Unit - 9
Acquaintance with Technology - Aided Language learning
Computer Software:
Computer Software or Software is a set of instructions, the documentation of which tells the
computer what to do or how to perform a specific task. Software that covers all the
different software programs on the computer, such as applications and the operating systems running on Hardware.
Nowadays, there are a number of software components, each of which is designed to have a
specific purpose. Computer Software can be used in any industry in the World, from healthcare and entertainment to education and marketing.
Example:
A washing machine simplifies life as it has built-in shower systems, leaving the
fridge door open for longer time begins to bleep when temperature falls below its limit.
Use of Computer Software: Grammarly
Grammarly was launched in 2009. It is a digital writing tool that helps identify various types of errors and examines over 250 grammatical rules. It detects grammatical and punctuation errors from basic to advanced. It also offers real-time clarity suggestions such as clarity, vocabulary, delivery style, understanding and guidelines on how to fix a bug and helps spell checking and has a Plagiarism Checker built-in. Grammarly Premium is perfect for college students.
Pros of Grammarly:
Cons of Grammarly:
Use of Computer Software: Ginger
Ginger’s software is the first Israeli company that has developed language-enhancing
technology that uses numerical skills in conjunction with natural language functions,
aims to improve written communication, improves English-speaking skills and boost
smart phone production.
Ginger Software differentiates itself by seeing words in the context of complete
sentences. The algorithm allows it to correct written sentences with high accuracy
(eliminating up to 95% of spelling errors), compared to standard spell checking. Its
unique algorithm allows software to understand the context of a sentence rather than just
word-based corrections. Ginger Software products include the Ginger Page and Ginger
Keyboard.
Ginger Page:
Works as an online service and supports MS-Word, MS-Outlook, MS-
PowerPoint, Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox, and also serves as a write-in
development application for mobile devices. Android and iOS. Its main feature is a
grammar and spelling checker that works seamlessly with different user interfaces. It also
has an advanced development tool, concept alignment and definitions, multilingual
translation and a text-to-speech work that enables users to hear sentences before and after
editing.
Ginger keyboard:
It is for Android replaces the stock keyboard and acts as a keyboard
extension app. Featuring a complete set of advanced keyboard features such as Swing
(swipe-like) typing, variable word prediction, multi-custom themes and emoji, Ginger
keyboard is the only third-party keyboard to provide reading and other ginger writing
tools with a single-tap ginger page.
Pros of Ginger:
algorithms, which aims to improve written communication, improve
English-speaking skills and increase smartphone productivity.
accuracy, compared to standard spell checking.
and listen to what he or she writes. This allows them to decide if what they
have disclosed is correct. If they are unsure, they can choose a name from a
list of other options.
corrections, but for writers who experience difficulty pronunciation, they are
able to hear the pronunciation correctly. This greatly aids in developing
better speaking and reading skills.
everywhere. You can use it in Microsoft Office files, WordPad or Note Pad,
Browsers, Social Sites and post editors. Ginger provides an automatic spell
check, helping people with learning difficulties such as dyslexia improve
their writing skills, with automatic adjustments based on the spelling and
spelling mistakes.
Cons of Ginger:
data flow between your computer and these servers.
connection.
will protect you from gaining adjustment while typing.
Smartphone applications:
A computer program designed to work on smart phones, which refers to simple programs that perform specific functions on a smart phone. Mobile applications or Software applications that are used as an app, work to provide users with services similar to those found on PCs.
Use of Smartphone applications:
Applications available on smart phones are considered a gateway to everyday life services such as shopping, trelling, communication, and entertainment both in personal and professional applications. Smartphone users install applications and use the apps according to their needs and interests etc. Video apps, game apps, music and reading apps are all available for users to enjoy.
