Language Instruction; Student Motivation; *Teleconferencing; Tutoring
Identifiers: *Great Britain
EJ543186
Webspinning: Language Learning on the World Wide Web.
Green, James; And Others
Learning and Leading with Technology, v24 n6 p35-37 Mar 1997
Document Type: TEACHING GUIDE (052); JOURNAL ARTICLE (080)
Provides a lesson plan for adult, high-intermediate, or advanced students of
English as a Second Language that uses World Wide Web resources to simulate
buying a
new car. Students work in groups and relate foreign language texts to their
own lives. Lists equipment needed; objectives; materials; procedures; warm-up,
core, and
closing activities; assessment; and follow-up. (PEN)
Descriptors: Adult Basic Education; Behavioral Objectives; *English
(Second Language); *Group Activities; Group Instruction; *Instructional Materials;
*Lesson
Plans; Reader Text Relationship; *Second Language Learning; Simulation; Student
Evaluation; *World Wide Web
Identifiers: Nonnative Speakers
EJ541593
Internet Connections.
Lindroth, Linda
Teaching Pre K–8, v27 n5 p68-69 Feb 1997
Document Type: TEACHING GUIDE (052); JOURNAL ARTICLE (080)
Lists Internet websites related to articles in this issue. Topics include
multiage classrooms, writing projects, and students learning English as a
Second Language.
(AA)
Descriptors: Computer Uses in Education; Elementary Education; *English
(Second Language); *Information Sources; *Internet; *Mixed Age Grouping; Teacher
Student
Relationship; Writing Exercises; *Writing Instruction
Identifiers: Online User Groups
EJ537731
What Can the World Wide Web Offer ESL Teachers?
Li, Rong-Chang; Hart, Robert S.
TESOL Journal, v6 n2 p5-10 Win 1996
Document Type: POSITION PAPER (120); PROJECT DESCRIPTION (141); JOURNAL
ARTICLE (080)
Examines how the World Wide Web, a system for accessing and viewing information
on the Internet, can be utilized for English-as-a-Second-Language instruction.
Notes
that the Web is a tremendously effective means for disseminating instructional
materials and can provide a context for efficient collaborative materials
development.
(11 references) (CK)
Descriptors: Courseware; *English (Second Language); *Information Dissemination;
*Instructional Materials; Interactive Video; *Internet; *Material Development;
Multimedia Materials; Second Language Instruction; *World Wide Web
EJ535582
Computer-Assisted Language Arts Instruction for the ESL Learner.
Cassidy, Jacquelyn A.
English Journal, v85 n8 p55-57 Dec 1996
Document Type: PROJECT DESCRIPTION (141); TEACHING GUIDE (052); JOURNAL
ARTICLE
(080)
Describes a series of e-mail writing assignments and other online writing
activities for English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students. Suggests that computers
help improve ESL students' writing. (RS)
Descriptors: *Computer Assisted Instruction; *Computer Uses in Education;
*Electronic Mail; *English (Second Language); Secondary Education; Writing
Assignments; *Writing Improvement
ED416720
A Look at the Use of Electronic Mail (e-mail) as a Learning Tool in the Writing
Skills of Adult LEP Female Students.
Grosz-Gluckman, Viviana
1997
Document Type: RESEARCH REPORT (143)
This study examined the utility of electronic mail (e-mail) as an instructional
tool for limited-English-proficient (LEP) adult females who have made little
progress
in learning writing in English as a Second Language (ESL). Six subjects, aged
30-50 years, enrolled in a university ESL program produced 25 e-mail exchanges
with the
research over a 5-week period. Subjects fell into two groups: those under age
40 with e-mail experience, and those aged 40-50 who were unfamiliar with e-mail.
Analysis of the messages focused on number of messages, word counts, acquisition
of new vocabulary directly related to comprehensible input, and syntactic
complexity
resulting from the use of connectors in the subordination of clauses. Results
indicate that supervised e-mail had a positive effect on the writing skills
of adult
learners who have few opportunities to interact with target language speakers,
and can be used as an effective extracurricular learning tool, particularly
with older
students. Appended materials include a brief subject questionnaire, summary
of subjects' responses to it, letter of consent, and tables summarizing characteristics
of the data and subordination and connectors in the data. Contains 32 references.
