Week 9

Part 1

“You’re Not Studying, You’re Just…” (Purushotma 2005)

This article gave several examples of how CALL tools can be integrated into other less seemingly explicit methods of language learning. For instance, one particular example described modifications that allow users to integrate different language contexts in Strategy/ MMOGs. While there are many “Mods” that are easy to use as far as customization of a game, it never would have occurred to me to use such a string to change the language to the L2, and still have some glosses in the student’s L1 so that it isn’t completely overwhelming for them. In this sense, “modifying commercial games offer a quick way to develop rich content for examining student motivation, task based learning, context effects, incidental learning, and simulated immersion” (Prushotma 87) While this might be useful for targeting a younger group of L2 learners, I feel certain games only cater to the particular interests of certain groups of learners. Furthermore, if a learner is already familiar with the game and the strategies necessary to complete tasks, they might be able to complete these tasks and make significant progress without particularly having to focus so much on the content of the language. While there are benefits to learning new vocabulary through association, some tasks in the game do not explicitly require it , especially since the Sims speak “simlish” there isn’t any authentic dialogue in relation to the language version of the game. I've included a video and link that explain how different recording artist have been asked to sing their songs in Simlish for the game's soundtrack

Part 2

This week we looked at different CALL resources for intercultural exchanges between universities, one of which our group found particularly useful was http://www.unicollaboration.eu/. What I really thought was fantastic about this site, was the fact that it included tasks that were collaborative for student exchanges. For example, the following link describes the activities/ sequencing for creating an online newsletter as a collaborative writing project between L2 learners of English and Spanish. These activities could serve as models that other instructors can use/ modify according to their objectives. The task definitely seems like it would have been a very engaging project for the students, because it explains that it allowed students the opportunity to express their professional interests through this task. http://www.unicollaboration.eu/?q=node/473