How Technology Has Revolutionized Language Learning
How Technology Has Revolutionized Language Learning
Journal of Foreign Language Education and Technology are a peer reviewed and open access journal publishes articles in the scientific society. The journal welcomes articles in the form of original articles, review articles, case reports, and short communications etc. relevant field. You can visit our journal page. Authors may submit manuscripts and track their progress through the system, hopefully to publication. Reviewers can download manuscripts and submit their opinions to the editor. Like many things in life, technology has changed the way we learn languages beyond all recognition. Long gone are the old days of poring over textbooks and bulky bilingual dictionaries to learn a foreign language.
HIS MAP SHOWS HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO LEARN ANOTHER LANGUAGE
But it's not just about ease and convenience. Modern ways to learn foreign languages is engaging, challenging, fun, and interactive. There are currently an enormous amount of resources out there to help anyone serious about learning a new language. Many of these have many benefits over the more traditional way of learning them. But, like anything in life, this is not for everyone. If you prefer the real-world interactive form of learning from a real person then do that instead. If you are learning one today or thinking about it, you’re learning experience will be unrecognizable compared to but ten years ago. This learning revolution has come in roughly 7 waves or innovations.
1. Digitization made it more convenient
This was the biggest leap forward in technology-based language learning. As bulky physical books gave way to digitized text, carrying around your learning materials became very easy indeed. Whilst these tended to copy the traditional language learning models 1 to 1 in the beginning, changes became pronounced fairly early on. Hyperlinked texts and web dictionaries were one of the first innovations that made cross-referencing words as easy as pie. Having dictionaries digitized made carrying around reference materials incredibly easy. And would often put off learners carrying them with them on holiday.Today, most of these can easily be stored on a smartphone and they tend to take up less memory than most games. Some of them are even able to provide translation services which have been collated and reviewed by practicing bilingual users. Sites like Linguee.com hand Google Translate, whilst not always perfect, have proved invaluable to new foreign language learners
2. Multimedia transformed how we learn foreign languages
Variety is the spice of life, so it is said, and never has this been truer than when we are trying to learn something new. This is where multimedia has truly changed the foreign language learning process forever. Traditional lessons were taught in a classroom, or group, with a teacher helping learners listen to and repeat words and phrases. They would also, often, include group exercises where students would practice with one another.
Most language learning software or websites today will tend to include some form of digital audio. But this is also true for earlier multimedia learning programmes where textbooks would be accompanied by audio cassettes, CDs and other forms of audio resource.
3. Auto-correction helps foreign and native speakers
Another huge technological innovation for language learners was the rise of autocorrection. From simple text-autocorrect to pronunciation analyzers, auto-correction has made learning languages that much easier.
4. Bringing the classroom experience to your desktop and phone
The next step was to integrate social interaction with digital language learning. Technically speaking this is more like technology catching up than an actual 'innovation' in language learning.
5. Personalizing your learning experience
Everyone is different. We each have our own likes, dislikes, and methods of learning new things. The same is true when learning new languages. Some prefer a structured program set by others, whilst yet others prefer to carve their own path to fluency. Applications and tools like Lingua.ly help you research and learn the content you want. Not to mention target you’re learning to what you are interested in
Thanks and regards
Chris Brown
Associate Managing Editor