Examples:
Smartphone application: Duolingo
Technology gives students the opportunity to see grammar as a skill, not just a set of vague rules, and to use that ability to choose the right grammatical form in specific contexts and meanings. Others show proximity to learning languages. Smart phone apps are being developed that make learning work always interesting and engaging for people. This paper places a focus on Duolingo's second language learning app, and explores the possibilities this app offers for second language learning.
Duolingo, another excellent language learning app offered for free on iOS and Android. Duolingo avoids the repetition of the action and instead uses a machine-like game when he learns by tapping the correct words in the app. Duolingo is a very straightforward and easy-to-use app. Without further questions or to enroll in a lesson, a student can enter their first lesson by tapping on Start.
Multiple exercises:
Each lesson contains 10 to 15 exercises, a few in each of the aforementioned sections, and students have a barrier to development at the top of their screens. Each time they receive a direct response, the bar progresses slowly. Whenever they find it wrong, the bar does not improve, Duolingo points out the mistake and repeats the question at the end of the task until the bar progresses.
Duolingo also allows students to return to any subject they want, whenever they want, even if they have received all the answers correctly. When students achieve a daily goal, Duolingo rewards them with high-quality sounds and images, making students feel that they have accomplished something great. When students do not sign their accounts in Duolingo to complete their daily purpose, Duolingo sends a notification to their phones and reminds them to exercise and achieve their daily goals.
These daily practice reminders are often accompanied by promotional statements such as 62.5 million people learning languages using Duolingo to encourage students to work. Duolingo does this by informing students at a certain time each day; However, if students are busy at that particular time (daily at work, running, sleeping etc.), they can tell Duolingo when to remind them, for example 07:00 PM, and about 07:00 PM. they never reach their daily goals, they get these daily reminders to practice. Duolingo is an excellent app.
Example:
If the translation task, students type "I'm not a teacher" instead of "I'm not a teacher", the app will know that this is not an effort and it is not a mistake. Students pass the test but are reminded of the mistake of changing their answers. Another useful feature of the app is the Dumbbell button that students can use on their homepage. In Duolingo, students can add friends, and use this feature to interact and / or compete with them. Upon successful completion of the study, they receive (10) XPs, and determine the number of XPs their friends wrote.
Duolingo users can make the app notify when someone has more points than they (putting> someone passes me) which can be very encouraging. It should be noted that Duolingo does not provide grammatical definitions. It only sets the student on the target of la yiage by offering exercises that focus on new vocabulary. In order to learn the grammar, students have to reduce the grammar goals without trial and error.
Although Duolingo punishes students for the smallest errors and identifies the smallest genres, they do not introduce students to any grammatical notes or rules of any kind. When learners make a mistake in a new language, Duolingo shows them when they make a mistake, but they have to do it themselves. Duolingo is a free math’s app, very popular in the education section on Google Play. The app also leads to increasing levels of confidence in learning a new language.
Duolingo assures students that they can achieve their learning goals and reduce their fears of doing something required such as learning a language. Although they have 5 to 10 minutes of physical activity every day, Duolingo helps students feel that they have accomplished something, a feeling that inspires them. By learning "through play", Duolingo has been able to keep students interested and not aware that he is learning.
When a person is "addicted" to the games of this easy-to-use app, they will definitely spend their time swimming in the bus ride home from work. Another unnatural thing about an app is the computer voice it uses; students are never made aware of what a native speaker sounds as long as they use this app as their only source of learning.
Another downside to Duolingo is how it uses one language to teach another. If you want to learn English, for example, you must first know a language with an English course in your language. However, if the student's mother tongue is that language, they say Persian, and they don't know other languages, they will not be able to learn other languages. This will reduce the number of users of the app. In addition, when learners learn a target language in a second language, they tend to rely on the second language and may not be able to express themselves fully in the language they have learned.
Duolingo enabled students to fall into the trap of multiculturalism and pronunciation. Finally, the lack of human interaction and actual discussion in the app needs to be mentioned. Duolingo may give students the illusion that they know the meaning of the word and its meaning, but since they have not used the words or phrases they have learned, their lexical knowledge will be limited and difficult to obtain. Students should be aware that these computer-generated listening and speaking activities provided in the app are inadequate and not compared to what native speakers may sound.
