Task-Related Variation in Computer-Assisted Language Learning.

• Autores: Trude Heift, Anne Rimrott
• Localización: Modern language journal, ISSN 0026-7902, Vol. 96, Nº 4, 2012, págs. 525-543
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This study investigates task-related variation in learner performance in a computer-assisted language learning (CALL) environment. For our study, we collected data from 15 beginner and then intermediate second language (L2) learners of German who worked on 3 distinct activity types over 16 months: free composition, translation, and sentence building. Study results reveal that grammatical accuracy with respect to German word order was significantly higher with the meaning-focused task type (i.e., free composition) for both the beginner and intermediate levels. Moreover, proficiency level also had a significant effect on L2 word order accuracy: Beginner students performed significantly better than intermediate learners on the two form-focused task types (i.e., translation and sentence building). With the ultimate goal of understanding learner performance as it relates to different task types and success in CALL, this article provides possible explanations of these study results and suggests areas for future development of task design in CALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]