Abstract:

In language learning we have to make sure that everything the teacher can do better than a computer program should be up to him or her. And we know that a lot of things in language learning and teaching can't be done by a computer. But we assume that we know little or nothing about what the learners can do to improve their skill and competence, with the help of a learning program via the computer.

Teachers know a lot about teaching procedures, but learning procedure done individually seems to be a secret. Who can, for instance, answer the question sufficiently, how children learn words? The computer has its niches in language learning. We have to find out where they are and what we have to do to fill them.

This paper depicts such niches where the computer has its strength to assist a teacher and can do its utmost in the developing of individualized courseware.

Author: Reinhard Schulz