(MSE) (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse on Literacy Education)
Descriptors: Adult Students; Classroom Techniques; *Electronic Mail;
*English (Second Language); Females; Higher Education; Instructional Effectiveness;
*Limited
English Speaking; Second Language Instruction; Skill Development; Teaching Methods;
*Womens Education; *Writing Instruction; Writing Skills
ED412754
Using Technology in the Classroom.
1997
Document Type: CONFERENCE PAPER (150)
Target Audience: Practitioners; Teachers
Five conference papers on use of technology in the second language classroom
are
presented, including: "Concept-Acquisition: Tapping the Internet for Ideas" (Jack
Kimball), which offers suggestions for locating and using appropriate Internet
materials; "Making Reading More Manageable--The Choice Offered by OnLine Newspapers
and Magazines" (Anthony Robins), on finding online sources for reading materials;
"Computerized Test and Material Production" (John Bauman), on use of spreadsheet
programs for entering and manipulating instructional materials and tests; "Designing
Genre-Based Materials To Use with Videos" (Damian Lucantonio), a description
of a
teacher workshop on instructional material development; and "Content Video in
the EFL
Classroom" (Michael Furmanovsky), on selecting and customizing content-area videotape
recordings of different types for English-as-a-second-language classroom use.
Individual papers contain references. (MSE)
Descriptors: Classroom Techniques; Computer Oriented Programs; Concept
Formation; *Educational Technology; *English (Second Language); Foreign Countries;
*Instructional Materials; *Internet; Language Tests; Material Development; Newspapers;
Reading Materials; Second Language Instruction; *Second Languages; Serials;
Videotape
Recordings
ED411302
Online English Learning Using Internet for English-as-a-Foreign-Language Students.
Wang, Lih-Ching Chen; Dalton, David W.
1997
Document Type: EVALUATIVE REPORT (142); CONFERENCE PAPER (150)
Learning to communicate in English is an essential tool to access many resources
via worldwide networks in the global society. Like students from many other
countries, students in Taiwan study English for years, but lack opportunities
to practice. For English-as-a-Second-Language students, the World Wide Web
provides a
learning environment in which language skills can be developed through communication
with native speakers of English. A framework, the Online American Culture
Learning
Center, was created to study cross cultural distance education through the Web.
This experiment between Kent State University (Ohio) and the National Taiwan
Normal
University will create an English learning environment through the discussion
of six major topics on the Internet: Thanksgiving, Yellowstone National Park,
American
Football, Rock 'n Roll, Shopping Malls, and Garage Sales. Training materials
for these topics are being used in a pilot study to assess their efficiency.
Preservice
teachers from Kent State University will serve as tutors and monitor student
progress. Each tutor will have one student, who will correspond via e-mail.
The project will
explore whether online distance education can enhance learning in a foreign language
and whether such exchanges promote multicultural understanding. Evaluation
questions
will be administered online, and surveys from students and tutors will be used
to assess the feasibility of the approach. (SLD)
Descriptors: *College Students; Distance Education; Education Majors;
Electronic Mail; *English (Second Language); Foreign Countries; Higher Education;
*Internet;
*Online Systems; *Second Language Learning; *Tutors
Identifiers: Kent State University OH; Preservice Teachers; *Taiwan
ED409702
World Wide Web Resources for EFL/ESL.
Kitao, Kenji
Doshisha Studies in English, n68 p329-72 Mar 1997 Mar 1997
Document Type: REVIEW LITERATURE (070); JOURNAL ARTICLE (080); DIRECTORY
(132)
This article discusses briefly the use of the Internet and World Wide Web as
sources of information for teaching English as a second or foreign language
(ESL/EFL), describes a directory of related World Wide Web resources, outlines
some suggested uses of the resources, and presents the directory. Citations
are presented
in seven sections: general resources; lesson plans; teaching materials; student
projects; reference materials for lessons; computer assisted language learning;
and
papers, articles, and essays for teachers. Web addresses are given for each
item.
