Transcript Can Virtual Language Tutors Teach ESL Grammar?

Can Virtual Language
Tutors Teach ESL
Grammar?
Faith Marcel
Niagara College
Agenda
 Reasons for Exploring the Question
 What is a Virtual Language Tutor (VLT)?
 Types of VLTs and their Functions
 Pedagogical Applications for the Classroom
Why explore this question?
Some of my reasons…
 Learn more about VLTs, their present functions and
capabilities
 Discover whether or not they can be useful for
educational purposes in or outside of a classroom
 Determine some ways in which the technology can
be put to good use
 Curiosity!
What is a Virtual
Language Tutor?
Broadly speaking…
A remote or online language teacher
Three Categories of VLTs
Explored
 “Live” Virtual Tutors
 Intelligent Virtual Tutor Websites
 Talking Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tutors
Before we begin with
definitions…
Have you ever…
used a virtual language tutor?
been a virtual language tutor?
“Live” Virtual Tutors
 Online language partner
 “Live” tutor/teacher assigned to software program
or site
Some examples:
 http://www.tutorvista.com/
 http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/
Screenshot of Test Interaction with
“Live” Virtual Language Tutor
Intelligent Virtual Tutor
Websites
 Websites with larges stores of data or corpora
 “Virtual Worlds” such as Second Life
An example:
 http://www.smallworlds.com/login/php
Talking Artificial Intelligence
(AI) Tutors
 Bots or Chatterbots
Animated Talking Heads or Characters
Some examples:
Pandorabots (Home of ALICE, links to many other bots)
http://pandorabots.com/botmaster/en/home
Brainstorm potential uses
What are some benefits of
their use?
 Potential to promote intrinsic motivation
(Eskenazi, 2009)
 Real time feedback and encouragement
(Wik & Hjalmarsson, 2009)
 Improve speaking skills
(Levy & Stockwell, 2006)
 Increase exposure to input
 Build confidence
 Provide additional means for practice
Drawbacks
Solutions ?
 Relatively new
technology
• Complement to sound
pedagogical practice
 Technical Issues
• Test and monitor
technology closely
 Issue of accuracy
• Controlled environment to
ensure no surprises!
Classroom & Online
Activities
More General Applications
for Grammar Teaching
 Complement to grammar teaching
 To provide support and reinforcement of grammar
points
 Enhance communication and practice of
grammatical structures
 Enhance the learning experience (not everyone
loves grammar!)
Thank you!
References
Coniam, D. (2008). Evaluating the language resources of
chatbots for their potential in English as a second language.
ReCALL, 20(1), 98-116.
Eskenazi, Z. (2009). An overview of spoken language technology
for education. Speech Communication, 51(10), 832-844.
Fryer, L. & Carpenter, R. (2006). Emerging technologies: Bots as
language learning tools. Language Learning and Technology,
10(3), 8-14.
Jia, J. (2009). CSIEC A computer assisted English learning
chatbot based on textual knowledge and reasoning,
Knowledge-Based Systems 22, 249-255.
Spada, N. & Lightbown, P.M. (2008). Form-focused instruction:
Isolated or Integrated? TESOL Quarterly, 42,181-207.
TutorVista.com (2008). Tutorvista.com. Retrieved from
http://www.tutorvista.com/
List of Some AI Chatbot Sites:
Pandorabots (Home of ALICE, links to many other
bots)http://pandorabots.com/botmaster/en/home
Smallworlds (Virtual world- requires free sign
up)http://www.smallworlds.com/login.php
Hal (“Silly computer bot”)
http://www.zabaware.com/webhal/hal6alpha.asp
Tina
http://demo.vhost.pandorabots.com/pandora/talk?botid=a93dcf79ae353e49
iGod
http://www.titane.ca/concordia/dfar251/igod/main.html
Messenger chatbots
http://www.messengerfreak.com/chat_bots.php
Mike- Bot which assists with free writing practicehttp://www.rongchang.com/tutor.htm
Chatbot- Aaron
http://nlp.petamem.com/eng/nlp/chatbot.mpl
Elbot- Animated character (Comical “Don’t push my red button”
featurehttp://www.elbot.com/
Google Talk- Translation bothttp://blogoscoped.com/archive/2007-12-19n41.html
Egonbot- Grammar website with virtual chat (dragon that
moves)http://www.ego4u.com/en/chill-out/chat/egon-bot
Ville-Virtual Language Tutor for
Swedishhttp://www.speech.kth.se/ville/swell.html
Speaking Avatars
http://www.voki.com/
iPhone Applications
Siri Virtual Assistant US
Baldi (3D talking bald character)
Alice Chatbot