Kein Folientitel

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Challenges of Grammar Learning Today on the WWW
Brno 30/03/06
Josef Schmied/Isabel Heller English Language
Linguistics Chemnitz University of
Technology www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/english/linguis
tics
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Can the WWW replace the native speaker?

• 1. What is the target model?
• 2. Can the WWW provide enough resources?
• 3. Evaluation of WWW sites for grammar learning
• 4. Problems and perspectives

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What is the target model in a changing world?

• a changing world
• predictions about English in the 21st century
  (Graddol 1997, updated 2006) and beyond
• Common European Framework of Reference for
  Languages Learning, Teaching, Assessment
  (1991-1996-2001)

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English in the 21st century

• Graddol 19972 As the world is in transition,
  so the English language is taking new forms.
• change of a language always reflects the
  language's contact with other languages and
  changing communication needs of people (cf.
  Graddol 19972)
• - English as the national lingua franca?
• - invasion of Anglicisms in Czech?-

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New era for language

• "The internet and related information
  technologies, for example, may upset the
  traditional patterns of communication upon which
  institutional and national cultures have been
  built. We have entered a period in which language
  and communication will play a more central role
  than ever before in economic, political and
  cultural life- just at the moment in history that
  a global language has emerged. Graddol (1997
  3)
• A new world era for language itself?
• for communication technology!
• and thus for (changing rapidly) language usage
  and learning?!

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Proficiency in Language Styles

• Graddol 1997 43 Many employers indeed insist
  on particular ways of addressing and talking to
  clients and customers, since this language has
  become an integral part of the service offered.
• Employees today have to adopt a wide variety of
  language styles
• English must be usable for both team working and
  service interactions.
• ?demands on employees competence in English are
  rising. Education and training programmes are
  only just beginning to be tailored to employment
  trends.

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The CEF and the European Centre for Modern
Languages ECML

• CEF core principle (F17) complete the
  establishment of an effective European system of
  information exchange covering all aspects of
  language learning, teaching and research, and
  making full use of information technology (CEF
  1996-20012)
• ECML-Aims help to implement reforms in progress
  and encourage innovation in language teaching and
  teacher training (Trim 20012)

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Standards for English (as a lingua franca)

• Graddol (1997 3) The use of English as a
  global lingua franca requires intelligibility and
  the setting and maintenance of standards.
• a challenge for universities
• standard C1 ? C2 ?
• training language service providers?

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Global English

• near-native English
• skills required for advanced English competence/
  use of English as lingua franca from a formal to
  a functional perspective
• the discussion of Euro English
• related projects

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Developing new standards?

• pronunciation variational (pluricentral)
• intonation? stress-timed
• lexicon local expansion through lexicology
• idiomaticity? more flexible prototypical ?
• discourse more local prototypical ?
• grammar more local prototypical
• which level? which skill?

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Is it related to complexity?

• pronunciation N Jarek?
• intonation? N abstraction
• lexicon N ontology
• idiomaticity? N/Y (frequency/flexibility)
• discourse Y
• grammar Y

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Can the WWW provide enough resources?

• pronunciation Y even dictionary CDs
• intonation? Y level abstraction problem
• lexicon Y
• idiomaticity? Y WebPhraseCount
• discourse Y
• grammar Y special abstraction problem
• learning process control yes?/train?/talent?

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WWW-Resources

• Pronunciation/ Intonation/ Discourse Standards
  for English (as a lingua franca)
• Lexicon www.leo.org Chemnitz Dictionary
• Grammar http//grammar.free-esl.com/
  www.english-coach.com CING, English Grammar on
  the internet (London)
• No evaluation available. DIY

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5. The ideal hypertext grammar learner

• autonomous learner
• power web user
• English specialist
• grammar freak

How does the www help to foster this profile?
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What does it take?
- Non-comprehension of Authent. Language
Material - No guidance (extern./intern.)
?
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References

• http//www.britishcouncil.org/learning-elt-future.
  pdf (retr. 24/03/2006)
• Trim, J. (2001). The work of the Council of
  Europe in the field of Modern Languages
  1957-2001. Talk presented at the European Day of
  Languages 26/09/2001
• A Common European Framework of Reference for
  Languages Learning, Teaching, Assessment google