(MSE)
Descriptors: Computer Assisted Instruction; *Computer Networks; Educational
Resources; Elementary Secondary Education; *English (Second Language); Foreign
Countries; *Information Networks; *Instructional Materials; Internet; Lesson
Plans;
Second Language Instruction; *World Wide Web
ED406861
ESL Online Action Research. Final Report.
Strunk, Sandra J.; Fowler-Frey, Jaclyn
1996
Document Type: PROJECT DESCRIPTION (141)
The report describes a project designed to meet professional development needs
of Pennsylvania's practitioners in adult basic and literacy education by:
(1) creating
an infrastructure for guiding practitioners through classroom research with support
from colleagues; and (2) linking practitioners through telecommunications.
The
project allowed ten English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) educators to participate
in action research with colleagues using the Internet as the primary communication
vehicle, and coordinated with the National Professional Development Network for
participation in an online action research database. As they pursued their
projects,
participants communicated regularly with a participant-partner and joined in
a virtual meeting online once a month. It is concluded that online action
research
holds great potential for ongoing professional development of adult educators,
by creating a sense of community among practitioners, exposing them to a wealth
of
information in their field, and giving them a systematic way to examine practice.
The report details the project's origins, design, and results relating to
four
themes: communicating with a partner; using technology in a new way; becoming
a researcher; and unexpected outcomes. Appended materials include the training
outline
and summaries of seven research projects. Contains 22 references. (MSE) (Adjunct
ERIC Clearinghouse on Literacy Education)
Descriptors: Action Research; *Adult Basic Education; *Classroom Research;
Computer Networks; Computer Uses in Education; *English (Second Language);
Information
Dissemination; Inservice Teacher Education; *Internet; *Literacy Education; Peer
Relationship; *Professional Development
Identifiers: Pennsylvania
ED405486
An Internet Guide for Language and Literacy Teachers and Researchers.
Javed, Syed
1996
Available From: Language Australia Publications, level 9, 300 Flinders Street,
Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.
Document Type: NON-CLASSROOM MATERIAL (055)
Target Audience: Teachers; Researchers; Practitioners
This guide, which is intended for language and literacy teachers and researchers
who are becoming interested in the Internet, offers a brief overview of using
the
Internet and explains how to access various language and literacy resources.
Part 1, which is devoted to Internet basics, examines the following topics:
the Internet (e-
mail, mailing lists, newsgroups, file transfer protocol, the World Wide Web);
connection to the Internet (hardware and software needs, useful books and
magazines,
setting up a connection); Internet account selection (types of accounts, Internet
service providers). Discussed in part 2 are using e-mail and mailing lists
and using
and searching the World Wide Web. In part 3 instructions are provided for accessing
the following language and literacy databases/resources: National Languages
and
Literacy Institute of Australia database; ERIC database; and National Centre
for English Language Teaching and Research resources. Part 4 is an annotated
listing of
eight Australian websites and eight international websites that are considered
important to language and literacy teachers and researchers. Presented in
part 5 are
the Internet addresses of 55 language and literacy websites, 27 mailing lists,
and 10 newsgroups and a glossary. (MN)
Descriptors: Adult Basic Education; *Adult Literacy; Annotated Bibliographies;
*Computer Uses in Education; Databases; Educational Resources; Electronic
Mail;
*English (Second Language); *English Instruction; Foreign Countries; Information
Sources; *Internet; *Literacy Education; Online Vendors; Research Tools; World
Wide
Web
Identifiers: *Australia
ED403745
On-Campus E-Mail for Communicative Writing.
Miyao, Mariko
23 Dec 1996
Document Type: PROJECT DESCRIPTION (141); CONFERENCE PAPER (150)
Target Audience: Teachers; Practitioners
A project using on-campus electronic mail (e-mail) to teach communicative writing
in English as a Second Language to Japanese junior college students is described.
