Language Acquisition in the Knowledge Society
Wadi D. Haddad, Editor

The most dramatic effect of technologies goes beyond facilitating and making more effective present methodologies of language teaching. Modern digital information and communication technologies, including the web, combined with advanced speech technologies, can completely transform the field of language teaching.

ICT and the Teaching of Foreign Languages
Sonia Jurich

The teaching of foreign languages is a complex process that actively involves multiple senses. No matter where and how the learning occurs, information and communication technologies are powerful tools to improve the teaching/learning process.

Second Language Learning: Everyone Can Benefit
Kathleen M. Marcos, The Center for Applied Linguistics

Research has shown that second language study offers many benefits: personal, academic, cognitive and societal.

TechKnowNews

The Virtual Colombo Plan

Community Multimedia Centers in Uganda

Sans PC E-mail Device Unveiled

Virtual Symposium to Look at New Relationship between ICTs and the Written Word

Web-Mediated Second Language Instruction: Will It Actually Work?
Gregg B. Jackson, George Washington University, and Gina Costante, Presidential Management Intern

This article details various types of Web resources and technologies being applied for supporting second language instruction and learning, and begs the question, “Will [these technologies] Actually Work?”

Training Language Testers via the Internet: A New Approach
Margaret E. Malone, Ph.D., Senior Testing Associate, The Center for Applied Linguistics

The author describes a new project to train foreign language testers to apply principles of testing speaking proficiency via a distance learning course.

The Lowly Language Lab: Going Digital
Norma Garcia and Laurence Wolff, Inter-American Development Bank

This article outlines the evolution of language labs and analyzes the capabilities and limitations of digital labs.

Technology-mediated Professional Development for Teachers of English Language Literacy
Mary Russell, Project Manager, ESL/CivicsLink, and John Sabatini, Ph.D., Senior Researcher, LiteracyLink

ESL/CivicsLink is a project tasked with creating a national electronic staff development system for ESL (English for Speakers of other Languages) teachers and programs. The article describes the process of materials development and field-testing.

South Africa: English in Action – A Radio Learning Project How Effective?
Gordon Naidoo, Executive Director, Open Learning Systems Education Trust (OLSET)

This article reports the results of an evaluation of “English in Action,” a program that teaches English via interactive radio in South Africa.

Dominican Republic: ABCDEspañol
Caty Gutierrez, Dominican Republic

ABCDEspañol has motivated teachers, students, prisoners, Resident Representatives, national celebrities, gardeners, Ministers, secretaries, journalists and more. What is ABCDEspañol? How does it work? Where has it been implemented? Why is it so effective?

Brain Mechanisms for Language Learning
Sonia Jurich

This article revisits the report on the First High Level Forum on Learning Sciences and Brain Research, whose synthesis appeared in the September/October 2001 issue of TechKnowLogia. This article centers specifically on the research related to brain activity with language learning and reading techniques.

Teaching Foreign Languages to Children: Is Video a Viable Option? Preliminary Comments on a Study in Progress
Ingrid U. Pufahl and Nancy C. Rhodes, The Center for Applied Linguistics

This study addresses a critical need for data on the instructional value of video-based language programs and their implementation. The article describes this on-going study, its data collection methodology, participant selection, sites for case studies, and potential goals.

Foreign Language Teaching in 19 Countries – Lessons to Learn
Ingrid U. Pufahl, Nancy C. Rhodes, and Donna Christian, The Center for Applied Linguistics

This article summarizes a study conducted by the Center for Applied Linguistics, which examined the successes of foreign language teaching in 19 countries. The study identified eight characteristics of successful foreign language teaching, outlined in this article.

Honduras: Computers and Internet in Schools – The Learning Curve
Aimee Verdisco, Inter-American Development Bank, and Carlos Velásquez, Honduran Council for Science and Technology

If technologies in schools are to truly be used as tools to improve the quality of education, then a strategy, or a broadly agreed upon pedagogic model must be in place first. This is an example of a successful integration of technologies in schools in Honduras – after having first gone through the learning curve.

Speak to Me! Speech Technologies are Making Their Mark
Tressa Steffen Gipe

Over the past ten years, technologies that incorporate human speech have become commonplace in many aspects of daily life. This article describes three main fields of speech technology and also provides a few examples from noteworthy technologies, projects and consortia that are helping to shape the future of speech technology in education and business.

WorthWhileWebs
Gina Costante, Presidential Management Intern

The Web sites included in this edition of WorthWhileWebs provide information, tools, and other resources related to Web-assisted language teaching and learning.

Graphite and WorldPad: Tools for Writing the World’s Other Languages
Melinda Lyons, SIL International

Although computer tools have existed for some time to write the national languages in countries using non-Roman writing systems, the tools often have restrictions that make them unusable for the minorities of these same nations. Graphite, and later WorldPad, was developed to provide smart font rendering capabilities and text editing that enables any combination of symbols when writing any script.

Speaking in the Future Tense: A Look at the Speech Technologies of Tomorrow
Tressa Steffen Gipe

Today’s speech technology research is focused on improving recognition accuracy, increasing speed, managing memory usage and reducing power consumption. The real excitement lies in the not-too-distant future when humans and computers will interact using perfectly natural speech.

Gender, Information Technology, and Developing Countries – An AED Study that Explores Obstacles and Opportunities for Women Related to IT
Mary Maguire, Vice President and Director of Communications, Academy for Educational Development

This article summarizes a new study by the Academy for Educational Development that examines the current state of gender and IT in developing countries. It analyzes the barriers to women’s access as well as the opportunities IT presents for women at all levels of the social and economic spectrum.