This paper aims at investigating the teletandem learning interactions between a group of Brazilian students from Instituto Federal de Educagao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Goias, Brazil, and a group of foreign s...This paper aims at investigating the teletandem learning interactions between a group of Brazilian students from Instituto Federal de Educagao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Goias, Brazil, and a group of foreign students from two German universities. In this study, the Brazilian students helped their foreign partners with Portuguese learning and were helped by them in the English learning. The participants used a synchronous computer software called Openmeetings and also an electronic dictionary as a complementary tool. Adopting a qualitative perspective in the data collection and analysis, this case study was conducted in the second semester of 2010. The data were collected by means of conversation sessions through Openmeetings and were analyzed in the light of studies on sociocultural theory as well as on tandem/teletandem language learning researches. The data analyses showed that the participants used English as an anchoring language to work with Portuguese and English itself, and German was introduced in the teletandem sessions. The data also showed that the whiteboard and the electronic dictionary were used as complementary resources to the use of audio and video for the language learning process the participants engaged in.展开更多
This paper illustrates the language-learning-supporting features of a monolingual English learner＇s dictionary, the Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners （ 2002 ） , a product of ＂ a learner-based phil...This paper illustrates the language-learning-supporting features of a monolingual English learner＇s dictionary, the Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners （ 2002 ） , a product of ＂ a learner-based philosophy. ＂ It gives a detailed mapping of the user-friendliness of the dictionary in question and points out that MEDAL is helpful to learners of English mainly because it answers both their decoding and encoding needs. To further explore the potential of a good learner＇s dictionary, the current author also discusses the role of an English teacher in helping his/her students to make better use of the dictionary, and consequently ensures the supportiveness of MEDAL in the language learning process.展开更多
文摘This paper aims at investigating the teletandem learning interactions between a group of Brazilian students from Instituto Federal de Educagao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Goias, Brazil, and a group of foreign students from two German universities. In this study, the Brazilian students helped their foreign partners with Portuguese learning and were helped by them in the English learning. The participants used a synchronous computer software called Openmeetings and also an electronic dictionary as a complementary tool. Adopting a qualitative perspective in the data collection and analysis, this case study was conducted in the second semester of 2010. The data were collected by means of conversation sessions through Openmeetings and were analyzed in the light of studies on sociocultural theory as well as on tandem/teletandem language learning researches. The data analyses showed that the participants used English as an anchoring language to work with Portuguese and English itself, and German was introduced in the teletandem sessions. The data also showed that the whiteboard and the electronic dictionary were used as complementary resources to the use of audio and video for the language learning process the participants engaged in.
文摘This paper illustrates the language-learning-supporting features of a monolingual English learner＇s dictionary, the Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners （ 2002 ） , a product of ＂ a learner-based philosophy. ＂ It gives a detailed mapping of the user-friendliness of the dictionary in question and points out that MEDAL is helpful to learners of English mainly because it answers both their decoding and encoding needs. To further explore the potential of a good learner＇s dictionary, the current author also discusses the role of an English teacher in helping his/her students to make better use of the dictionary, and consequently ensures the supportiveness of MEDAL in the language learning process.