The project had three stages: (1) planning; (2) piloting with a small group of
students; and (3) implementation in three large classes (n=55, 28, 36). The
aim was
to help students write more communicatively and with less anxiety. Planning
involved gaining student access to the campus e-mail system, first on a small
scale and later
with access to more computer services. The pilot involved nine second-year students
in a graduation project. Students needed to be familiarized with two-way message
exchanges. However, after exchanges began, student-teacher interactions became
more interesting. Learning word processing and spell-checking in English and
document
transfer were initially a challenge. Implementation with three larger classes,
in which most students were familiar with e-mail, began with a paired self-introduction
writing activity. Partners questioned each other, commented on introductions,
and made grammatical corrections, helping each other refine the final product.
Teacher
feedback was provided weekly. It was found that the method facilitated timely
and comfortable communication. The experiments provided insights into advantages,
difficulties, and effective procedures for computer-based communication. (MSE)
Descriptors: Classroom Techniques; Class Size; *Communicative Competence
(Languages); Computer Literacy; Computer Networks; *Electronic Mail; *English
(Second
Language); Foreign Countries; Interpersonal Communication; Large Group Instruction;
Organizational Communication; Program Descriptions; Second Language Instruction;
Student Attitudes; Teacher Student Relationship; Two Year Colleges; Two Year
College
Students; Word Processing; *Writing Apprehension; *Writing Instruction
Identifiers: *Japan
ED403743
Using the Internet on a Business English Course.
Murphy, Brian; Pascoe, Andrew
1996
Document Type: RESEARCH REPORT (143); TEST, QUESTIONNAIRE (160)
A study investigated the attitudes of African students of business English
at a British university (University of Brighton, England) toward use of the
Internet as an
educational resource. Students were given an introduction to Internet use for
research on individual projects, surveyed concerning their attitudes toward
and
initial experiences with the Internet, and surveyed again just before the end
of the course. Questionnaires are included in the report. Results indicate
the students
generally felt their initial experiences with the Internet were positive and
found an enormous amount of useful information. They were impressed at the
information's
quantity, quality, multiple sources, worldwide provenance, accuracy, timeliness,
and relevance, and appreciated the ease and speed of access and the implied
communication
with others. Some frustration with slowness of response was found. The second
questionnaire revealed that only a slightly higher percentage of students
had found
useful information, and two-thirds said they had found better information in
the library. Nearly all respondents had discovered other interesting material
on the
Internet, and all expected to use it after they returned to their home country.
All felt the Internet should be part of future courses. Based on these responses,
a more
structured and aggressive approach to Internet use is recommended. (MSE)
Descriptors: *Access to Information; Attitude Change; *Business Communication;
Classroom Techniques; Comparative Analysis; *English (Second Language); Foreign
Countries; Foreign Students; Higher Education; Information Networks; *Information
Technology; *Internet; Library Collections; *Online Searching; Questionnaires;
Relevance (Information Retrieval); Student Attitudes; Surveys
Identifiers:: Ivory Coast; University of Brighton (England)
ED401752
Communicative Devices Used by EFL Students in E-Mail Writing.
Liaw, Meei-Ling
[1996)
Document Type: RESEARCH REPORT (143)
A study investigated the communication strategies used by students of English
as a Foreign Language (EFL) in electronic mail interactions with native speakers
of
English. Subjects were 22 university students in Taiwan paired with a like number
of pre-service EFL teacher trainees in the United States. The discourse of
87 e-mail
entries by the Taiwanese students was analyzed over a period of a year, focusing
on communicative strategies (avoidance/reduction, achievement/compensatory,
time-
gaining/stalling devices) and interactive speech acts (questions and answers,
statements and imperatives, discourse management). The mean entry length was
13
sentences. It was found that the EFL students used most of the communication
strategies commonly found in oral communication, including approximation,
literal
translation, foreignizing, asking for help, using all-purpose words, using fillers,
circumlocution, word coinage, and nonlinguistic means. The students showed
active
participation in the correspondence by using a variety of interactive speech
acts. An additional device noticed was purposeful choice of discussion topics
of common
interest. Use of time-gaining devices was an unanticipated finding. Findings
were borne out in students' essays about the experience. Contains 30 references.