Self-study is important for language learning and Duolingo is a useful language that can provide students with practical and systematic steps to learn a new language on their own. Duolingo has a shorter design, is more user-friendly, and can be used by students of different ages and cultures. The app teaches English to millions of people for free, although some have criticized the developer's way of making money by having people translate texts for free as a product of learning a language.
What sets Duolingo apart from other free language learning programs is its approach: teaching its users a foreign language through translation. Duolingo encourages peer interaction, and student friends are able to challenge. The voice used by the app to pronounce words is sometimes very difficult to hear. But you'll remember things better because the app lets you think of phrases in different ways - like translating from Spanish to English, then English to Spanish, and then clicking a picture. The best part is testing you by listening to you say the words in Spanish and saying how well we speak.
Smartphone application (Busuu):
Busuu is an AI-enabled language learning platform on the web, iOS and Android that allows users to interact with native speakers from around the world. 12 language courses are currently offered: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, Russian and Arabic. All courses are available in 15 official languages. Students work with self-directed courses in one or more of the courses. These courses include the study of vocabulary and grammar.
Busuu offers courses based on CEFR standards A1, A2, B1 and B2. The study material is divided into subject-based courses, each based on common conversational situations. Courses include vocabulary and grammar, pronunciation tests, practical methods and conversational exercises with native speakers who are members of the Busuu community. Through their partnership with McGraw-Hill Education, students can obtain a certificate of completion of the intermediate A1 level and intermediate level B2 in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese. Evaluation focuses on discussion, understanding and productive skills.
Free access is available to all courses, and paid access to Premium features. Grammar instructions, spoken and written discussions, repetition training and other features such as Offline Mode, are available only to Primary students. The platform promotes collaborative learning by allowing members to practice their writing and speaking skills with the help of native speakers of the language they are learning.
All students correct one another's work. They can discuss asynchronous voice recordings or text conversations. In this way, every Busuu user is a student of foreign languages and a lecturer of languages already speaking.In order to use the Busuu phone system, users must download the app from Google Play / iTunes and install on their Android or iOS devices. The first thing you notice when you open this app, is the app icon: Busuu - a language learning community. The name "Busuu," the website says, is a strange language name.
Users have the option to create a new profile in the app, or link their Facebook or Google accounts to the app and sign in to get started. Busuu login page after that, users are presented in a variety of languages to choose from; users can choose courses in their preferred language. With L2 languages to choose from, the app is behind a range of supported languages from other language learning applications.
Now the general assumption is that people from these twelve language groups can learn L2 through their L1. Students of languages other than these groups should know L2 to learn English, or take a more difficult but perhaps more profitable route to learning a foreign language itself; that is to learn the English language through English. While many modern teaching methods criticize L2 learning through L1, for beginners it can be a great way to get started.
There is no doubt that Busuu offers well-thought-out learning tools such as flash cards, chat models, native speaker modifications, and additional grammar language designed for its users; and builds a living community through its Charitable Character. All in all, the app uses users' learning, writing, speaking and developing skills through integrated and well-designed exercises. However, the free version will help younger readers in those aspects.
Compared to other apps for learning the language used, the big side of Busuu (free version) is the small amount of exercise it offers; that is, it temporarily holds and students may lose interest in continuing to apply. At the end of the day, this free version is not attractive enough for most users to go for premium. Since the "community" that Busuu offers are attractive paper, it probably won't do much to put Busuu at the top of the list of users from the language learning app.
References:
1. R.P. Bhatnagar and Rajul Bhargava; English for competitive Examinations, Revised Edition.
2. Dr. Evangelin Arulselvi, Teaching of Special English, 2009.
3. Krishna Mohan and Meera Banerji, Developing communication Skills, 1990.