(MSE)
Descriptors: College Students; *Communication Skills; *Communicative
Competence (Languages); Comparative Analysis; Discourse Analysis; *Electronic
Mail; *English
(Second Language); Foreign Countries; Higher Education; *Intercultural Communication;
*Language Patterns; Language Usage; Native Speakers; Oral Language; Second
Language
Learning; Teacher Education; Written Language
Identifiers: Taiwan
ED397845
E-Mail Dialogue Journaling in an ESL Reading and Writing Classroom.
Wang, Yu-mei
1996
Document Type: RESEARCH REPORT (143); CONFERENCE PAPER (150)
This case study involved designing an electronic-based environment to explore
the effectiveness of electronic mail (e-mail) as a writing tool for dialogue
journaling.
The setting for this study was an intermediate-level reading and writing class
in the American English Institute Program on the campus of a large public
university. Over
a period of 9 weeks, six randomly chosen English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) students
in the class wrote dialogue journals to their instructor using e-mail while
the rest
of the students in the class wrote dialogue journals to the instructor using
paper and pencil. The issues investigated were: What were the students' attitudes
toward
dialogue journal writing via e-mail? What was the instructor's perception regarding
e- mail dialogue journal writing? What problems occurred in the process of
using e-mail
as a tool for doing dialogue journal writing? In what ways were e-mail journals
different from paper journals? The findings of the study show that a variety
of
factors combined to exert an influence on the participants' attitudes towards
e-mail. Limited knowledge about e-mail systems prevented some students from
taking a full
advantage of e-mail as a unique communication tool. Comparison of e-mail journals
and paper journals reveals that e-mail created a different writing style than
that of
paper and pencil. For example, in the journal entries, participants in the e-mail
group tended to: (1) use formula functions like opening and closing greetings
(none
of the students in the paper group used any); (2) use more requesting functions
(asking questions) than those in the paper group; and (3) produce more language
functions per writing session. In addition, e-mail communication was more
spontaneous than paper dialogue. (Contains 38 references.) (Author/SWC)
Descriptors: *Computer Uses in Education; *Dialog Journals; *Electronic
Mail; *English (Second Language); Higher Education; Instructional Effectiveness;
*Media
Selection; Student Attitudes; Teacher Attitudes; Teacher Student Relationship;
Teaching Methods; Writing Assignments; Writing Processes
Identifiers: Communication Channels; Communication Styles
ED397645
Using the Internet for Teaching English.
Kitao, Kenji; Kitao, S. Kathleen
1996
Document Type: REVIEW LITERATURE (070)
This article details some of the many ways to use the Internet in the English-as-a-
Second-Language classroom for both students and teachers. The Internet can be
used for gathering information for use in class time planning, for finding
teacher-related
information, and for exchanging information with other teachers. Complete texts
of newsletters and journals may be found on the Internet. Student uses include
keypal
or computer penpal exchanges for students; class project information gathering;
reference resources, such as encyclopedias and dictionaries; and provision
of
additional English language materials for language practice. Students can subscribe
to the IECC-Survey, which will help them conduct class project surveys. Both
students and teachers can find news information, including more than 30 teaching
resource lists, such as TESLCA-L and TESL-L as well as student-oriented lists
in
different levels of English. Another Internet news source is the "Daily Brief,"
which summarizes the world news every weekday morning, and many foreign language
newspapers also have English-language versions on the World Wide Web. Simple
web
pages can also be designed and posted by students; a brief sample is described.
(NAV)
Descriptors: *Computer Assisted Instruction; Educational Resources;
*English (Second Language); Foreign Countries; *Instructional Materials; *Internet;
Second
Language Instruction; Technological Advancement; *World Wide Web
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